In comparison to a standard refrigerator, which retains food and things at a considerably cooler temperature than a wine fridge, wine refrigerators consume very little energy. Normal refrigerators need between 350 and 800 watts of power, while wine refrigerators use roughly 100 watts on average.
Is it worthwhile to invest in a wine refrigerator?
Is it time to upgrade your kitchen with a wine refrigerator? It might be if you’re a wine connoisseur or simply like a glass of vino once in a while. We’ll help you evaluate whether or not you actually need a wine fridge in your home in this blog post.
Let’s take a look at your main considerations before you buy a wine cooler. After all, “do I really need a wine fridge?” we’re sure you’re wondering.
What’s the point of a wine fridge?
Wine fridges, sometimes known as wine coolers or wine caves, chill wine to the ideal serving temperature. Sure, a wine freezer is less expensive and smaller than a full-fledged wine cellar. However, they are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from a mini-fridge to a full-sized refrigerator.
A wine fridge is typically used to store wines that will be used within a short period of time. However, depending on its size, a wine fridge can potentially hold up to a year’s worth of wine. A wine freezer, like normal refrigerators for food, keeps humidity lowusually around 50%, according to Into Wine.
“According to Into Wine, “reduced humidity can cause corks to dry out and shrink over time, enabling oxygen to enter the bottle and lowering the wine’s quality.” “A unique gauge inside the fridge can be used to monitor temperature and humidity in a wine fridge. Depending on the wines you’re chilling, you can set the temperature anywhere between 45 and 65 degrees.”
A wine fridge is useful since it can keep your wine at the right temperature. Your standard refrigerator is likely to be opened and closed frequently, causing its temperature to vary. Bottles of wine are harmed by constant temperature changes. Furthermore, wine refrigerators and normal kitchen refrigerators serve two distinct purposes. The purpose of a regular refrigerator is to keep perishables cold and dry. This temperature is too extreme for wine’s delicate makeup.
They’re less expensive than a wine cellar.
A wine cooler or wine chiller that contains between 20 to 120 bottles of wine, on the other hand, might cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000, according to CostOwl.co.
Your wine stays fresher, longer.
Refrigerators are made to quickly lower the temperature and remove humidity. The contents of wine cellars (and wine fridges) are treated differently. A wine fridge gradually reduces the temperature of its contents while maintaining an appropriate degree of humidity for wine.
Humidity in your regular fridge can damage your wine.
Humidity, like temperature, may make your wines taste bad. According to Blog Your Wine, regular kitchen refrigerators are designed to eliminate humidity from the air inside the fridge.
“While wine fridges are designed to retain humidity inside the unit…this is significant since humidity will help keep your corks wet and so slow down the aging process,” Joseph & Curtis co-owner Curtis Dahl told Blog Your Wine. “The other issue is storage (a home refrigerator does not have wine racks), but a wine freezer will have shelves designed expressly to house wine bottles.”
They’re environmentally friendly.
A wine freezer or wine cooler may be a fantastic investment for you if you’re worried about having an environmentally friendly house. Wine coolers, according to New Air, use a thermoelectric cooling medium, which is a popular alternative to compressor-based wine coolers. This means that the owner of a wine cooler can save energy in their home and, as a result, help to save the environment.
Furthermore, according to New Air, there are no harmful emissions or chemicals used in the cooling process. “New Air says that instead, “a simple procedure of using a metal rod to exchange heat between the inside chamber and the outside environment occurs.” “As a result, the wine cooler can be deemed more environmentally friendly than any other solution now available.”
They keep bad or unwanted smells out.
Wine might be harmed by odors in your regular refrigerator. The lack of humidity in a conventional refrigerator can lead your wine to absorb odors from the environment (and tastes). When the cork in your wine bottle shrinks and becomes porous, this happens. To us, that doesn’t sound very tasty!
It’s not just for wine!
More than simply wine can be stored in a wine cooler. Your wine refrigerator can also be a good place to keep good oils and vinegars. A wine cooler can also be used to keep beverages that don’t fit in your ordinary kitchen refrigerator. If you host parties on a regular basis, this would be quite beneficial!
What is the energy consumption of a wine cooler?
Compressor wine refrigerators have been present since the birth of refrigeration.
They employ the same four-part technology found in kitchen refrigerators: a compressor that pressurizes the coolant, an exterior condenser that radiates heat into the environment, an expansion valve that converts the coolant gas into a liquid, and an evaporator that absorbs heat and produces cold air.
This technology is useful for keeping the interior of the appliance cool and works sporadically owing to a thermostat element that activates the cooling system when the internal temperature rises above a predetermined threshold.
A thermoelectric system, on the other hand, does not actively cool the air, but rather draws hot air out of the device, keeping the inside cooler than the ambient temperature.
