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3 Simple Tips for Preventing Water Damage in Your Wine Cellar

3 Simple Tips for Preventing Water Damage in Your Wine Cellar

Welcome to the WhisperKOOL blog. We hope that our blog will become a source of vital information to our customers about the proper care and maintenance of their WhisperKOOL unit, in addition to wine storage and aging techniques and other topics. Today, we’d like to discuss several problems that can sometimes occur with wine cellar cooling units: leaks, clogs, and water damage.

Introduction 

In certain cases, your wine cellar cooling unit may naturally produces water (condensate) during the course of its regular operation. WhisperKOOL cooling units are equipped with a system that traps and removes this condensate. For example, many WhisperKOOL units have a drain pan—also referred to as a drip tray—which is situated below the coils. This pan catches any water which condenses out of the air and drips off the coils. A drain line then removes the condensate from the drip tray and drains it to an appropriate area, either out of doors or down a drain.

Problems can occur when water begins to leak out of your cooling unit. Cooling unit leaks can cause serious problems. Your floors, racking, and wine bottle labels may be damaged by the water, and even the integrity of the cellar itself compromised. The cooling unit itself may also sustain permanent damage. To avoid the unnecessary hazard of water damage, WhisperKOOL has the following tips to offer.

Tip #1: Have Your Cooling Unit Inspected Annually.

At least once a year, you should have a licensed HVAC-R technician inspect your cooling unit. The technician can check every operational aspect of the system. He or she can also top up the refrigerant charge and perform various other maintenance and inspection tasks. The technician will let you know if anything’s wrong with the unit and repair it if necessary. This will help keep the unit in top condition and significantly extend its life. Any potential leaks or clogs can more easily be caught in advance when a licensed tech inspects the unit regularly.

NOTE: You should not personally attempt to make any repairs to your WhisperKOOL cooling unit, as this will void the warranty.

Tip #2: Change or Clean Your Unit’s Filters and/or Coils Every Three Months.

Clogged filters can cause the unit to work harder than it needs to, causing ice to form on the evaporator coils. When this ice melts, it can result in water damage to the unit or the surrounding area. Clean filters ensure that the unit runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. WhisperKOOL ducted Extreme tiR units have paper filters in the duct plenums, which need to be replaced regularly. (Replacement filters for Extreme tiR units are available for purchase here.) WhisperKOOL Platinum 4000, Platinum 8000, and Platinum Mini Split systems have filters behind their grilles. These filters can be removed, washed, and replaced. Even if your WhisperKOOL unit does not include a filter, you can still vacuum the evaporator coils with a vacuum cleaner to rid them of dust and debris.

Tip #3: Inspect the Drain Line Regularly.

The drain line is another part of the condensate disposal system that may fall victim to mold buildup. It’s important to inspect your drain line to make sure it isn’t clogged with mold, dead leaves, insects, or other obstructions. With split system drain lines,  you can detach your drain line and wash it with antibacterial soap and water. With self-contained drain lines, you can run a drain line brush up and down inside the drain line to ensure that it’s clear. Also, ensure that the drain line has the proper slope as well. Proper drain line operation depends on gravity. Make sure that throughout the whole of the drain line’s length, it descends to the disposal area and doesn’t slope upward or kink anywhere.

We at WhisperKOOL hope these tips will assist you in preventing disastrous water damage from occurring in your cellar. For more wine storage tips like this, stay tuned to our blog and subscribe to our email list. And be sure to check out some of our other, lighter blog posts as well. Finally, don’t forget to stop by our brand-new, redesigned website to see our latest innovative cooling solutions. Thanks for reading!

1 Comment
  • Bryan Phillips
    July 18, 2020

    Do you have a picture of the brass drain line connector (the part inside the unit). My Slimline 2500 doesn’t drain down the hose, but occasionally water drips from the edge. I can’t get a pipe cleaner up the drain into the bottom of the unit – curious if that brass part T-s off or takes a 90 degree turn inside the unit. I blew compressed air into the drain, seems patent. Also, the unit is level & has been defrosted in case it was an ice jam.

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