Will It Work For You?
A new product has just been released and it is causing quite a stir. This is a truly great fully ducted wine cellar cooling system by CellarPro, it is extremely versatile and can be configured to be used in many different ways. For example, the cooling units can be stacked vertically when floor space is limited; or they can be stacked horizontally when ceiling height is limited; or the evaporator and the condensing unit can be split apart, and the condensing unit even can be placed outdoors, when space or access are limited
This new Wine Cellar Air Handler comes in both the 6500 and the 8500 sizes. Therefore, these units are meant for larger cellars, up to 1750 cubic feet and up to 2500 cubic feet, respectively, with proper insulation and vapor barrier installed in the wine cellar. The self-contained (ie Horizontal and Vertical) units are pre-charged and factory set so that they do NOT have to be installed by an HVAC contractor.
There are several different ways these wine cooling systems can be installed:
- These wine cellar cooling units can be placed horizontally or vertically.
- They can be used as one unit or separated as a split system.
- An optional remote digital display is available for use inside or outside the cellar when the units are ducted to and from the cellar.

- The evaporator can be ducted into and from the cellar with the condenser attached.
- The evaporator can be split and connected to the evaporator via 2 copper lines.
- The evaporator could be placed inside the room and connected through the wall to the condenser via 2 copper lines.
- Each unit is 18.6w x 18.6 d x 19.3 h… so each section is quite large.
- The condenser can be connected to the evaporator directly.
- The condenser can be “split” and connected to it via 2 copper lines and be separated up to 100 line ft. away.
- The units can be ducted to the wine cellar
from the evaporator and to the outdoors or another large space from the condenser up to 100 equivalent ft. (50 ft. per duct). - The units are also available so that the condenser can be placed indoors or outdoors to temperatures from -20 degrees to 110 degrees when used with the optional low ambient kit.
The way you will install your unit must be determined before ordering to receive the correct unit configuration.
Optional Humidifiers and Heaters are available that can be installed at the factory upon placing your order. These must be factory installed and cannot be added later.
The integrated Humidifier is perfect for increasing the humidity level in commercial or residential wine cellars. They are controlled by digital controllers that are mounted inside the wine room and are wired to the humidifier that is mounted to the rear of the Air Handler. Humidity levels can be set from 5% to 70% in 5% increments.
The 900W integrated Heater is for cellars that are unheated and exposed to conditions below 55 degrees. When the heater system is added, it is integrated with and controlled by the digital control panel and automatically adds heat or refrigeration based on the temperature inside the cellar. A safety thermostat provides protection from overheating.
Here is a photo of recent install of an AH6500Sch CellarPro system installed by one of our partner contractors in Memphis, TN. Located in the attic above the wine cellar the air was ducted to and from the wine cellar. The hot air was ducted outdoors and the fresh air was received from the fully insulated attic. The contractor who installed this unit purchased an extra duct collar for the unit. He is currently getting his supply air from the attic. If he finds that the attic gets too hot over the summer, he will change out the grill to the duct collar, adding a duct to the outside for the supply air.
Go here Custom Wine Cellars Memphis to see an example of a CellarPro Wine Cellar Cooling Unit installed is a recent residential wine cellar project.
To find out if this type of system is right for your wine cellar …. Or to see what cooling system is the best type and size for your wine cellar, call Wine Cellar Specialists to have a heat load calculation performed and get a unit recommendation.
Texas: 972-454-0480 Illinois: 773-234-0112 or Toll Free: 866-646-7089
Wine Cellar Floors
Floor Preparation
When thinking about the flooring for custom wine cellars, you should remember that as part of a climate controlled room it must be prepared properly. This is an area that some people make the mistake of ignoring when creating a wine cellar in their home. If the floor in your cellar is above ground, you must add the same vapor barrier and insulation that you do to your walls and ceiling. Remember, the wine room must be wrapped up tight like a package. If your floor is on a cement slab which rests on the ground, you can get away with adding a vapor barrier only to the cement before applying your floor covering.
We recommend a product called Bostic’s MVP4. It is a Moisture Vapor Protection that is applied with a trowel and left to dry before adding your floor on top. It is usually available at your local hardware store. Once the moisture barrier is in place, you can add a plywood base or add your flooring directly on top of the vapor barrier.
Flooring Materials for Custom Wine Cellars
What you use for your actual wine cellar flooring material is up to you, as long as you stay away from anything resembling carpet. Carpet or carpet-like materials can mold or mildew in the higher humidity of a wine cellar. Slate, stone, tiles of many materials are fine in a wine cellar. Be careful of wood flooring unless it has previously been aged in a humid environment.
For a particularly special looking custom wine cellar floor reclaimed wine barrel flooring is an excellent choice and becoming more widely used in wine cellars. It is oak and made by master craftsmen from real oak wine barrels that are between 6 and 50 years old. Because these barrels previously held wine, the wood has already been exposed to extreme humidity levels. The barrels are sent through a process that implements a variety of specialized techniques to create an olde world style product line. The flooring can be glued or nailed over an area that has been prepared with a vapor barrier.
Three separate styles are available. The Cooperage flooring is made from the barrel head with all of its patina, cooperage stamps and special markings. The Wine Infusion flooring is made from the inside of the wine barrels where the wood has been naturally stained by the wine during the maturation process. The Stave flooring is created using the outside of the wine barrels. When the outside hoops are removed they leave behind distinctive markings and texture.
