Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by Lori Pace
To unlock your wine’s best flavors and aromas, it must be stored under the right conditions. Fortunately, installing a modern wine cellar cooling system in an older home isn’t as hard as it seems.
In this article, we’ll show you what type of system your family will need in a Victorian home.
The Challenges of Installing Modern Wine Cellar Cooling Systems
Plenty of American cities have historic areas that are filled with beautiful Victorian houses. For example, First Hill in Seattle, Washington, has homes dating back to the turn of the century. And if you ever plan on owning one, you should call a reliable company for HVAC repair services.
But can’t you just install a modern cooling system yourself? While this practice isn’t a good idea for any home, it’s even less recommended for homes that are over 100 years old.
When you plan to install a modern wine cooling system, you’ll run into two big challenges:
- Victorian Era Homes May Not Have Duct Work: Victorian Era homes often use traditional distribution systems, like boilers or radiators, which don’t require ductwork.
- It’s Impossible to Extend the Duct Work: When a Victorian Era home does have ductwork, it’s difficult to access without ripping out the walls of your home.
- Nowhere to Place Specific Cooling Equipment: In old homes, there’s minimal space to put a cooling system, both inside or outside the walls, even in a large house.
Even with these challenges, you can still install a modern wine-cooling system in a Victorian house. With the right unit, you’ll be able to sip your wine from the comfort of your home.
How To Add A Modern Wine Cellar Cooling System In An Older Home
The first modern air conditioning unit was invented in 1902, way after the last Victorian-style house was built. For this reason, you’ll have to use three types of units to cool your home.
Self-Contained Cooling Unit
A self-contained cooling unit is exactly what it sounds like an air conditioning system that has all of its components already installed in the unit. In the past, these units tended to be loud, messy, and unsightly. Now, they’re sleek enough to fit in with any aesthetic or house design.
The only trick to these units is figuring out how to vent them. In the best-case scenario, you’d vent the hot air outside through a nearby window. If you can’t do that, you can get an extension kit or vent through a hole in the door or wall. Self-contained cooling units are easy to install.
Ductless Mini–Split System
This type of system can control temperatures for individual rooms, so you can balance how much energy your system will use to cool your home. Ductless mini-split systems are smaller than typical air conditioning systems and don’t need a lot of ductwork to distribute air.
While installing an entire system can be expensive, installing a single split system in one room is really cost-effective. They’re also a great replacement for window units. Unless you’re an experienced HVAC tech, we recommend calling a professional to install this system.
High-Velocity Cooling Systems
A high-velocity cooling system uses 2” flexible ducts that are designed and engineered for your home’s existing framework. One positive of this system is you won’t see any ducts around your home. Instead, they’re installed in crawl spaces, basements, attics, and in some cases, closets.
Anyone who knows a Victorian Era home will want to preserve its architectural integrity. With this system, you can install a modern system for your wine cellar without ripping apart your house. Not only that, but you won’t have to suffer through the sounds of a major renovation.