Peltier modules, which employ electric current to transmit heat from the inside to the exterior by applying a voltage between two electrodes, are used in the system.
The chilling process is then carried out using a fan system – we can’t call it cooling because the thermoelectric system is unstable and impacted by the ambient temperature. That’s why, rather than cooling wines to temperature, thermoelectric wine coolers are better for keeping them.
One of the system’s peculiarities is that it operates indefinitely. Otherwise, it will lose its effectiveness. If you have a tiny appliance, this has no effect on your electricity cost because the fan and Peltier element use very little power. When it comes to a larger thermoelectric wine cooler, however, things are different.
How Many Watts Do Wine Fridges Need?
We’ve already discussed theory, but you may be looking for a more tangible response. Running to compare specifications, on the other hand, might not be the best idea.
A wine cooler consumes roughly 90 watts on average, however this varies depending on the sort of fridge you’re looking at.
Thermoelectric units, as previously stated, run constantly and are affected by the ambient temperature. They will work at a higher capacity to reach the desired temperature if it is too hot. This leads to increased consumption.
Regardless of how hot it gets, compressor refrigerators work the same way. You may put your wine refrigerator in the midst of the Sahara desert and receive the same cooling performance and energy consumption as you would at home.
However, the size and structure of the wine cooler affects the energy efficiency of both types of devices.
Is it true that a wine chiller is always on?
The fan will turn on and off to circulate the air inside the cabinet for even temperature distribution and energy savings. By circulating the cool air, the fan saves energy and prevents the compressor from running too frequently.
What’s the difference between a wine refrigerator and a wine cooler?
Because wine should not be kept as cold as other beverages, a wine cooler is set to a higher temperature range than a refrigerator or beverage cooler. A wine cooler, on average, will not provide temperatures below 46F.
Is That A Lot Of Electricity?
In fact, when mini-fridges are opened, they lose less cold air than ordinary refrigerators. This is due to the reduced volume of mini-fridges, which typically range between 1.7 and 4.5 cubic feet. A normal refrigerator, on the other hand, has a capacity of 9 to 30 cubic feet.
We can plainly tell from the size that opening the mini-fridge 7 times a day saves more cold air than opening a regular refrigerator the same number of times. The smaller capacity stores fewer foods and beverages while consuming less electricity than a full-sized refrigerator does to keep all of your beverages cold.
Energy Consumption
The energy consumption of mini-fridges varies depending on their size, function, and materials. A 4.5 cubic foot tiny fridge costs $27 per year to run, according to Consumer Reports, while a 20.6 cubic foot normal refrigerator costs around $47. This is acceptable given that mini-fridges utilize between 233 and 310 kWh per year, compared to 420 kWh for normal refrigerators.
Don’t fall into the trap of believing that the smaller the device, the less energy it uses. Smaller machines, in fact, require more energy per volume, which means you spend more per cubic foot for cooling space, as seen below:
A mini-fridge, on the other hand, costs more than half as much as a regular refrigerator for an annual fee. You may wind up paying more than you need to if the components below are applied inefficiently.
Things That Affects Mini Fridge Power Use
- Model: Due to the materials used, certain models are more energy efficient than others and obtain an A ++ Energy Star certification. You may look at the label for a rating and if it’s a C or D, you know it’s not a good alternative to consider.
- Size: They are available in a variety of lengths, widths, and heights. Larger sizes provide greater storage but use more energy, especially when a freezer component is included.
- Models that have been in production for a long period will be less efficient than those that have recently been developed since newer models integrate modern technologies.
- Pre-set parameters may result in higher energy use than is necessary.
- Refrigerators in warmer climates work twice as often as they should to supply the necessary cooling power.
- When you open the door frequently or for an extended period of time, more air is expelled, and the compressor has to work harder to keep the temperature cool.
- Refrigerators require more electricity in the summer, similar to a warmer climate, than in other cooler seasons.
How Much does it cost to run a mini fridge?
Because small refrigerators run on and off in cycles, it’s practically impossible to estimate how much electricity they consume. It can boost your bill from $20 to $50 per year based on an estimate. Taking into account the list of factors that influence your energy usage, on the other hand, might give you a general concept of how it works.
In this instance, the best advise is to thoroughly consider each component before purchasing and to keep track of your usage habits as well as the monthly cost. You’ll eventually figure out what causes your temperature to rise, how many times you open the door per day, and even how much food, particularly hot things, is in your refrigerator. That’s when you’ll be able to spot a pattern and devise a strategy for making better use of it.
How Many Watts Does a Mini Fridge Use?
Mini refrigerators utilize between 55 and 85 watts per hour, compared to full-sized refrigerators that use 100 to 400 watts per hour. Watts are a unit of measurement for how much electricity you consume every hour, day, and month.
