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Wine coolers are the perfect way for you to ensure that your wine is stored in the perfect conditions for ageing whilst also looking luxurious in your home. Depending on your space and storage needs there are many different types of wine cooler you can get.
From under-counter to freestanding to integrated, this brings us to the question of whether freestanding wine coolers can go in under-cabinet spaces. Let's find out in today's blog by Elite Wine Refrigeration, where we will look into where you can place a freestanding wine cooler in your home and how you can safely install it.
Can You Put a Wine Cooler Under a Cabinet?
Can you put a wine cooler under a cabinet? Yes, wine coolers can be installed into cabinets - and you can install a freestanding wine cooler under cabinet space too, providing it is done correctly.
Integrated wine coolers are specifically designed to be fitted into your kitchen cabinets for a seamless finish.
Freestanding wine coolers are designed to stand freely and are not suitable for fitting into a cabinet, building them into a closed space will result in blocked ventilation to your unit - correct ventilation is essential for the optimum storage of your wine collection.
The only acceptance to integrating a freestanding cooler into a cabinet is if you have one that doubles up as both, functioning as both a freestanding and built-in model if you need.
Do I Need a Cabinet For My Cooler?
Built-in wine coolers otherwise known as integrated wine coolers can fit into your kitchen cabinets or under your kitchen counter worktops. Unless stated that your cooler can be both freestanding or integrated, then your built-in cooler will have to be built into a unit of some kind.
This style of wine cooler is the most discreet and gives a sleek and sophisticated finish to any kitchen. Depending on which model you choose, you can completely hide your cooler away within your cupboard space behind a cupboard door, or as many choose to, have it integrated yet still on show as many like to show off their wine cooler and also their wine.
Why Fit a Wine Cooler Under a Cabinet?
Wine coolers are usually found in kitchens - freestanding units can be placed freely and can move around your space as needed. But some units can be bulky and therefore stick out inconveniently in a small space. If you have little free floor space in your kitchen then a built-in kitchen wine fridge is the answer for you. If you're looking for a smaller wine cooler, opt for a single-zone wine cooler - multi-zone wine coolers tend to be larger.
How to Install Into a Cabinet
If you are installing your wine cooler there are some things that you should take into consideration, here are some tips:
Ventilation
Ensuring that your cooler has correct ventilation is key. Most under-counter wine coolers come with front ventilation systems, which make them much easier to install.
If you ventilation system is at the back, make sure that there is enough ventilation room between the back of your wine cooler and the surface it is going to be standing next to, this could be a cupboard door or wall.
Measurements
Make sure you have the correct size cooler for your free cabinet space where you are going to be installing your wine cooler. Before buying, assess the space and purchase a wine cooler accordingly.
Make sure you have enough room when installing under cabinets that you have access to your wine cooler door or cabinet door and make sure it opens fully. Sometimes the doors can be a bit of a struggle to get to with a wine cooler inside a cabinet so if you want a seamless functioning cooler, as well as a seamless-looking one then make sure you consider this when installing.
Power
Wine coolers are not hard-wired into your kitchen so, of course, your wine cooler needs to have a power source - so make sure you are fitting yours with an appropriate power outlet nearby.
Location
The location of your cooler is also an important factor, you should avoid fitting your cooler in a space that is exposed to direct sunlight, as this could negatively impact your wine.
UV rays can affect the taste and quality of your wine, whether it be red or white. Although most coolers come with treated UV-tinted glass doors to prevent light from affecting your wine. Your cooler will have to work twice as hard if the sun is constantly shining upon it and heating it. If this happens it will cause it to become less efficient over time.
You mustn't place your wine cooler next to appliances that vibrate and move, by this we mean dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, stereo systems or anything that causes vibrational movements. Again this will speed up the chemical reactions in your wine causing it to age prematurely.
It is also best to place your wine cooler on a flat surface as opposed to a carpeted surface. If there is ever a leak from your wine cooler carpeted floor will soak up the leak so it could be harder to spot and also gather mildew. To avoid this it is best practice to keep a wine cooler on the hard floor to detect any leaks way more easily.
Shop With Elite Wine Refrigeration
Here at Elite Wine Refrigeration, we specialise in delivering the highest quality wine storage solutions. We have a wide range of different wine coolers to choose from, browse our website today.
If you have any questions regarding the products that we have available, please feel free to reach out and a member of our team will be happy to help!
