What Affects Wine Cellar Cooling Installation Cost?

Wine cellar cooling is handled by Cellar HVAC, a division of Jordan Heating & Air Conditioning. The cost of a system follows from the cellar itself and from the type of system that suits it.

Through-wall vs. split vs. ducted systems

Through-wall (self-contained). A single unit mounted through the cellar wall. It releases heat into the room on the other side, so that space has to be able to absorb it. Usually the simplest installation.

Split system. A quiet evaporator inside the cellar, with the condenser located elsewhere. Refrigerant lines connect the two, so line length and routing affect the work.

Ducted system. The equipment sits outside the cellar and is ducted in. The cellar stays quiet and clear of equipment, at the cost of more installation work.

What affects the cost of wine cellar cooling?

• Cellar size. More volume needs more capacity.
• Insulation and vapor barrier. A well-sealed cellar needs less cooling and holds humidity better.
• Glass. Glass walls and doors let in much more heat than insulated walls.
• Where the heat goes. The space that receives the heat, or where a condenser can go, shapes the system choice.
• Noise. If the cellar is a tasting room or sits near living space, quieter split or ducted systems may be worth it.
• Drainage. Cooling units produce condensate that has to go somewhere.
• New system or replacement. Replacing a failed unit with a similar one is usually simpler than designing a new cellar system.

Repair or replace a wine cooling unit?

It depends on the age of the unit, what failed, whether parts are still available and whether the system was sized correctly for the cellar in the first place.

What to look for in a written wine cellar cooling estimate

• The system type, and why it suits your cellar
• The equipment make, model and capacity
• Where the heat goes, or where the condenser will be located
• Refrigerant line or duct routing
• Condensate drainage
• Electrical connections
• Start-up and a check that the cellar is holding temperature

Also check that the estimate names the equipment brand and model numbers, states the warranty terms in writing and notes anything that is not included.

Brands we work on

Our equipment experience includes WhisperKOOL, CellarCool, CellarPro and Wine Guardian systems. If you have a different brand, call and ask. Our workmanship on wine cellar work is backed by a one-year guarantee.

How to request a project-specific quote

Call (650) 650-2653 or send a request with a few details, and we will get back to you within one business day. It helps to share:

• The size of the cellar and whether it has glass walls or doors
• Any existing cooling unit and its brand, if you know it
• Whether the cellar is new construction or an existing room

All scheduling goes through Jordan directly. He measures the cellar and calculates its cooling load from the insulation, the glass and the spaces around it, then gives you a properly engineered written quote for a system sized to hold steady temperature and humidity. See wine cellar cooling.