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Wine Cooler Not Cooling: Targeting the Issue From Each Area for Every Types of Coolers

bottles of wines in a refrigerator

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

Want to get your wine cooler up and running again?

You came to the right place.

In this article, we'll focus on the crucial points to help you fix it effectively and safely at the same time!

Below is a step-by-step guide to what you should handle first and what your last resort should be, keep reading and let's get that wine cooler working!

The Basics

luxurious electric wine cooler

Once an essential appliance in the house breaks down, it's pretty much a reflex for us to troubleshoot and go hands-on trying to do a wine cooler repair as soon as possible.

Sadly, for a wine refrigerator, that is not the case.

We strongly advise that you first analyze and check your appliance before even doing anything to it. 

This helps avoid irreversible mistakes and actions that could lead to more breakage.

Wine fridges can be divided into two types depending on their systems, compressor and thermoelectric.

Knowing the difference between these two means more than just differentiating them. 

To make it easier for you, wine coolers with compressor units function similarly to a regular kitchen refrigerator. On the other hand, thermoelectric coolers operate depending on the room temperature.

So if your compressor-type wine fridge isn't cooling, then you can be sure that something is wrong with it.

BUT...

If it's a thermoelectric unit, we're talking about, "not cooling" isn't always an indication of it being broken. Sometimes, it is just reacting to how it is being used.

Once you've made sure what type of wine cooler you have, let's get down to the solution.

Thermoelectric Cooler

Room Temperature

Thermoelectric units don't come with refrigerant systems like compressor ones too.

This means that their Peltier modules function not to disturb the wine sediment and not cause harm to the environment.

However, this also means they are not the best at maintaining a low temperature. Whenever the environment around it gets too hot, they lose effectiveness in keeping the interior cool.

Try to check the room temperature. If it exceeds 75° Fahrenheit, then you can rest assured that your wine cooler isn't broken but in the wrong environment instead.

You can either move it somewhere cooler or do something that will help lower the room temperature. 

Ventilation

Now, if you've already moved your appliance to a cooler area or set the thermostat/AC and are sure that the temperature is just right to get it working, then we suggest that you check the ventilation.

Since thermoelectric units use Peltier modules that conduct heat out of the appliance, it is crucial for you to provide them with enough clearance.

Check what objects are surrounding the appliance, and if it is even getting enough ventilation, it needs to function.

If your wine cooler is positioned near or right next to a wall and other big objects, then that may be why it has stopped functioning. 

Building it into the room or placing things on top of it is undoubtedly a big mistake! Unlike compressor units, thermoelectric units can't handle this type of setup.

Also, make sure that it is not surrounded by objects that exert heat and affect the temperature, such as microwaves, toasters, and kitchen refrigerators. 

Fan

If not the room temperature and not the ventilation, then what now?

Our second to last resort (asking for professional help being the last, of course) would be fixing the condenser fan.

As we all know, condenser fans move hot air out of the machine. When the engine is misused, it begins to overheat, causing the fan to spin faster.

This is why fans have the greatest tendencies to be the problem, whether it's a computer, a console, or whatever appliance there is. 

If the fan breaks, stops working or gets stuck, the wine cooler will immediately stop working, so let's get down to business.

First of all, check if accessing your cooler's fan without opening it up. If there is, you're in luck; if not, it's best to start with that first.

When inspecting the fan, start by checking if it got disconnected from the machine -- the connectors should be right beside it. If they're still connected, try to check if the connection is loose or not.

If that doesn't do it, let's focus on the fan itself. There's a high chance that it might have collected debris or a dirt build-up. Grab a clean and soft cloth (preferably microfiber) and wipe it clean.

A small handheld vacuum cleaner or some compressed air may help; always make sure to avoid contact with other parts of the machine when doing so.

Compressor Cooler

wines in a fridge

Thermostat

Instead of checking the room temperature, this time, we'll be focusing on the thermostat first for a compressor-based cooler.

