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what is a freestanding wine cooler

by Litzy Roberts Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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A freestanding wine cooler is designed to stand alone while a built-in wine cooler (also called a zero clearance or under-counter wine cooler) is designed to be built into existing counters and cabinetry as they include a front vent located under the door that channels heat forward away from the unit.

Full Answer

How large should your freestanding wine cooler be?

The amount of space that you have within your kitchen, den or other spot in your home for a wine cooler needs to be considered. A large number of wine coolers these days are about twenty inches deep or so. In addition, a cooler can be about 25 to 35 inches wide on average. This is a good-sized footprint that can take up a good bit of space in your cooler. You need to be fully aware of how big the unit is versus the amount of physical space you have for storing your cooler.

Can a freestanding wine cooler be built in?

Therefore, freestanding wine coolers can only be placed in an enviroment which is open. On the other hand, Built-in wine coolers are units which have their ventilation fan located at the front of the unit (usually at the bottom). Because of this, they can be placed in enclosed settings where freestanding units would simply not be able to function.

Which wine cooler should you buy?

  • Sparkling wine: Up to three days
  • Full-bodied white wine: Up to five days
  • Rose and light wine: Up to seven days
  • Red wine: Up to five days
  • Wine in a box: Up to four weeks

What is the best built in wine cooler?

Top 9 Wine Coolers Review 2021

  • EdgeStar CWR532SZ – Editor's Choice. ...
  • Allavino FlexCount VSWR172-2BWRN – Largest Capacity Wine Fridge. ...
  • Kalamera 24'' Wine Refrigerator – Best Dual Zone Wine Cooler. ...
  • Colzer Elegant 12-Inch Wine Cooler – Best 18 Bottle Wine Cooler. ...
  • Kalamera 15'' Wine Cooler – Best Compressor Wine Cooler. ...
  • Ivation 33-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler. ...

More items...

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What is the difference between a freestanding and a built-in wine cooler?

A unit with front ventilation is considered a built-in unit, whereas a unit with side or rear ventilation requires sufficient space on the sides and rear for heat to dissipate, thus considered a freestanding refrigerator.

Where should I place my freestanding wine cooler?

Top 10 Places to Put a Wine CoolerKitchen. This is by far the most popular place for wine coolers. ... Dry Bar or Wet Bar. ... Cellar. ... Tasting Room. ... Dining Room. ... Restaurant or Café ... Wine Bar. ... Finished Basement, Den, or Entertainment Area.More items...•

Can you put a freestanding wine cooler undercounter?

Question: Can a freestanding wine cooler be installed as a built-in unit? This is, by far, the most frequently asked question about wine refrigeration. And the answer is no. A freestanding wine refrigerator should never be installed under a counter.

What is the difference between a wine cooler and a wine refrigerator?

The temperature range is what differentiates a wine cooler refrigerator from a standard refrigerator. Wine should be chilled between 45°F to 65°F. Most wine coolers do not provide temperatures below 46°F. A refrigerator's temperature range is 35°F to 42°F, which is considered too cold for wine.

What does freestanding installation only mean?

Freestanding appliances can stand on its own with finished sides, without the need of installing in the cabinetry while built-in appliances are integrated into the kitchen cabinets or walls, creating more modern, sophisticated look in the kitchen.

Can I put a freestanding wine fridge in a cabinet?

Yes, wine coolers can be installed in a cabinet, but only built in wine coolers. Freestanding wine coolers are not suitable to be installed inside of a cabinet or a tight space because the ventilation would be blocked.

How do you install a freestanding wine cooler?

0:526:30Installing a Free-Standing Wine Cooler into a Cabinet & Adding ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce placed in the cabinet that heated air recirculates. You will not get cool wine in this case.MoreOnce placed in the cabinet that heated air recirculates. You will not get cool wine in this case. And it will shorten the life of the unit. So you must exhaust that air from behind the unit.

How much clearance does a freestanding wine fridge need?

Generally, this means that you will need to allow for 6 inches of clearance at the back, 10-12 inches of clearances on each side, and nothing placed on top of the cooler. Freestanding units should never be recessed into cabinetry like a built-in wine fridge.

Can you use a wine cooler as a refrigerator?

Is A Wine Cooler As Cold As A Fridge? Temperature range is what distinguishes wine coolers from mini fridges. A wine cooler must be a minimum of 46°F to store wine between 45°F and 65°F. Typically, the temperature of a mini fridge is between 35°F and 42°F, and wine should not be kept in it.

Can you use a wine cooler for other drinks?

Other Beverages Try keeping all your favorite beverages in a wine fridge for the ultimate beverage cooler! A wine fridge is perfect for chilling bottled water, soda, sparkling water, juice, energy drinks, lemonade, and even other alcoholic beverages like beer and wine coolers.

Can you put beer in a wine fridge?

Wine fridges can be used to keep beer and food cold. Using a wine fridge for beer or wine is fine, but it may not be optimal for all foods, such as foods that accompany wines. Therefore, take care to consider temperature requirements for various foods when choosing a wine fridge.

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Overview

In this modern-day and age, we’re pretty far gone from the days of having to set up an entire cellar to store wine. As life becomes more convenient, manufacturers have come up with products that are more compact, easy to install, and packed with smart features. For now, the trend is to store wines and beverages in dedicated wine coolers.

