clinresearcher wrote:
> Hi-I have a 1300 bottle cellar built during a basement renovation by a
> general contractor. Problem is that temp rises to roughly 62-63 deg
> during summer, despite cooler set at 57, which runs almost constantly
> (bsmt is airconditioned to around 77 summertime). Once basement cools
> off for winter (into high 60's), it cools down to set temp of 57.
>
> Specs--8x6x6 ft, 384 c.f., with Whisperkool 3000 cooler, sized
> properly based on cubic footage, all interior walls in air conditioned
> basement. Contractor swears insulation was up to spec R13 walls R30
> ceiling. Wood door with single (I know that's wrong) pane glass-but I
> tried covering the glass with foam insulation board to see if that was
> problem but temps stayed up.
>
> I've thought of several possible fixes:
> 1) Upsize to larger Whisperkool, say 4200 BTU ($1600)
> 2) Add small second cooler, like the new ChillR units at Wine
> Enthusiast, maybe the 1500 or 2000 BTU unit ($500 plus install)
> 3) Try a double paned glass door despite my experiment ($1000-2000?)
> 4) Tear up drywall and check insulation ($thousands plus spousal
> wrath)
>
> Suggestions? How much bigger a Whisperkool if I did that (is there a
> disadvantage to an overly large unit?). Anyone have experience with a
> ChillR
> unit?
Keep in mind that the conversion of a BTU rating to a room capacity is
entirely dependent on the ambient temperature and humidity of the air.
The BTU rating tells you simply how much total cooling (as degree-ft^3)
you can get out of the unit. I would suspect that the published cu-ft
capacity is based on an assumption of 70 F ambient air temp and 70% rel
humidity. (Because the heat capacity of water is so much greater than
that of air, more humid air takes much more energy to cool).
With that preamble out of the way, adding a second cooling unit, or
upgrading the one you've got, will almost certainly fix the problem,
albeit at a price. Since it's mostly a matter of BTUs, you get more
bang for the buck with the ChillR, but I can't comment on its quality.
As for why your Whisperkool isn't up to the task, it could be a poorly
insulated floor (concrete slab?) and high soil temperature, or possibly
just too high a humidity.
HTH
Mark Lipton
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