Maintenance is fundamental if you want to avoid wine cellar cooling unit repair. And taking care of this doesn’t start when you start seeing faults and need repairs. It starts right from installation and where you keep it.
You can take care of your wine cellar, depending on the type you have. Here are essential things to take care of right from the start to keep your wine cellar working efficiently and effectively for longer.
The Location of your Wine Cellar
This simply refers to where you have your wine cellar placed or stored. In most homes, these are usually in the basement. However, some homes will opt to put them in different parts of their homesteads.
What matters when it comes to location is
- Ventilation
If your unit has front ventilation, you can place it under your counter or put it somewhere else on its own. If it is not built with ventilation, you need to make sure not to place it anywhere that is closed or in any confined spaces.
If you happen to place it in a tight spot, you must leave enough space around it or on the sides for adequate ventilation.
- Sunlight and Temperature
Another thing to consider before you decide on the location of your wine cellar is sunlight and temperature. That is proximity to windows and other heat sources. Keep in mind that wines are sensitive to heat and UV Rays. Therefore, the temperature should be less than 60 degrees or more than 90 degrees.
Whatever the type of cellar you buy, you must not place it directly to sunlight, especially if the door is glass. Other appliances you don’t want to put your basement next to include the oven, washer, dryer, and dishwasher because they dissipate heat.
Installation
Installation is another crucial factor for an efficiently working unit. After deciding where you want it to be, the next step is installing it. The first tip is to let your unit stand upright for at least 24 hours after it arrives in your house.
This will allow all the components that might have rattled during shipping to settle into the right positions. You can also adjust the levelling legs if you need to. After everything is in the right place and you have levelled it as required, you are ready to plug it.
Know your Capacity
The last thing you want to do is overload your wine refrigerator. Different wines come in different shapes, and if there is a specified capacity by the manufacturer, not all wines will fit in the cellar.
If you don’t want to worry about wine capacity and overloading, it is highly advised that you go for units with larger capabilities.
Regular Cleaning
Cleaning is a maintenance process that will allow your unit to perform efficiently. It is also an excellent way to find out any moisture and build-ups in your cellar in places that you can’t readily see. When cleaning, also remember to follow the correct procedures;
- First, unplug the unit
- Remove all the bottles
- Take out the shelves too
- Use a clean, soft cloth to wipe the interior
Make sure to put your wine in a dark, dry place when you take them out of the cellar and immediately put them back after you finish cleaning.