A service call was recently made to M&M Cellar Systems to fix a leaking wine cellar cooling system in Irvine, Orange County. A team of HVAC professionals was sent to diagnose the problem and repair the leak. The client was fortunate that the leak was found and fixed promptly, otherwise, the damage could have been worse and the repair could have been more expensive. The process of detecting a leak illustrates how important it is to have a regular maintenance plan for your custom wine cellar cooling system.

HVAC Professionals from M&M Cellar Systems Detect Freon Leaking from a Cooling Unit in California

The HVAC Team from M&M Cellar Systems Repairs a Wine Cellar Cooling System with a Leaking Refrigerant.

In a project recently completed by M&M Cellar Systems in Orange County, California, a team of HVAC professionals repaired a leaking wine cellar refrigeration system. The initial action was to determine where the leak was exactly located. The team of cooling experts used the Ultraviolet Light Leak Detection Method to locate the leak.

The technician first injected a UV-detectable dye into the refrigeration system and allowed it to circulate thoroughly. About a month later, he came back and found where the leak was exactly, which was inside the cooling unit. The unit had to be completely dissembled in order to gain access to the leak and repair it accordingly.

3 Most Common Methods of Detecting Freon Leaking

A refrigerant is a necessary element for the efficient functioning of a wine cellar refrigeration system. A refrigerant is responsible for creating the cool air that cooling systems provide wine rooms. Freon is one of the most popular refrigerants used in most refrigeration units.

Freon is a trade name for a group of compounds that are used as refrigerants in cooling systems. Freon turns to gas when placed at room temperature. It goes back to liquid form when cooled or compressed.

No refrigeration system can cool a wine cellar without a refrigerant. This is why if a cooling unit is losing Freon through a leak, it can gradually stop functioning. It is imperative that you have a regular maintenance plan for your cooling system so that you can detect problems with your unit such as a Freon leak. Early detection and immediate repair of the leak are necessary to keep your refrigeration system consistently functioning efficiently.

All pressurized HVAC cooling systems leak refrigerant eventually. It’s vital that you subscribe to a regular maintenance plan for your wine cellar cooling unit so that you can monitor its condition and have it checked for leaks.

The 3 most common methods of detecting Freon leaks in a refrigeration system include the following:

M&M Cellar Systems offers Repair and Maintenance Services for Wine Cellar Cooling Units in Orange County, California

1. UV Light Leak Detection Method for Wine Cellar Cooling Units

The Ultraviolet Light Method, or the Spectronic Method, is the most accurate means of locating Freon leaks in a refrigeration system. In this procedure, the HVAC technician injects a liquid tracer into the wine cellar cooling system and allows it to circulate for approximately 2 to 4 weeks. The liquid tracer is a UV light-detectable type of dye. The tracer circulates the refrigeration unit and exits with the refrigerant through the leak sites.

When the UV dye has thoroughly circulated the wine cellar refrigeration system, a UV light inspection lamp is used to scan for it. UV dye glows when illuminated by the lamp, and consequently helps locate the exact site of the leak.

2. Freon Electronic Method of Detecting Leak in a Refrigeration System

The Freon Electronic Leak Detection Method is the fastest and easiest method to determine the location of leaks in a cooling system. This method utilizes an electronic sniffer that helps the technician locate the general leak area. HVAC experts highly recommend wrapping the suspected problem area in plastic to capture fumes, so that the electronic detector can be more accurate in locating the Freon leak.

3. Freon Leak Detection Using Bubble Leak Method

In this method, liquid solutions are used. These solutions produce bubbles when placed over a leak. The solutions may be applied by spray, brush, immersion, or dabber. Most of the time, HVAC experts only use the Bubble Leak Detection Method to confirm the location of the leaks after performing other leak detection methods.

The downside to using the Bubble Leak Detection Method is that it can be a very messy procedure. It also is a tedious process, and it’s time-consuming to clean and remove residue after completing it.

