Arctic Metalworks Builds Beautiful Custom Wine Cellars in Orange County
Building climate-controlled custom wine cellars is an expertise of Arctic Metalworks.
Arctic Metalworks, a top-notch builder of custom wine cellars in Orange County, California, has transformed a small pantry into a beautiful wine room. The wine racks were designed to store the highly valuable wines of the client. We made sure that the wine cellar would be capable of maintaining the ideal wine storage conditions by installing the correct insulation and two wine cooling systems. Learn more about this project.
Custom Wine Cellars Orange County Project by Arctic Metalworks
Building refrigerated custom wine cellars is an expertise of Arctic Metalworks. For many years, we have been helping homeowners create a safe wine storage facility for their collection. In our recent project in Orange County, we transformed a small pantry into a stylish wine room equipped with two separate wine cooling systems.
The entire house was built when the homeowners decided to create a wine storage room for their valuable collection. With a turnaround time of three weeks, we were able to exceed the client’s expectations.
This beautiful project contains custom wooden racking and an industrial strength cooling unit tucked away behind a custom louvered grille. The cooling system includes a backup condenser in case there is a mechanical issue with the primary unit.
Construction of Custom Wine Cellars in Orange County: How We Do It
Building a wine cellar must be done by a professional because there are requirements that need technical skills and knowledge. Before the construction of this custom wine cellar started, we discussed these with the owners:
- The type of construction
- How to stop vapor intrusion
- Where the tolerable place for the condensing unit was
- How close the condenser would be next to their neighbors
- Their budget
- Their aesthetic and functional requirements
- The design layout and options
- The expected turnaround time
They must understand what we were about to do in the project. For example, an exterior was not available in this project, so we had to tear off the drywall to install the climate control units.
Wine Cellar Insulation: a Crucial Step in Custom Wine Cellars in Orange County
Correct Installation the Wine Cooling System and Room Insulation are Crucial in Building Custom Wine cellars in Orange County
We briefed the homeowners about our process to stop vapor intrusion. We insulated the walls and ceiling to prevent moisture build-up inside the wine room. We used closed spray foam insulation, the best type of insulation. It is known for its ability to fill in even the smallest gaps in the walls.
The vapor barrier and structural integrity of a wine cellar are of utmost importance. Moisture should be stopped to prevent wine storage problems.
In this project, there was a large space between the ceiling of this wine cellar and the second floor, so we had to put a backing on top so we would have something to spray the foam onto and provide a backing.
Spray foam insulation is a cost-savvy option because it can act as both an insulator and a vapor barrier. At 55 degrees, moisture is going to intrude the room. If you do not have a good vapor barrier, it will saturate your insulation and trigger mold growth. Microbial growth can be everywhere.
We removed the drywall and installed spray foam insulation. After that, we reinstalled the drywall and painted it.
Installation of the Wine Cellar Cooling Systems
The right size and placement of your refrigeration system will have a significant impact on the cooling efficiency of your wine room. After performing a heat load calculation, we decided to install two split wine cellar cooling systems to create the perfect environment for wine aging. We brought the drywall down to get a line set to another location because there was no exterior wall. If there was, we just had to punch a hole on the outside of the house and place the condensing unit. It is a straight through-the-wall setup.
We installed a primary wine cooling system and a backup system, both of which have 1/3 horsepower. The backup system was needed because the client’s collection was highly valuable. These systems are completely two independent systems, with two thermostats set a few degrees apart.
If the first thermostat does not reach the ideal temperature, the other system will automatically handle the job, ensuring the conditions in the wine cellar are always regulated. The primary cooling system is set to 55 degrees, and the backup is set to 59. The backup shouldn’t turn on at all unless the primary system fails.
When the temperature is above the normal range (55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit), the wine corks will be pushed out of the bottles, causing an unwanted amount of air to enter the bottles. When the wine is exposed to oxygen, it will trigger a series of chemical reactions. An oxidized wine tastes nutty, grassy, or like vinegar. With the backup system in this custom wine cellar in Orange County, the homeowners will have peace of mind, knowing that their prized wines will not be at risk of a cooling system failure.
The condensers remove the heat from the wine cellar. Therefore, its installation is also crucial. In this project, we placed them outside the wine room. The Copeland condensing units, which are made from the USA, are located next to each other.
Wine Cellar Door: Requirements for Creating Air-Tight Custom Wine cellars in Orange County
Glass Custom Wine Cellar Door with Sealing Components
At Arctic Metalworks, we always want every component to be made of high-quality materials and installed correctly. In this home wine cellar, we installed a wine cellar door equipped with sealing components to prevent air leakage to and from the wine room.
Cold air is heavy, so it is pushing down at the very bottom seal. Since the pressure at the bottom of the door is greater than the top of the door, the seal at the bottom is critical. A good seal should be created around the door.
We also added a mechanical feature called the automatic door guillotine, which locks the door automatically when lowered. In addition to increasing the cooling efficiency of the wine cellar cooling system, it also reduces energy consumption.
Custom Wine Racks
Our team installed custom wine racks made from wood, consisting of racking styles like individual storage, angle display rows, and rectangular openings. The racking on the left wall consists of a louvered grill cover that conceals the cooling system evaporator.
Work with a Professional in Building Custom Wine Cellars in Orange County
Arctic Metalworks is one of the most sought-after builders of custom wine cellars in Orange County. We build safe and stylish wine storage rooms according to our client’s budgets and preferences. We also offer service-oriented refrigeration and repair services.
If you are located in the Orange County area and are interested in a beautiful custom wine cellar for your home or business, call Arctic Metalworks at 714-936-3905 today!
