Common Problems with Wine Coolers

Whether you're a serious wine enthusiast or just enjoy a glass of wine every so often the best way to store it is in a wine cooler. Making sure your wine cooler is in top condition is essential whilst storing your wine collection.

Have you noticed a couple of minor problems with your wine cooler? Don't panic, in this blog post, we're taking a closer look at the common issues you may face with your wine cooler, offering practical solutions to keep your collection in top condition.

We'll discuss temperature fluctuations, humidity concerns, and other challenges that might arise. By the end, you'll feel confident in maintaining the perfect environment for your wine.

My Wine Cooler Isn’t Maintaining the Desired Temperature

Is your wine cooler not storing your wine at the right temperature? Here are some potential reasons why:

Low Refrigerant Levels

A typical air conditioner issue that can significantly impact your wine cooler's performance, efficiency and longevity is low refrigerant levels. It is important to ensure the gas levels, lighting, ventilation, door and storage location is as optimal as possible.

• You can get your wine cooler regassed by a professional. But your cooler not cooling properly could have also been caused by a lack of ventilation, which may have damaged the compressor.
• The ambient temperature and humidity levels may be too high or too low for the cooler to operate correctly. Ensure that the wine cooler is not installed on under-floor heating or a garage.
• If the door is opened too often or the door seal has fallen apart, the seal may need to be replaced as this can affect the temperature inside.
• The ventilation is blocked by dust and debris causing a malfunctioning thermostat; remove the dust from underneath the wine cooler and frequently clean around it. As this can stop the fridge from functioning properly.

Making sure the fridge gets enough cool air is crucial for its performance and is a factor to consider when finding the perfect place to install your wine cooler.

Freestanding

Freestanding units should have at least 2–3 inches around the sides and rear and should not be enclosed from above.

Please allow for adequate air circulation to avoid the leaking of the sealed system, which is never a good thing.

Built-In

Built-in units (depending on the size) should not have the grill blocked by the skirting board and should be machined into this before installation.

Smaller units such as the 15cm and 30cm wide models, require at least 0.5cm around the sides and rear as this is how the excess is expelled.

Integrated

Fully integrated units require a vent to be put into the skirting board to allow cool air to be brought up to the rear of the unit while warm air is expelled to the rear of the unit.

To allow the air to escape, a small gap should be incorporated into the rear of the cupboard space.

The Wine Cooler Switches on and off Frequently

The wine cooler will sometimes automatically shut down if it is overheating. Incorporating proper ventilation will reduce this. Some other reasons this could be happening are:

• The ambient temperature may be too high so the wine cooler automatically shuts down to cool off.
• Too many bottles may have been added, making the wine cooler overcrowded. This will cause it to overwork leading it to overheat and shut off to cool down.
• There may be an electrical problem which is affecting the power input, the Power PCB may need to be changed.
• You may have a faulty plug outlet.

The Wine Cooler Produces a Lot of Noise

Do you feel like your wine cooler is producing an unnecessary amount of noise? it could be down to one of these reasons.

• A compressor-based wine cooler will naturally make some noise when the compressor and fan system kicks in to alter the temperature, just like a normal fridge would. It is a standard operating system making noise and it shouldn’t be a concern.
• The wine cooler may not be level, which causes unwanted vibrations.
• The wine cooler makes a bubbling sound; this may just be the refrigerant passing through the evaporator.
• The internal or external condenser fans may be faulty; they can wobble around and cause a horrible amount of noise and they can also get blocked by small pieces of label from the wine bottles.
• The compressor may be working too hard due to a lack of refrigerant

Ice or Water Has Built up Inside My Wine Cooler

If you’ve noticed a buildup of frost or condensation in your wine cooler, that is completely normal as it is just the way the wine cooler manages the humidity.

You tend to find that cooler temperatures play a big part in frost buildup. Most wine coolers will only cool to 5°C, but there are multi-purpose drinks and wine fridges on the market that will go down to 2°C.

In the event of a frost buildup, turn the appliance off, remove any frost or water, and allow it to dry out completely with the door open. Condensation can also be caused by the door not being closed properly, so it’s really important to check all the seals and ensure that the door mechanism is working correctly.

Frost and condensation should be the only sources of water coming from the wine cooler, so any other liquids leaking will most likely be from the sealed system.

In the event of this, please contact the manufacturer to arrange for a technician to come out and diagnose the issue.

The Temperature Fluctuates Inside the Wine Cooler

This isn't a problem, the wine cooler operates just like a normal refrigerator - so the temperature will go up and down usually within +/-2°C of the set temperature.

Wine Coolers at Elite Wine Refrigeration

If your current wine refrigerator is continuing to break or you're just looking for a refresh. Here at Elite Wine Refrigeration, we offer a range of classy wine coolers that will look sleek in your at-home winery, from built-in wine coolers to freestanding coolers to wine walls. You will be sure to find a cooler that you will love.

Check out our exciting deals or contact a member of our knowledgeable and experiences team to help you find your dream wine cooler today.

FAQ Section

Q: Why won't my wine cooler turn on?

A: Check the power supply and trip/ circuit board, and replace any fuses if required. The power PCB may need replacing as this regulates the start-up of the wine cooler, contact the manufacturer for wine cooler repair.

Q: Why does the temperature keep going up in my wine cooler?

A: You should check the seals and gaskets on the wine fridge door, as they may be damaged or need replacing. This can cause warmer air to get through into the cooler making the temperature fluctuate meaning it is not keeping the wines cold.

Q: Are wine coolers worth it?

A: Yes! A wine cooler not only optimises your refrigerator space but also ensures a consistent temperature for your wines, ensuring they're ready to be served at any moment. Whilst also looking stylish.