M&M Cellar Systems – Repair and Maintenance Experts for Cooling Units

Have your cooling units regularly maintained by M&M Cellar Systems, one of the leading wine cellar refrigeration companies in Orange County. They manufacture high-quality cooling units for wine storage rooms and provide maintenance and repair services for clients all over California.

Protect your wine collection by making sure that your wine cellar refrigeration unit is always functioning optimally. Subscribe to a maintenance plan today! Call M&M Cellar Systems at +1 (323) 578 3330.

Here at Arctic Metalworks, we often receive calls from wine storage room owners in Orange County, California who are having problems with the temperature and humidity conditions inside their wine storage systems. Most of the time, the problems they complain about are those that are actually preventable. The usual causes of these problems include improper installation of the cellar cooling system and faulty construction of the residential wine cellar.

Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit – An Essential Aspect of Effective Wine Storage Systems

Without the right conditions, wines cannot properly develop their flavor and aroma. An effective wine storage system is a necessary investment that all wine collectors should make. A room is an effective space for a wine collection if it can provide the ideal temperature and humidity for wines to age tastefully.

Damage to the Wine Cellar Lighting Fixture from the Dripping Water

Cooling System Installed and Maintained by an Expert

Besides a professionally built residential custom cellar, it is essential to have a quality refrigeration system installed. No wine storage system can ever provide the ideal temperature and humidity for wines to mature if there isn’t a wine cellar cooling unit installed. Generally, it is imperative that a licensed professional should install your wine storage system so that you can be sure that the unit will function efficiently.

It is also very important to have a regular maintenance plan for your wine cellar refrigeration unit. This is so that you can always be sure that your cooling unit is in perfect condition, and that there are no concealed problems. Regular maintenance also provides the opportunity to promptly deal with any identified problems.

At Arctic Metalworks, we have a team of HVAC professionals who are experts at the installation of various kinds of wine cellar cooling units. Our skilled staff is also available for the maintenance and repair of wine room refrigeration systems.

A Service Call to Repair Wine Cellar Cooling Water Damage in Ocean Crest, Orange County

When homeowners call us to repair their wine climate-control systems, the problems they report about are usually those that could have been prevented if they had a professional build their wine cellar and have an expert install their units. A recent project we completed is a perfect example of this:

We received a call from a client in Ocean Crest, an upscale development located in Newport Beach, Orange County. The client complained about water dripping from their home’s custom wine cellar ceiling. The problem was affecting the lighting fixture, and if it was not dealt with quickly, the damage could potentially end up too expensive to repair.

Repairing the Wine Storage System in Orange County, California

Identifying the Cause of the Cooling Problem

When our team went to check out the problem, they found that the problem was caused by the faulty installation of the wine cellar’s vapor barrier. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the plastic vapor barrier was installed on the cold side of the insulation, and this resulted in the fiberglass insulation getting very wet. Ultimately, this led to water dripping from the ceiling of the residential wine room.

The First Step of Repair: Total Tear Down of the Wine Storage System

Although the problem in the wine system was caused by a single mistake in installation, the repair wasn’t as simple. To fix the problem, we had to do a major teardown of the storage room. Our team had to completely uninstall the wine cellar refrigeration unit, and they had to remove all the wine racking systems. The repair team also had to strip down the drywall together with the wet insulation within the wine cellar’s walls.

The client was fortunate that the problem was identified and attended to promptly; otherwise, there could have been mold formation. If black mold had started growing, it would have been necessary to have a mold abatement company to remove all the mold before our team could proceed with the repair.

Having a regular maintenance plan for your wine cellar cooling unit prevents the worsening of any wine storage problems. It is the responsibility of a prudent wine collector to have the refrigeration system checked and maintained regularly by a cooling expert.