The wine barrel flooring is a statement of style and brings the history and aged beauty of wine into the personality of your wine cellar. A real conversation piece, this reclaimed wine barrel product is also available in drop-in ready tabletops and counter-tops.
Cork flooring is another great way to create a wine cellar floor. It is durable and very inexpensive. It is what you call a “floating floor” installation. Cork flooring comes in tongue and groove pieces that snap together and are held in place with a simple molding. Several styles, patterns and colors are available.
Both reclaimed wine barrel flooring and cork flooring are very unique and obvious ways to say “this is my special and unique wine cellar”.
Check out this sneak peek of a new residential custom wine cellars builders project we recently completed in Naperville a location near Chicago Illinois. As Full Service Wine Cellar Builders, Contractors and Installers we love building and designing beautiful custom wine cellars, wine tasting rooms and simple closet conversions like this example job. For the full story, interesting before and after images go to custom wine cellars design Chicago.
Naperville is a smaller city just outside Chicago Illinois. Interestingly it has been voted as a best place to live in the United States several times, even at one time making it to the number two best place to live position. As a smaller U.S. City with a population around 142,000 (2010) it is actually quite an affluent city with numerous corporate headquarters located in the down town area. Surprisingly in a 2010 article, Naperville was named as the wealthiest city in the Midwest! As Custom Wine Cellar Builders it should be no surprise therefore that we maintain a local presence of Wine Cellar Contractors in Naperville, Chicago and Illinois generally.
If you live in one of these areas and are considering converting an unused room into a Wine Tasting Room or Custom Wine Cellar simple call us Toll Free: at (866) 646-7089 or complete a FREE Wine Cellar Designs form and we will create a stunning 3D CAD Design Package tailored to your specific requirements without obligation and completely free of charge.
Check out one of our latest projects in Slidell which is near New Orleans in Louisiana. This Retail Wine Store and Bistro Bar is a great example of what can be done to enhance a Retail Wine Store in to something with character and style. Enjoy the video and visit our Commercial Wine Racks New Orleans Louisiana page.
Part Three – Custom Wine Cellars and your home value and desirability
A wine cellar can add considerable value as both a practical room and unique feature to set you home apart from others. While the primary purpose of building a custom wine cellar should probably be for your own private enjoyment, it can also increase desirability. Upgrades to homes are important to set them apart. Once only found in the very high end home market, stunning custom wine cellars, are amongst the most nascent additions and ‘must haves’ for the luxury homes mid-market. They are particularly appreciated in large homes situated in upscale neighborhoods.
3. Am I interested in my wine cellar increasing the value of my home or business?
A room with wine racks is a place to store wine bottles for a limited period of time. A climate controlled wine cellar with a Wine Cellar Refrigeration System is a place to store your wine collection for future enjoyment or investment. This type of wine cellar is also a good investment in your home or business…increasing the market value of your property.
If you are still unsure whether to add a cooling system to your wine cellar but want to get started with your project, at the very least, prepare the room for the future climate control possibility. Add the proper amount of insulation and a vapor barrier in the walls, floor, and ceiling. (See How To Build Your Wine Cellar)
Do your homework or consult a Wine Cellar Specialist to suggest the best method of cooling your space. Then, add the necessary electrical and drain lines when preparing your walls so that your room is ready, if cooling is added at a later time.
Check out our new page for this project that tells the full story and detail behind our recent Custom Wine Cellar Closet Dallas Texas conversion. You can also enjoy a sneak peek of the project by watching the video below.
Wine Cellar Cooling Systems by US Cellar Systems
See other similar projects such as the Johns Residential Wine Room Dallas Texas or the Commercial Wine Racks Bistro Wine Store
For Wine Stores, the benefits of improving your wine displays with professional commercial wine racks are primarily associated with improvements in bottom line revenues. Feedback from our commercial wine store clients indicates that this can be as much as an immediate 20% jump in sales.
We attribute this to three main factors:
Improved visibility of the wine
We all know that in a store good merchandising is everything; high visibility coupled with clear pricing and incentive based limited availability special offers, increase impulse purchasing
Higher density of inventory
Simply put, the more wines on display the more opportunities for purchase your customers have
High quality of Commercial Wine Racking
- Market – customer perception of store as a quality wine supplier. When wines are professionally racked and displayed in attractive and purpose built commercial wine racks clients tend to assume expertise of the wine store in their supply and wine selection. This can lead to more sales of quality higher priced more profitable wines
If you are a wine store owner and are looking for ways to improve your sales revenues, take action today. Invest in marketing your products in the most effective way possible; make your showroom generate more ROI dollars per square foot.
To get going, simply contact us here by requesting a free no obligation Commercial Wine Racks Design or call us at +1 (866) 646 7089 at and join our other happy commercial wine store owners enjoying improved daily margins.
See some examples below of our installed wine store commercial wine racks and displays.
We have many completed wine store projects that have contributed to our understanding of the retail commercial wine display marketplace in locations ranging from Dallas, Austin, and Houston in Texas to Memphis, Tennessee and in and around Chicago Illinois.
The basic purpose of a wine cellar door is to seal the door opening so that you are able to effectively maintain the temperature and humidity levels inside the wine cellar. This is why a door made with LVL* construction is extremely good for wine cellars. The LVL* construction not only adds better insulation to the door but is less likely to ever warp due to the high humidity in a wine cellar. (more…)