A thermostat supplies the power to the components of your wine fridge; it is responsible for allowing these components to control the temperature of the interior.

Now, with all obviousness, a broken thermostat will, of course, cause your appliance to stop cooling. This can only go two ways; either your cooler gets too hot or too cold; in your case, I'm guessing too hot.

Unfortunately, broken thermostats don't get fixed with just some troubleshooting, cleaning, or anything at all. Once these things get broken, they automatically need to be replaced.

You can purchase a new one and replace them yourself with the use of some manuals and online instructions you may find. 

However, we strongly advise that you bring it to places like Mr. Appliance where professionals can handle it instead to avoid accidentally further damaging the cooler.

Fan

As mentioned above, one of the most common problems with wine coolers is their fans. 

In compressor units, a condenser fan's duty is to make sure to keep the condenser coil cool to avoid the whole system from overheating.

Once the fan stops functioning, the appliance will overheat and eventually stop working.

Like a thermoelectric fan, it may just be disconnected or covered in debris.

Ensure that all connection wires are correctly installed into the outlets, and then check the fan for some dirt and dust build-up. 

You can use a mini vacuum, a microfiber cloth, or compressed air in a can to clean all the debris that is keeping the fan from spinning.

If you've done these and the condenser fan still doesn't get back to work, then it may be time to have them replaced.

Don't worry; a replacement won't cost much, well, at least not as much as a new compressor wine cooler.

Evaporator

Our last resort would be the evaporator of the machine. 

Evaporators are the reason why whenever you open your wine fridge, a fog of cold air comes out. It pulls air out of the oils to cool down the interior.

If a compressor wine cooler is not cooling, one of the common reasons could be a broken evaporator which is commonly a result of too much ice build-up.

Evaporators also have their fans, which may also be why they're broken. You can begin by cleaning up the debris around and inside the evaporator fan. If it got bent or broken, it might need a replacement. 

But if your evaporator coil is all iced up, then all you need to do is defrost it. You can do this by unplugging the appliance and leaving its door open overnight. Once the ice melts, you are ready to plug your compressor cooler right back in. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my wine fridge not cooling? 

There are a lot of possible reasons. One of the common causes would be poor maintenance and care. Most coolers need frequent cleaning, others require a specific room temperature to function, and some need to be defrosted. Most appliance repairs can be done at home, some of them may require a technician like Mr. Appliance, and some of them sadly require a replacement.

If you're having problems with your wine fridge at home, then try these tips:

How much is the cost to repair a wine fridge?

All wine refrigerator units come with an expected life span of about 9 to 13 years, depending on the quality. This could always be lesser depending on how it's being used and maintained. Repairs range from $100-$1,000 depending on the parts that need fixing and replacing.

This is, of course, cheaper compared to purchasing a whole new model which may cost up to $2,000 yikes! Make sure to check your cooler first before replacing it or bringing it to a repair shop; some issues can be fixed at home.

What are the common problems with wine coolers?

Whenever a wine cooler is not cooling, chances are that the fan is broken or not functioning due to debris. Other reasons may be some malfunction in its parts which can either be fixed or replaced. Before performing a wine fridge repair, make sure to identify the type of unit used to target the problem quicker.

Is a wine cellar better than a wine cooler?

Yes, it is! While a wine fridge can only hold up to 12 or more bottles depending on its size, wine cellars can hold hundreds of wine bottles. If you're thinking of a wine cellar, then make sure first that you have enough space, ventilation, and money to maintain it. The number of bottles you can maintain in it doesn't matter so much, as long as there are five bottles in the cellar.

Let's Wrap It Up

Now that we're at the end of this article, you now know a couple of tricks on how to get your wine cooler up and running again.

We hope we helped you out with the issue you're facing. 

However, if none of these remedies worked, then we think it is best to have your wine fridge replaced with a better one. Always check the features and prioritize their longevity and quality over the price :>

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