I have a CellarPro 4200VSi unit that has an “adjustable humidity control…to maintain a recommended level of moisture inside your cellar”. Right now, it’s certainly not doing that.
Cellar is in the basement in the North East, so winter is dry with humidity around 35%. I guess I shouldn’t expect this unit to increase humidity, correct? I assume the adjustable humidity control is about removing moisture. Still, advertising seems a bit misleading. I’m curious what others think of the CellarPro’s humidity feature.
I’ve been using a CellarPro split system for 8 years and maintain 65%-70% humidity year round. I’ve been under the impression that the moisture being remove from the air is the source for the humidity created for the cellar. The higher the humidity the less discharge of excess water. I’ve also have been told that fan speed affects the humidity level. I’m thinking the lower the fan speed, the higher the humidity.
On the front of your unit there should be a fan switch with “Low, Med, High” settings. Switch it to “Low” like Michael mentioned above.
If you’re already at the “Low” fan setting, I would suspect your vapor barrier isn’t as impervious as necessary. If the cellar walls and ceiling are unfinished you can add a poly vapor barrier easily.
If the walls & ceiling are already finished, you could keep a bucket of water in the cellar to try raise the humidity.
I’m pretty sure on that unit all the humidity level does is to run the fans after a cooling cycle to re-evaporate any condensation back into the cellar, of course if there is not enough natural humidity and moisture hasn’t been condensing on the coils it will have no effect at all.
35% RH (@56F) in the northeast is pretty typical and I wouldn’t be overly concerned. The only real option would be a dedicated humidifier but be aware they are maintenance intensive.
Appreciate the feedback. I guess when I read that they have a humidity control, I was assuming that meant regardless of the environment in which they’re installed. Obviously humidity won’t be a problem for half of the year in the North East; guess I’ll try a decorative bowl of water to see if that helps a bit during winter, and won’t stress over 40% RH.
Most small wine cellars use an evaporative pad style humidifier, they add a very small amount of heat from the use of a very small fan as well as the heat from the water (they perform significantly better connected to hot water).
Large cellar often require a steam humidifier and they add significant heat but that load is accounted for in system sizing, steam humidifiers are typically only used with split ducted systems.
My experiences are identical to yours as well. We built a new house in 2019 and included a ~8’ X ~7’ cellar, that has 9’ ceilings and is fully insulated with closed cell foam. I as well installed the 4200VSi and I have observed largely the same trends. I live in the weather wasteland (and cultural too ) of South Dakota and thus we experience both incredible heat in the summer and unbelievable cold in the winter. Two of the walls are below grade (walk out house plan), one wall shares with the utility room where I vent it and the other wall/door faces the bar.
According to the two hygrometers/thermometers I have in the cellar, our winter time humidity is in the low 40’s and in the summer it’s in the upper 60’s to low 70’s. I do have the evaporator fan on, with the fan speed set to low. I do not believe I adjusted the Fon setting and I have set the unit to start when the temperature hits 60 and then shuts off at 56. I believe the manual states it’s not uncommon for the unit to run 75% of the time but mine certainly doesn’t. I’ve always meant to track that but I would guess it’s on for at most 50% of the time. That may be a function of upsizing the cooler for the size of the cellar as I not close to 1000 cubic feet. Plus as I add wine my mass I assume would also assist in maintaining the temperature.
One item I noticed is that I do not know if I’ve ever seen water flow out of my condensate line. I sent pictures of my set-up, trap, including the water I placed it in at install, etc., to them and was assured I and my contractor have it installed properly. So far, the unit has been great.
With a pad type system most of the minerals get trapped in the pad, if a stand alone system there can be some mineral staining where the humidified air exits and can stain racking, flooring, etc. more often these humidifiers are used in a ducted system and you will see no dust as it gets trapped in the ducts. Do note that the pads need to be replaced quarterly to annually dependent on water quality and usage.
Steam humidifiers use a replaceable cartridge and all the minerals get trapped in the canister, these are typically replaced biannually or annually depending on usage.
Bottom line is humidifiers tend to be service intensive and most collectors forgo them to avoid the maintenance and hassle, it really just depends on the size/value/age of your collection.
I’m in the NE and have NEVER had a humidification system, the RH gets low in the winter and I’ve come to accept it. Some of my oldest wines can have a dry/crumbly cork but the fill levels are still excellent and the wines have always been sound and this is for wines I’ve had +/- 30 years at this point.
There is a heater on the bottom of the drain pan that burns off the condensate before it comes out the tube, in a tight well constructed room it’s not unusual to never see water exiting the tube.
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) of South Dakota and thus we experience both incredible heat in the summer and unbelievable cold in the winter. Two of the walls are below grade (walk out house plan), one wall shares with the utility room where I vent it and the other wall/door faces the bar.