It does not matter if you are using a kitchen fridge or a wine fridge; all refrigerators require space for ventilation unless they are self-ventilating wine fridges. Ventilation is the process by which hot air created by the compressor is released. As long as there is no proper ventilation for the air to escape from the refrigerator, it will build up inside the refrigerator, making it impossible to maintain a temperature low enough to keep the contents cool or cause the entire unit to simply overheat and break.
If your wine fridge gets too warm, the quality of your wine will begin to suffer. After leaving your wine in an inappropriate climate, you will notice that its quality has dropped, and aging and possible spoilage is happening faster than they should. A warm fridge also creates a higher humidity space, perfect for mold to breed and infest your vin.
Free-Standing Wine Fridges
The space you allocate for your wine fridge will determine its installation and therefore its ventilation needs. For instance, freestanding wine fridges usually have ventilation on the backside or all around the edges. This type of ventilation is standard for a lot of freestanding refrigerators, whether they are kitchen fridges or wine fridges that are specially designed for wine.
Whenever you buy a refrigerator with ventilation on the backside, you will notice a large grate running along the length of the refrigerator. The vent needs to be placed at least 2 or 3 inches away from the wall so that it can breathe. Pushing the fridge against the wall or another surface will clog the ventilation and cause the stifling air to back up. It is important to remember that ventilation is only effective if hot air is actually released. However, all of our freestanding wine coolers vent from around their sides which means allowing space all around the unit.
Although it is a bit less common, you can also find freestanding wine fridges ventilated from a grate that runs along the lower half of the fridge. This, however, is not as desirable as a back grate because it can ruin wine collectors' aesthetic. I mean, most of us would rather have a sleek and seamless design and not see the functioning components of our wine storage.
Built-In Wine Fridges
There are a few differences between the ventilation of a built-in wine fridge and that of a freestanding one. First, since a built-in fridge is connected directly to the wall and sides, it has no way for the heat to aerate. Because of this, a built-in wine fridge must vent from the front, and they do, from a panel at the bottom front of their design. Many kitchen designers prefer to cover this up somewhat with a plinth of wood make from the same colour as the rest of the kitchen but it can not be completely covered without any holes or slats, or the unit would overheat.
Self-Ventilating Wine Fridge
Self ventilating wine coolers are units that do not need any free space around them making them superb for kitchen designers. By combining the traditional integrated wine cooler with an inset ventilation system, Dunavox has created a wine cooler that is convenient and easy to use. This eliminates the risk of designers forgetting the ventilation requirements while designing and provides the clean look most wine enthusiasts desire!
This unit is equipped with a vent at the top and bottom of the unit. This fridge vent is connected to a set of fans that draws cold air into the unit and expels warm air, which is generated by the compressor behind the vent. It is Dunavox who has pioneered the creation of self-ventilating wine coolers in Europe and is now setting the standard for wine fridge design throughout the world.
Moreover, due to the self-ventilating nature of the units in the 455mm and 595mm sizes, they are now able to be installed under the counter. As a result, these fridges are incredibly flexible, allowing designers to incorporate these appliances into places where they would not usually be able to do so.
Best Self Ventilating Wine Fridges
If you're looking for a wine fridge that is totally integrated, can be slotted into place and looks great, then the Dunavox range of self ventilating wine fridges are the best choice on the market.
Best full height self ventilating wine fridge - Dunavox GLANCE-114
The Dunavox Glance DAVG-114.288DSS.TO is Dunavox's top of the range integrated wine cooler and the pièce de résistance and focal point of designer kitchens throughout Europe with the SS version in stainless steel. Frequently bought in pairs with one unit having their door reversed as to open from the middle, these handle-less, push2open units leave clean lines and fit elegantly into their surroundings. The push2open doors are opened by touching the top left corner which will close itself too after seven seconds.
Best small self ventilating wine fridge - Dunavox GLANCE-49
A sleek addition to any designer kitchen, the handle-less Dunavox DAVG-49.116DB.TO dual zone, 49 bottle integrated wine cooler offers top quality wine cooling technology, a premium design with elegant finishing touches such as multi-colour LED lighting and Push2Open technology, two temperature zones that can be set between 5-20°C offering the ideal serving temperature for reds, whites and Champagne. There is space in the lower zone for Champagne and larger format bottles to be stored.
How to Check Your Wine Fridge Ventilation
After setting up or installing your wine fridge, you should check your ventilation to ensure that it is working properly. To do this, you will first want to turn your fridge on and set it to the cooler setting you desire. You should wait about 1-2 hours before determining if your fridge is functioning properly.
Signs your wine fridge ventilation is working properly:
- Your fridge has reached the desired temperature after a few hours of being turned on.
- If you have a vent exposed on your fridge, you should be able to feel a bit of heat coming out (it should not be hot, just warm).
- There are no random warm spots radiating in your fridge.
- Your wine fridge continues to hold the desired temperature level indefinitely.
TL;DR
When it comes to wine storage, ventilation is crucial. If you fail to provide your wine cooler with adequate aeration, they wont be able to expel hot air and will eventually break. Dunavox has developed a line of self-ventilating wine refrigerators, so you do not need to worry about creating additional space around your wine cooler. You now have the option of having a built-in wine fridge with quality ventilation that still maintains a clean, sleek, and beautiful appearance that just slots into a kitchen aperture. Check out our selection of Dunavox wine fridges today for the best in self ventilating wine fridges or speak to us for assistance on live chat.