Types

Wine coolers can be categorized based on many criterias. In terms of style, there are freestanding and built-in wine coolers. Freestanding wine coolers are units designed for standalone setup, which means that they can be quite big in size and require adequate space for installation.

Buying guide

What we just listed are some of the best freestanding wine coolers on the market. However, picking the best option out of those is a task that requires a lot more consideration. Knowing that you need a freestanding unit is already a good step, and here are other factors that you might need to think about:

FAQs

Yes, a freestanding wine cooler can absolutely be built-in. However, it’s totally up to the manufacturer to design and produce it in that hybrid form. For example, Kalamera is a brand that frequently comes out with wine coolers of the hybrid design.

Conclusion

And that’s all you need to know about the best freestanding wine coolers in 2021. Aside from being an appliance to store wine properly, coolers have now become a piece of accessories for collectors. And there’s no better way to show it off than by getting a freestanding model.

What Is A Built-In Wine Cooler?

A built-in wine cooler has a front ventilation design, which means that heat escapes from under the door, preventing your unit from getting hot. Due to its front vented feature, it is usually fitted into existing counters or under worktop counters, giving it a modern look and saving space.

What Is A Freestanding Wine Refrigerator?

A freestanding wine cooler has side or rear vents, which means you have more places to set up your freestanding wine cooler. It’s easy to install and usually doesn’t require any professional help. That said, it also has a low maintenance price.

Do I Need A Wine Fridge?

In order for a wine to retain its originality, it has to be stored at the right temperature, humidity, and vibration-free. Our daily refrigerators are designed to fluctuate the temperature and drive out humidity which affects the quality of your wine.

Where To Put A Freestanding Wine Cooler?

A freestanding wine cooler may take up additional floor space in your house, but in return, it can be placed anywhere you like with any sizes you prefer. Here are a few ideas for you to start with:

Can I Put A Wine Cooler In A Cabinet?

A built-in wine cooler is fixed into one place, therefore it is sturdier, secure, and less vulnerable to vibrations. If you were to put your wine fridge near your kitchen appliances, we recommend you go with a built-in wine cooler. Those machines in your kitchen emit micro-vibrations which can affect your wine quality over an extended period.

Is The Garage The Best Place For My Wine Cooler?

In fact, the garage is not the ideal place to store wine for long periods of time as it is influenced by many external factors such as the vibrations from vehicles and the opening and closing of doors. Besides, it does not have the right temperature and sunlight from windows and doors will also affect the quality of the wine.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter where to put a freestanding wine cooler, as long as it’s safe and matches your current and future requirements. Before doing anything, thorough planning and research of the wines you own, the types of models available, as well as the space you have, is very important.

Freestanding vs. Built-In Wine Coolers

A freestanding wine cooler is designed to stand alone while a built-in wine cooler (also called a zero clearance or under-counter wine cooler) is designed to be built into existing counters and cabinetry as they include a front vent located under the door that channels heat forward away from the unit.

Thermoelectric vs. Compressor-Based Wine Coolers

Many smaller wine coolers employ thermoelectric cooling instead of using a traditional compressor and refrigerant. A thermoelectric wine cooler contains a cooling node consisting of a ceramic tile that has electrical current passed through it.

Single Zone vs. Dual Zone Wine Coolers

Single zone wine coolers have one temperature control and the storage space is undivided, so the whole cooler is set to the same temperature. This style is best if you tend to keep only white or only red wines, since they don’t have the same optimal temperatures.

Wine Coolers vs. Beverage Coolers vs. Refrigerators

A wine cooler is set to a higher temperature range than a refrigerator or beverage cooler because wine should not be stored as cold as other beverages. On average a wine cooler will not offer temperatures below 46°F degrees.

Wine Aging and Humidity

Wine ages through a complex process of subtle chemical reactions that require specific conditions for optimal results. These conditions are a stable temperature around 55°F, a relative humidity around 70%, and protection from direct light.

Cleaning Your Wine Cooler

Unplug your cooler. Remove all items from it (wine bottles, shelves, etc.)

Placement

Freestanding units usually have ventilation located at the back of the physical frame, and this vent is responsible for making sure that the unit has enough airflow, and is able to maintain a consistent cool temperature internally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here we’ve done our best to address any frequently asked questions that we get asked; Please feel free to leave any we’ve potentially missed within the comments section, and we’ll answer it and add it to the list of FAQ’s.

Freestanding and Built-in Wine Cooler

The freestanding wine cooler is designed to stand alone without the support or help of any other external tool. The built in wine cooler is designed to be placed into existing counters and cabinetry. Most built-in coolers also have a front vent located under the door.

Getting Your Wine Cooler Up and Running

If you are looking for a high-quality wine cooler, then it is rather expensive. It will have the necessary high outward design and finishing while the inner parts are run with special technology that controls temperature without fail.

Best Areas to Place Your Cooler

You can purchase your wine cooler to suit the space you have at your home or establishment. You may need to measure the space so that it would be fit enough to its designated space when you purchase a cooler. There are several areas in your home, shop, or commercial establishment where you can easily keep your wine coolers.

The capacity of Your Wine Cooler

You must first have an idea about the type of wine cooler you want and the capacity it holds. What is good for a public restaurant or café may not be the same in your home. You may need wines only in small quantities, and therefore you need to think it over and check the bottle capacity it has to hold your collection.

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