8 Tips For Buying And Maintaining A Wine Cooler
When you have a collection of wines in your home and planning to obtain more, it would be best to invest in a wine cooler. Today, wine coolers are becoming affordable since many homeowners consider them as essential appliances. If you have one in your home, you can keep your wine collection in the right conditions and readily enjoy it at any time of the day.
Choosing A Wine Cooler
It’s important to consider what kind of wine cooler you’d be buying since it’ll be an investment in your home. Here are several tips in looking for the ideal wine cooler:
1. Select The Number Of Bottles You’re Going To Keep
When looking for a cooler, the initial task is to decide on the storage capacity you need. You can do this by calculating the number of wine bottles you’re planning to keep. In case you already have wines at home, you can double this amount, so you have enough space for storage.
You should have extra space or capacity if you’re planning to add more wines soon. Most wine coolers have specific storage capabilities, and some will allow you to store only a few bottles while other models can accommodate up to three dozen bottles to hundreds at a time. A good option worth checking out is a 200 bottle cooler at Winecellarhq.com that can accommodate your wine collection.
2. Humidity Control
A wine cooler with a humidity control feature will allow you to protect your wines from the formation of mold and mildew. It’s important to note wines require specific storage conditions, especially the right temperature and humidity level. You need to think about this, especially if you have expensive wines.
3. Adjustable Or Removable Racks
When choosing a wine cooler, it might be best to choose one with adjustable or removable racks, especially if you have wine bottles in various sizes. If the shelves are removable, it’s a plus since it’s easier to clean. If you want a practical option, choose a wine cooler with detachable or adjustable racks.
4. Location
If you don’t know where to place your wine cooler, you must first consider the various categories available—free-standing, built-in, or integrable. The critical element in the placement of a wine cooler is air circulation. The appliance should draw in fresh air through its base at the front and expel warm air at the top or back.
Here are some wine cooler specifications:
Free-standing
The standard way to place a wine cooler is free-standing on either the floor or tabletop. There should be sufficient space on each side and the back to allow the release of excess heat.
Built-in
A built-in wine cabinet has the same width as an average kitchen unit, which can readily fit in your kitchen. Additionally, you must leave a few centimeters of free space between the top cover and the tabletop's underside. Don’t forget to provide some form of ventilation at the back.
Integrable
The size of an integrable wine cooler typically fits directly into the kitchen unit, and it’ll fit right into the current unit. If you’re going to choose this type of model, make sure warm air can escape at the rear.
5. Price
Generally, similar to other appliances, a cheap wine cooler isn’t reliable at all. Depending on the budget you have, you can find a good-quality model at a reasonable price. You don’t want to spend on an expensive, high-end model when you might find a good one with features best suit your storage needs at a cheaper price.
It might be best for those on a budget to look for discounted wine coolers, but most might have minor scratches or dents on their surfaces. Those who have the budget to splurge can invest in wood storage cabinets or wine rooms to accommodate dozens of wine bottles and if you have enough space in your home.
6. Temperature
It would be ideal to compare wine coolers when it comes to delivering the ideal temperature. For storage, coolers could come in single-zone and dual-zone models. The single zones are more economical and suitable for long-term storage of all types of wine. In case you want both long-term and short-term storage, a dual-zone cooler is the best choice especially if you have a selection of white and red wines. A dual-zone wine cooler will allow you to adjust the temperatures of two separate storage areas independently.
The majority of small wine coolers utilize thermoelectric cooling technology, which stands out for its noise and vibration-free operation. Thermoelectric coolers use electricity and heating plates which makes their process more discreet. However, those running on a compressor are more efficient in producing cool air.
7. Extra Features
Like other appliances these days, wine coolers can come with various extra features such as digital temperature displays, LED lighting, and rack material. These features can add convenience and style to your wine cooler. Some models also include safety sensors, locks, and alarms to keep your wine bottles secure at all times.
These additional features will cost you more, and most aren’t necessary for the wine cooler to effectively do its job. It might be best to stick with models that only have a few features if you have a budget to consider.
8. Maintenance
When you have a wine cooler at home, one of the critical maintenance tasks is regularly monitoring the interior and emptying the drip tray. When cleaning the interior of the wine cooler, you should turn it off and use non-abrasive cleaning items to avoid scratches or damages. Be careful as you wipe around the mechanism and the shelving since any damages can affect how you store your wine bottles. Allow the wine cooler to air dry for a while before switching it back on and placing the wine bottles back inside.
Generally, you should clean once or twice a year, but if repairs are necessary or a bottle breaks inside, you should clean the appliance thoroughly. When leakage is left standing for a long time, it can damage the cabinet's interior and potentially seep into the mechanism.
Conclusion
If you want to ensure your wine bottles are in the right conditions during storage, getting a wine cooler should be a priority. With the help of these tips on buying and maintaining a wine cooler, you’ll find the right one for your needs to keep your wine collection in optimum condition at all times.
