Wine Refrigerator Cooling Unit

17 years ago

I have a Vinotemp 220 bottle wine cabinet with a WineMate 1500C cooling unit (similar to Breezaire) that's about 3.5 years old and doesn't cool as well as it used to. It also operates almost continuously. A new cooling unit is $700+. Can these cooling units be serviced by an HVAC technician or is it a sealed unit that can't be refilled with freon or have parts replaced on it? I'm not sure if the cooling unit just low on freon or if it's broken. I know they don't make things like they used to. I read many reports of refrigerators not lasting more than 5 years, icemakers on them going out in less than one year, etc even on higher priced units. I hope wine cooling units haven't gone the disposable route because $700 every 3-4 years is very expensive.

The unit is in my bedroom and I'm not concerned about looks. I'm willing to pay more for a wine refrigerator with excellent reliability in the cooling unit. I see used LeCache and Eurocave units for sale for $2000, but no mention how old the cooling unit is. Perhaps their units last forever.

I'm a little confused on what to do.

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Comments (6)

fandlil
17 years ago
This not the answer you are looking for. I was told by a trained sommelier that, unless you are aging really upscale wines like Pommerol, wines that cost $50 a bottle and up, and keeping them until they are "ready to drink," a highly controlled storage unit is unnecessary.

So, unless you're investing literally thousands in a collection of fine wines and keeping them until they reach their peak, you need not worry too much about storage conditions. (Just make sure you keep your wine at a reasonable room temperature.)

But this advice does not take into account the optimal serving temperature for red table wine, which is, if I remember correctly about 60 degrees Fahrenheit or a little lower (i.e., a French, Italian or Iberian wine cellar climate) and about 10-15 degrees cooler for white table wine, and refrigerator cold for champagne and sweet wines like Sauterne.

Cheers!
ulinesalesguy
17 years ago
In reference to your comments about the reliability/length of service of product, a free-standing wine unit (like the Vinotemp) has an average life expectancy of about 5 years (per the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers). A built-in unit would have a life expectancy of 14 years, per the same organization
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happs
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the info but here in AZ, one definitely needs cool storage. Leaving wine out in the 78 degree house just won't cut it. The cooling unit works but just runs continuously. I'm wondering whether to just run it 24 hours a day vs buying a new unit. Am wondering what the cost of running the cooling unit 24hrs a day is vs buying a new unit for $800.
weedmeister
17 years ago
have you cleaned the coils?
happs
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes I have.
pvrick
17 years ago
I think you are a victim of what you originally purchased.
I am in the market for a wine storage unit and have done hours and hours of research. It appears that a unit with any other cooling unit besides Breezeaire and Whispercool just don't last as long.
Breezeaire is in Le Cache and others made by Impressions.. Whispercool in Vinotheque

What I am going to do if possible is buy a used one of these knowing that I may have to replace the cooling unit eventually, but I will still have the best in the market.

My philosophy "Buy the best, cry only once"