It is highly unlikely that you will require a small wine fridge in order to mature a selection of high-quality wines over the course of several years. You most likely want a device that can maintain a temperature of approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of weeks or months while storing wines. In comparison to bigger maturation coolers, there are some slightly different requirements that must be met.
Design for Storing Wine Bottles
Even while this may appear to be an obvious fact, there are a number of advertisements for wine refrigerators that are really just dorm-sized refrigerators with wire racks. These units are not meant to maintain the correct humidity or to hold wines steady while they are being transported in a moving RV or yacht. This type of refrigerator is not ideal for storing wine because the bottles will move around inside the unit, making it unsuitable even for use in a tiny condo or apartment.
Noise
Especially at the lower end of the pricing spectrum, noise can be a concern for refrigerators that are smaller and must fit into more limited locations. Compressor-based wine refrigerators tend to have a longer lifespan than thermoelectric models, which means that you won’t have to replace the appliance as frequently. This is one reason why we are big fans of these models. The lifespan of a compressor unit is normally between 8 and 10 years, although it can be significantly longer if the owner is willing to replace a component or two as the compressor ages. When we conduct our reviews, we pay particular attention to the sound quality of the compressor as well as the amount of noise that it produces (as experienced by customer ratings).
Dual Temperature or Single Temperature?
We enjoy the challenge of keeping our electronics as straightforward as low maintenance as is humanly possible. “Which function will break first?” is a joke that circulates among those who have ever owned a printer with three different functions. We advise using a single temperature unit and maintaining the temperature in the single zone at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Which Is Better: A Small Wine Refrigerator That Is Built-In or One That Stands Alone?
Be cautious to read the fine print if you want to install a wine refrigeration unit in a recreational vehicle (RV) or boat in which the unit will be housed inside of some form of cabinet that is designed to vent out the front of the vehicle or boat. If you do not take this precaution, the building materials located behind the refrigerator have the potential to become overheated and catch fire, which could result in a fire breaking out in your restricted area.
Should I Get a Warranty?
Because we’ve had a number of different types of wine refrigerators over the course of more than 10 years, we’ve discovered that if you’re going to have an issue with your unit, it’s most likely going to be when the unit is still relatively new. These coolers are susceptible to damage while in transport or when being installed. We strongly suggest using a premium credit card that allows for an extension of the manufacturer’s warranty when purchasing a compact wine refrigerator. In most cases, we do not acquire a separate warranty for smaller appliances when it comes to equipment of this size.
Moreover, you should never put any wine refrigerator, even these, next to an oven. When opposed to traditional refrigerators, small wine refrigerators typically have side walls that are not very thick. This makes it easier for oven heat to permeate the refrigerator and cause damage to the wine as well as the refrigerator.