Assume your device consumes 80 watts per hour for eight hours each day. Multiply 80 by 8 to get the total watt-hours utilized in a day: 640 watt-hours. Simply divide 640 by 1000 to get the kilowatts, which equals 0.64 kWh.
That means your monthly electricity usage is 19.2 kWh, and your annual usage is 233.6 kWh. Using the US average of 12 cents for 1 kWh and multiplying 0.64 kWh by 0.12, you’ll have to spend $0.0768 every day. If you want to go a step further, multiply $0.0768 by 30 (1 month) or 365 (1 year) to obtain $2.3 and $28 respectively, which is the total sum you’ll have to pay over time.
How Many Watts Does A Wine Cooler Use?
The average wine cooler uses 90 watts of power, however this varies depending on the size and cooling method used. A 28-bottle thermoelectric cooler, for example, consumes 70 watts while a compressor unit of the same capacity consumes 85 watts. The compressor in the 32-bottle wine cabinet, on the other hand, consumes 85 watts, while the thermoelectric requires an average of 140 watts.
Because they run continuously, thermoelectric refrigerators require more energy than compressor refrigerators. Because it utilizes more Peltier modules to run the machine, the thermoelectric cooling system for the 32-bottle size consumes 140 watts. A modest thermoelectric wine cooler will cost you roughly $40 per year if utilized properly, whereas a large compressor cooler would cost you over $100.
- A freestanding unit requires some space between it and a wall to allow for optimum ventilation.
- Only open the fridge door when absolutely necessary (look through the fridge door as wine cabinets are made of glass, and see which bottle you want before opening the door)
Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption at home
- Appropriate Ventilation: While a mini-fridge can fit in small spaces, don’t put it too close to the cabinets. It requires adequate area to dissipate heat; otherwise, it will work harder and consume more electricity.
- Set a Timer: You can choose how long the refrigerator should run in order to cool the food. This way, it won’t have to run all day and you’ll save money.
- Change the Temperature: Mini-fridges are usually pre-set to temperatures that are colder than the average. You can measure and modify the temperature with the help of a thermometer.
- Clean the coils of the condenser: As air is drawn through them, dust and debris can become trapped inside the coils. Cleaning your fridge with a clean cloth or a tiny vacuum cleaner on a regular basis will boost its cooling ability.
- Reduce the number of doors that open and close: Before you open the door, consider what you require. A tray can be used to transport many items. As a result, the compressor will not have to work as hard to keep a consistent internal temperature.
What does it cost to keep a modest beer fridge running?
Most micro fridges have an annual operating cost of less than $50. In fact, buying an energy-efficient compact fridge will cost you closer to $20-$30 each year.
Is it possible to connect my refrigerator to an extension cord?
While most small appliances may be easily connected to an extension cord, this is not the case with a refrigerator.
Refrigerators are large and require a lot of energy to run, so a standard extension cord may not be able to handle the task and may even pose a fire hazard. That is why, for safety reasons, I do not advocate wiring your refrigerator into an extension cord. You can, however, utilize an extension cable if it is (1) of the proper gauge and (2) includes a three-prong socket.
However, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. In this essay, I’ll go over the consequences of utilizing an extension cord to power your refrigerator.
Is it necessary for a refrigerator to have its own circuit?
The recommended best practice for homes is to have the refrigerator on its own dedicated circuit. Most refrigerators use 3 to 6 amps; but, at peak utilization, a refrigerator can use up to 15 amps. It’s best to think about the worst-case possibilities. Refrigerators and freezers should be connected to a dedicated 120 volt circuit rated at 15-20 amps. This will prevent an electrical overload if your current wiring is unable to handle the extra power. Keep in mind that even if you don’t keep your freezer or refrigerator in the garage, freezers must be connected to a separate 120-volt circuit.
Be Safe and Follow the Rules!
In addition to these suggestions, please follow the appliance’s power requirements as specified by the manufacturer. If you have any issues or need to make sure your panel can support a freezer or fridge, feel free to contact a competent electrician. To support these items, an electrician can also assist you install a GFCI outlet in your garage. By doing so, you may secure the safety of your electrical system without worrying about your GFCI tripping and spoiling all of your food. If your circuit breaker keeps tripping as a result of the addition of a refrigerator or freezer, please contact a certified electrician to inspect your breaker panel and provide a better electrical solution.
GFCI Outlets and Backup Generators can come in Handy
A GFCI with a trip alarm is another useful device, which we can install for you. They are reasonably priced and will greatly simplify the monitoring of your outlets and gadgets. Taking these steps can keep your home secure from dangerous electrical problems, as well as the food you spent your hard-earned money on from spoiling.
Due to the high frequency of hurricanes and lightning in Florida, you may want to consider connecting your freezer to a backup generator. This will protect your freezer or refrigerator from losing electricity and spoiling your food.