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If you’re a wine enthusiast, you should know how important it’s to preserve your wine cellar. Your wine collection is a significant investment, so you want to make sure that it’s properly taken care of. One of the things that you need to control is the humidity level inside your wine cellar.
If the humidity is too high, it can cause the cork to dry out and allow oxygen to enter the bottle, which will ruin the wine. This can also allow mold and mildew to form, which can damage the labels and ruin the flavor of the wine.
Here are some of the ways how to cut down on humidity inside a wine cooler:
Install a Cooling System
The first and most obvious way to lower the humidity in your wine cellar is to install a cooling system. This will help to regulate the temperature and keep the air dry. There are a few different types of cooling systems that you can choose from. Make sure to do some research on the best coolers and fridges with better cooling units before you make a purchase. The system will work independently to keep levels steady and consistent by cycling warm air through its compressor, reducing heat and humidity.
There are also a number of factors you need to consider when choosing the best type of cooling unit for your cellar. You need to consider the size of the cellar and the unique variables that can affect its temperature. You should also consider the amount of space and airflow required for a cooling system, the noise it can generate, and its budget.
Create a Vapor Barrier
You can also create a vapor barrier in your cellar by installing an insulation system. This will help keep the air dry and cool and reduce the amount of energy required to maintain the temperature in your cellar. Wine storage may require a different temperature than the rest of the house or outside environment.
This can create temperature imbalance, leading to condensation, increased humidity, and mold growth. The vapor, therefore, acts as a barrier between the cellar and the outside environment, preventing external air from upsetting the controlled atmosphere within the cellar and regulating the humidity levels.
To be effective, a vapor barrier should encapsulate the entire cellar and lie between the foundation wall and the insulation. The most common vapor barrier material is high-density closed-cell foam. This is used in place of plastic sheeting and acts as a vapor barrier and insulation.
Install a Temperature and Humidity Gauge
Install a temperature and humidity gauge in your wine cellar. This will help you keep track of the conditions in your wine cellar and make necessary adjustments to ensure that your wines are stored at the optimum temperature and humidity. By knowing the daily levels and fluctuations that occur, you’ll have the opportunity to make temporary, seasonal, or permanent changes to humidity levels when needed.
A hygrometer will help you measure the amount of water vapor in the air surrounding your wine collection. There are also smart hygrometers that you can pair with your smartphone, instantly sending you a notification if levels change, enabling you to act in a timely manner.
Run a Dehumidifier
If you don’t already have a dehumidifier in your wine cellar, now’s the time to invest in one. By removing excess water vapor from the air, a dehumidifier can help maintain ideal humidity levels for wine storage, preventing everything from corks drying out and shrinking to mold growth. Wine cooling units for wine cellars in humid climates should be sized to operate long enough to dehumidify the air.
Don’t Open Your Wine Cellars More Than Necessary
Every time you open your wine cellar door, humid air from outside rushes in, potentially raising humidity levels and putting your collection at risk. Limit the number of times you open your wine cellar to only when absolutely necessary and close the door as quickly as possible.
Understand Your Wine Fridge Controls
Most wine fridges come with a humidistat, a thermostat for humidity. By understanding how your humidistat works, you can make sure that your fridge is set to the ideal humidity level for wine storage, usually between 50% and 70%. Learn how cold a wine cooler gets to know the right temperature to use so you don’t exceed the limit.
Store Your Wine Cooler in a Dry, Cool Environment
One of the best ways to help keep humidity levels in your wine fridge low is to store the fridge itself in a dry, cool environment. If your wine cooler is located in a kitchen or other warm area of your home, consider moving it to a cooler, drier spot.
Remove Mold and Mildew from Your Wine Cooler
Before taking this step, make sure you know how to remove mold and mildew from your wine fridge. If you find mold growing inside your wine cooler, it’s important to clean it as soon as possible. Not only is mold unsightly, but it can also affect the flavor of your wine. To clean mold from a wine cooler, start by unplugging the fridge and removing all of the bottles of wine. Next, clean the fridge’s interior with a solution of equal parts water and bleach.
Pour a little bleach on a soft sponge or cleaning rag, then apply it directly to the molded areas. Apply bleach sparingly, as too much can damage the interior of your fridge. Once you’ve cleaned the mold, rinse the area with clean water and dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Check the Drainpipe
Make sure you check your wine cooler’s drain pipe before summertime. A clogged pipe will leak and cause condensation. Take out your drainpipe from the wine refrigerator, then take a snake and push the clog through the drainpipe. If it doesn’t budge, sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda into the drainpipe and pour two cups of water down the drainpipe.
FAQs on How to Lower Humidity in a Wine Cooler
How to remove humidity from the wine cooler?
You can remove humidity by opening the wine cooler door for a few minutes every day. Another way to remove humidity is by using a dehumidifier.
Can I put ice in my wine cooler to lower the humidity?
Yes, you can put ice in your wine cooler to lower the humidity. Just make sure that you don’t put too much ice in the cooler, as this can cause the wine to become too cold.
How to maintain the right humidity in a wine cooler?
You can maintain the right humidity in your wine refrigerator by opening the door for a few minutes every day or using a dehumidifier. Also, check your wine regularly to ensure that it is not too humid.
Final Thought on How to Lower Humidity in Wine Cooler
Now that you know how to lower humidity in your wine cooler, you should have no trouble storing your wine collection. Make sure you practice some basic cleaning maintenance to keep your cooler running smoothly, and don’t forget to monitor the humidity levels to ensure that your wine is being stored properly.
The post How to Lower the Humidity in My Wine Cooler appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.
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