So, just what does it cost to have and run a wine cooler? There are several factors that determine the affordability of a wine cooler but the most important is how much energy a wine cooler uses. Wine coolers typically don’t use too much electricity relative to some other home appliances. Larger units will use more electricity and power than smaller units. Additionally, there are two different kinds of wine coolers that each use varying amounts of electricity and power, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
How Much Power Does a Wine Cooler Use?
Compressor wine coolers remove excess heat from the wine cooler by using a vapor compression cycle. Compressor wine coolers work in a similar fashion to your air conditioning unit. Compressor wine coolers usually have fans to help circulate the air and cool the cabinet. One big advantage of compressor wine coolers is their powerful operation. These wine coolers are extremely robust. Compressor wine coolers produce a very cold environment for your wine and can handle a larger supply of bottles. When you see wine coolers that hold 30, 40, 50, or 60 bottles of wine or more, these are compressor wine coolers. These types of wine coolers use a significant amount of electricity and power so may not be the best option if you’re wanting to purchase something more energy efficient. Compressor wine coolers usually draw between 80 and 150 watts of power, depending on the size. These wine coolers are best if you have a large collection of wine.
Thermoelectric wine coolers use an electrical current to cool the cabinet. These wine coolers have a much smaller capacity and can only handle a small number of bottles. Thermoelectric wine coolers don’t have any moving parts like compressor wine coolers do, so they’re much more energy-efficient and use less electricity and power. Even though thermoelectric wine coolers are more energy-efficient, they often cost more to operate than compressor wine coolers (when taking size into account) because they’re running all the time whereas compressor wine coolers only turn on when needed. Additionally, thermoelectric wine coolers are very sensitive to outside heat so they must be kept in a cool, dry room away from direct sunlight (also good practice with a compressor wine cooler). Thermoelectric wine coolers typically draw between 50 and 75 watts of power. Once your wine cooler is up and running, they’re generally not too expensive to run.
Are Wine Coolers Expensive To Run?
Both a compressor and thermoelectric wine cooler shouldn’t cost more than around $150.00 USD per year to run.
Often, this amount will be much less, especially if you have a thermoelectric wine cooler or a small compressor wine cooler. Where your wine cooler is stored will have a lot to do with how much it will cost per year to run.
For instance, if your wine cooler is stored in the garage where there are significant temperature fluctuations, it will cost more to run than if it’s stored in a cool, dry room inside your house. Additionally, if your wine cooler is stored in a room that gets a lot of direct sunlight, your wine cooler will cost more to run because it will be compensating for the additional heat from the sun. To keep your costs as low as possible it’s always best to keep your wine cooler in a room that will not receive direct sunlight and will have a constant temperature throughout the year.
There are so many choices of wine coolers on the market. In this day and age, “going green” is important to an ever-growing number of people. Purchasing home appliances that are energy efficient is one of the easiest and most practical ways to “go green” and reduce your carbon footprint.
Energy Efficient Wine Cooler
As we’ve discussed, thermoelectric wine coolers are more energy-efficient than compressor wine coolers. But with so many choices on thermoelectric wine coolers, how do you choose? Just a quick search on Amazon yields hundreds of products. While there are many energy-efficient wine coolers out there, I believe the most energy-efficient thermoelectric wine cooler available on Amazon is the Wine Enthusiast Silent 18 Bottle Wine Refrigerator. This wine cooler is 65 watts which is in the middle range for thermoelectric wine cooler wattage but it holds 18 bottles which is at the high end of the capacity for thermoelectric wine coolers, making it more energy-efficient relative to the number of bottles it holds. Additionally, the Wine Enthusiast Silent also has two zones. The first zone ranges from 54 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit and the second zone ranges from 46 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. It has an external temperature control making it incredibly easy and convenient to use. It has a reflective smoked-glass thermopane door to regulate humidity and temperature ensuring that your wines keep their great flavor.
Want to Buy The Wine Enthusiast Silent 18 Bottle Wine Refrigerator?
So, there you have it, the good news is that the running costs of a wine cooler are fairly reasonable and won’t have too much impact on your monthly electricity bill which means you’ll have more money left to spend on adding to your wine collection!
