Troubleshooting Your Wine Cooler

If you’ve noticed a couple of issues with your wine cooler, don’t be so quick to get rid!

There is usually a logical reason behind any of the problems you might be facing, but there is no need to panic.

We’ve decided to write a quick guide to troubleshooting any problems you may be experiencing with your wine cooler and provide some insight to fixing these issues.

Keep reading to figure out how you can quickly and easily fix your wine cooler. 

 

My Wine Cooler Won't Turn On

- Check the power outlet and trip board, replace any fuses if required

- The power PCB needs replacing as this regulates the start up of the wine cooler, contact the service department of the manufacturer

 

My Wine Cooler Isn't Cooling Properly

- Lack of ventilation, see below

- Low on refrigerant, this can be regassed by a professional but may have been caused by a lack of ventilation which may have damaged the compressor

- The ambient temperature may be too high or low for the cooler to operate correctly, ensure the wine cooler isnt installed on under floor heating

- The door is opened too often or the seal has perished, replace the seal 

- The ventilation is blocked by dust, remove the dust from underneath the wine cooler

Ensuring the fridge is getting enough cool air is crucial to it’s performance, and is definitely a factor to consider when finding a place for to install your wine cooler.

 

Freestanding

Freestanding units should have at least 2 - 3 inches around the sides and rear, and should not be enclosed from above.

Failing to allow for adequate air circulation will lead to leaking of the sealed system, which is never a good thing. 

 

Built-In

Built-in units (depending on the size) should not have the grill blocked by the skirting board/plinth, and should be machined into this before installation.

Smaller units such as the 15cm and 30cm wide models require at least 0.5cm around the sides and rear as this is how the warm air is expelled.

 

Integrated

Fully integrated units require a vent to be put into the skirting board/plinth to allow cool air to be brought up to the rear of the unit while warm air is expelled to the rear of the unit.

To allow the air to escape, a small gap should be incorporated to the rear of the cupboard space

 

The Wine Cooler Turns On and Off Frequently

- The ventilation isn't, the wine cooler will sometimes automatically shut down if it is over heating

- The ambient temperature is too high so the wine cooler automatically shuts down to cool off

- A large amount of bottles has been added which causes the wine cooler to work quite hard and may therefore need to cool down

- There may be an electrical problem again which is affecting the power input, the Power PCB may need to be changed

- The plug outlet may be faulty

 

The Wine Cooler Makes a Lot of Noise

If you feel like your wine cooler is producing an unnecessary amount of noise, it could be down to one of these reasons.

Firstly, a compressor based wine cooler will inevitably make some noise when the compressor and fan system kicks in to alter the temperature, just like a normal fridge would.

This should not be mistaken for excessive sound, as this is the standard operating noise and shouldn’t be a concern.

- The wine cooler may not be level which causes unwanted vibrations

- The wine cooler makes a bubbling sound, this may just be the refrigerant passing through the evaporator

- The internal or external fans may be faulty, fans can wobble around and cause a horrible amount of noise and they can also get blocked by small pieces of label from the wine bottles

- The compressor may be working too hard due to a lack of refrigerant

 

There is a Build Up of Ice/ Water Inside My Wine Cooler

If you’ve noticed a build up of frost or condensation in your wine cooler, don't worry - this is all part of the way the wine cooler manages the humidity.

You tend to find that cooler temperatures play a big part in frost build up. Most wine coolers will only cool to 5°C, but there are multi-purpose drinks and wine fridges on the market that will go down to 2°C.

In the event of a frost build up, turn the appliance off and remove any frost or water and allow to dry out completely with the door open.

Condensation can also be caused by the door not being closed properly, so it’s really important to check all the seals and that the door mechanism is working correctly.

Frost and condensation should be the only source of water coming from the wine cooler, so any other liquids leaking will most likely be from the sealed system.

In the event of this, please contact the manufacturer to arrange for a technician to come out and diagnose the issue.

 

The Temperature Goes Up and Down Inside the Wine Cooler

This isn't a problem, the wine cooler operates just like a normal refrigerator - so the temperature will go up and down usually within +/-2°C of the set temperature. 

This means that the average temperature is always the set temperature and because the wine takes much more energy to change temperature so due to the thermal mass of the wine its temperature stays constant, just like the schematic below:

 

 

Other Common Problems With Wine Coolers

- Internal lighting goes on and off, can be caused by faulty lighting PCB or bulbs

- Internal temperature is too high, can be caused by the PTC fan heater being stuck on, which can be rectified by replacing the PTC fan and the control PCB.

- The display is faulty including any buttons, replace the control PCB

- The temperature is too high or low inside the cabinet, the temperature probe may be faulty and should be swapped out

- The internal temperature is different from the top and bottom, the internal fans may be faulty

 

Things The Warranty Offered by Manufacturers May Not Cover:

- Damage occurred in transit when moving your appliance

- Any misuse or damage caused by negligence, improper use, improper installation/ service or for use otherwise described in the product manual

- Damage from power failure

- Faulty installation or modification to the wine cooler when installing the item

- Damage caused by unauthorised repair

- Any damages resulting from force, fire disaster or natural disaster.

- Alterations to the product without express permission from the manufacturer.

- Parts such as light, removable shelves, or plastic.

- Any spoilage or damage to wines or any other contents incidental or consequential to possible defects of the unit.

If your current wine cooler continues to break, we recommend you look at our Dunavox storage unit collection. Having a suitable wine cooler for your bottle collections is essential - Dunavox is well-known within the industry, designing some of the best products on the market today. 

Dunavox is quickly becoming one of the most favoured manufacturers of wine coolers. 

With both freestanding and built-in models available across our site,  you’ll be able to find your dream cooling unit in no time. If you’d like any additional information about our Dunavox range, feel free to get in touch with a member of our team today.

 

Still Have Questions?

If you have any more questions or require more information about wine coolers, we are more than happy to help. Feel free to get in touch today.