Wine Cellar Temperature and Humidity, What is Ideal?

The ideal temperature and humidity of a basement would do well to the natural features of the legendary French wine caves, which are recognized are almost perfectly imitate.

Keep the rest of the world, while the cellars 55-57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees C) and with an average of 60% relative humidity usually requires some form of the special wine cooler. For proper control of cellar temperature and humidity, the system must take into account and to managenot only the temperature of the cellar, but also the vagaries of the climate where you live. It's hot / dry? Hot / wet? Cold / dry? Cold / wet? If the system is also needed to keep the heat supply to maintain the correct temperature in winter? These are all important factors in building or refurbishing your basement.

Humidity Control

Understanding the temperature

55-57 degrees F (14 degrees C) is considered the ideal temperature for storing and aging wine properly. If the temperatureconstantly fluctuates up or down by several degrees, your wines will be affected and can age prematurely.

Some refrigerators are using a device in-bottle liquid temperature, adjust the device when it signals a change from 2 to 4 degrees of temperature in the liquid. Unfortunately by the time the wine inside the bottle isolated to respond to fluctuations in the air in the basement has already moved many of the critical level. A wall with a thermostatRange of + or - 1 degree F is ideal. Cellar at room temperature below 55 degrees F should be protected by a heating coil. Without the ability to heat, a cooling device can not do anything if the set point temperature in the cellar under control. The best system is one in which it is incorporated into the heating and cooling by the thermostat itself.
How can the problem of temperature

In all cases, the quality should be a primary consideration. The first cheapThe price is soon forgotten when the wine cellar cooling unit is not stressed and wine. Unit must be assessed in the cellar near the intended operating temperature and humidity. This means that about 55 degrees Celsius and 60% relative humidity. Make sure the unit you buy wine for use, non-domestic use has been designed. Since there are many other variables to consider that the number of bottles in the cellar or cubes before recording to select the type and size of a cooling device, isbetter when the calculation is to be a professional with a load calculation program. These variables can also rate the opening of the doors, lighting, insulation in the room, doors and windows, the frequency of cases of sale, etc.
Why is it important to moisture?

The humidity is a critical element often overlooked in the design cellar. 50% - 70% accepted as adequate, with 60% of the ideal.
If the humidity is above 70%, it is likely that mold and degradation of labels andglue. When the humidity is below 50%, corks will begin to dry out resulting in loss of liquid in the bottles and possible degradation of the wine.
How to Resolve the Humidity

First step should be the installation of a vapor barrier around the entire room. A minimum of 4 mil plastic is recommended with seams overlapped and taped. The vapor barrier is installed on the outside (or warm side) of the cellar insulation. This is to prevent condensation from forming on the vapor barrier, potentially causing mold. A cooling unit alone cannot add moisture or humidify cellar air. It needs a humidifier to do so. The best option is a humidifier integrated into a cooling unit so it operates and distributes the moisture evenly in the re-circulating air. However, a free-standing humidifier can also be installed in conjunction with a cooling unit as long as this is controlled by a high-quality wall-mounted thermostat.

Wine Cellar Temperature and Humidity, What is Ideal?