Air conditioning

[Thig]

My basement cellar is cooled by ducts from my house Hvac system but it is usually around 68 degrees down there. I would like to cool it down about 10 more degrees. Anyone have any experience with the Mitsubishi ductless split system. My basement has no windows.

 

[Runningwolf]

Funny you should ask. PJD just installed one and Julie is thinking about it.

 

[joeswine]

Air conditioning?

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO AIR CONDITION A BASEMENT?IT'S BY MOST STANDARDS THE COLDEST AREA OF THE HOUSE AND CONSIDERED AS A UNCONDITIONED SPACE , IF FOR YOUR WINE STORAGE THAT'S COOL ENOUGH ,IF YOU WANT TO CONDITION THE SPACE A LITTLE MORE THEN PUT A AIR TO AIR VENTING SYSTEM MUCH MORE INEXPENSIVE TO DO ,KEEPS MOLD AND HUMIDITY DOWN AT THE SAME TIME.THIS IS WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR 31 YEARS .OR DO YOU HAVE A FINISHED BASEMENT?

 

[FTC Wines]

Thig, I used to live outside Blue Ridge Ga. There my basement was 68* in summer & 62* in winter! I thought perfect temps for my wine. I did a a wine chiller to keep my best long term wines in. Now I live in SW FL ( no basement ) so I put a 5200 btu AC unit in the wall of my winery & keep the temp at 68* plus I have 2 wine chillers, 84 bottles, to store my best wines. Miss that basement! If you really want it cooler one of the split systems should work fine for you. Roy

 

[Thig]

Thanks Roy. Joe I seem to be around 68 in my basement and I thought for long term storage it really should be a little cooler, maybe around 55 to 58.

 

[cimbaliw]

From what I've read, rapid temperature fluctuations are more of a concern than actual temperature. That being said you're getting near the upper limit of recommended storage temperature. At least for me, the basement temp is measurably cooler near the floor. You might want to think about storing lower rather than higher.

BC

 

[Thig]

BC, never thought about that. I do have my temperature guage about eye level,, I will put it down low and see what I get.

 

[MrKevin]

Thig
Your are correct 55-58 is the correct long term storage temp. Temp variations are the worse on wine. I would rate it #1 temp consistency and #2 temp for wine damage.

 

[FTC Wines]

Thig, my basement tile floor did run a few degrees cooler than 4' up. Roy ps. again 62-68* year round I feel is a good range for storing wine, wish I had it in Fl.

 

[joeswine]

wine storage

as a home wine maker I look for consistence, and 68 degrees is that not to cool not to hot and if you are not dealing with high humidity in the area (basement) it feels a lot cool the best we get with out a cost factor.

 

[richmke]

If you cool your entire basement another 10 degrees, I bet you are going to end up with a damp/high humidity area in the summer time. Good for keeping the corks moist, but you are also asking for a mold problem.

 

[Thig]

Looking into something called "Coolbot" which turns a regular air conditioner into somewhat of a chiller at a much lower cost.

http://www.storeitcold.com/index.html

 

[joeswine]

Richmke

DEAD ON ...................

 

[Renee]

I learned in Sommelier School fine aged wine should be kept at 58 degrees and 60 percent humidity. As far as kits are concerned well that was never discussed.

 

[JohnT]

+1 on the consistency!

The problem with air conditioners is the thermostat. This about it.. The temp will warm up until the AC kicks in and then the air cools back down again. IMHO, this constant up and down is probably more harmful then just storing the wine at 65-68 degrees (basement temp).


Renee,

Yes, one should store wine at 55 degrees and 70% humidity. These are the natural conditions normally found in traditional underground wine cellars and caves. The problem here is that not everyone has an underground wine cellar or cave.

 

[whackfol]

If you are pursing 55F with a split unit, consider refrigeration. The installation is similar and refrigeration is made to cool to a lower temp. A correctly sized unit with the fan and compressor running a high percentage of the time will keep the room at temperature and keep the humidity down. There are many evaporator configurations available (including a wall mount and low profile ceiling mount used for reach in coolers). You can even add two evaporators on one condenser. My only advice is to consult a specialist to size your unit. (You will be tempted to "over club," don't. If the unit does not run enough hours per day, humidity can rise and the risk of mold.) This should be at no charge as they typically default to the manufacturer for their suggestion. I've not compared the cost of the newer Japanese split a/c units with refrigeration. 15 years ago when I installed mine, it was a better deal than the alternatives.

 

[dangerdave]

I installed my main storage rack in an enclosed storage space below my basement stairs (below). While the basement living area manitains a constant 68F (love it!), the sub-stair section was unventinated and remained a bit too warm. My solution was to use a piece of 3" PVC pipe (not pictured), cut into the main house duct work (boxed in upper left of the picture), and run it across and through a circular hole I cut in the adjacent wall of the enclosed stair. I have a cap for the pipe that I put over the end in winter, when the furnace is running. Now, it's always very cool in there. I actually need to check the temp some time.

 

[FTC Wines]

JohnT my winery room in Fl is a constant 68* year round, thanks to a AC unit Ibglowin tuned me on to. I check the temps of my wine bottles on the racks with a digital thermostat, rarely is there a more than .02 degrees difference. I check the same 3 bottles at the same level on the shelves. Room varies 1.5-2 degrees, but the outside of the bottles are very constant! Roy. Ps I could lower it another 8-10 * but I also work in there. And have 84 bottles in chillers @ 58* for my big reds long term aging.

 

[Norske]

JohnT my winery room in Fl is a constant 68* year round, thanks to a AC unit Ibglowin tuned me on to.

Which unit did you get?

 

[FTC Wines]

It's a GE 5200 btu window unit, like $140 delivered to my door via Wallmart online. Pretty quiet for a window unit. I had to cut a hole thru the winery wall into the garage for it because we live in a deed restricted comm that doesn't allow window units. Works pretty good this way. Came with a digital remote stat so I can easily adjust temps or shut it off when we bottle( wife hates to be cold!) it's set high on a 9'4" high wall. Need anything else just ask. Roy. Ps I keep the AC supply duct open when AC is on, most of year, but shut if off in dead of winter, 2 weeks, HA HA, saw you from Alaska, love that state. Also I keep the AC return duct blocked off year round so I don't suck 68* air out of that room.