Replacement of Substandard Materials with Quality Products

In the process of repairing the wine storage system, our team had to replace the insulation with a spray-in polyurethane product, which is a superior type of insulation material, and it acts as a highly effective vapor barrier as well. The client was more than willing to invest in high-quality products after experiencing the consequences of a poorly installed vapor barrier and insulation system.

Our team of experts also replaced the wine cellar’s drywall and repainted the room to achieve the client’s desired coloring. The wine storage cooling unit and the wine racking system were then reinstalled.

Although our team had effectively repaired and restored the client’s wine storage system, the client found the entire experience both traumatic and very costly. All these problems could have been avoided if an expert in wine storage had been consulted and hired in the first place.

Avoid Common Problems with Wine Cooling Systems by Trusting an Expert

Contact Arctic Metalworks today!

The lesson that other wine collectors should learn from this client’s case is that when they have a home custom wine cellar installed in Ocean Crest, Newport Beach, they should trust only wine storage experts. The cellar should be designed and built by a professional wine system builder in Orange County, and their wine cellar cooling unit should be installed and maintained by an expert wine storage cooling contractor.

Arctic Metalworks is one of the most trusted wine cellar refrigeration system construction companies in Orange County, California. We offer the best cooling units that can meet your storage needs effectively and efficiently. For more information on our products and the services we offer, contact us today at +1 (714) 251-6875!

A wine collection requires a wine storage solution. A wine cellar in Orange County, California is the best place to store wines and age them. This is a basic guide to follow in order to create an effective wine storage solution.  

A Guide to Preparing a Custom Wine Cellar in California

Wines require a proper wine storage solution, in order to age properly and to be kept safe. A residential custom wine cellar in Orange County, California is an ideal wine storage solution because it provides access to your wine collection at any time. You also have the opportunity to customize your wine storage room’s design to fit your unique preferences.

The construction of a wine cellar has to be properly planned, to make sure that the necessary conditions for ideal wine storage are met. By knowing the details of what makes a good wine storage solution, you can make sure that your wines, which are valuable investments, are protected.

What are the Ideal Custom Wine Cellar Conditions?

Wines need an Ideal Storage Solution

Other factors that should be considered to achieve the ideal wine cellar conditions include avoiding excessive heat, Ultraviolet light, and vibration.

Where Should You Have Your Custom Wine Cellar Constructed?

One of the concerns that wine collectors raise when having a home wine cellar built regards the ideal location for the construction to take place. Ideally, wine cellars should be built below ground level. If you have a basement, it would be the best place to have the cellar built, because this area is generally cooler and more humid than other parts of the house. Most wine storage experts would recommend having it built in a corner of a basement, with two exterior walls, in an area free of windows.

If you do not have a basement or any area below ground, you can have your wine cellar constructed above ground, but, in this case, you must give extra attention to properly insulating and sealing the storage room.

Decide on an Effective Wine Cellar Cooling System

Whether you have your wine cellar built below ground or above ground, you need to decide on the type and location of a wine cellar cooling system. The most common type of cooling systems are wall-mounted units that exhaust warm air into an adjacent room (one that is at least the same size as the wine cellar room). Ideally, the ambient temperature of the venting area should not be higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit; otherwise, the cooling unit won’t work efficiently. Other types of wine cellar refrigeration systems available on the market include split systems and special units. A lot of these types of cooling systems require installation by a licensed HVAC professional. Contact AC Cool the Orange County Specialist

The Construction of the Residential Wine Cellar

Have a Wine Cellar Constructed for your Wine Collection

After electrical rough-in and insulation, ½ inch plywood sheeting will be secured to the cellar walls to anchor the wine racking. Some wine cellar builders use standard ½ t0 ¾ inch sheetrock, but most wine storage experts recommend using a moisture-resistant “green board”.

The wine cellar door is another essential factor in creating an effective storage solution. Choose a solid-core, exterior-grade door. Make sure that it is weather-stripped and sealed completely, to create an air-tight environment inside the wine room. Should you decide to utilize a glass door, make sure that the glass is thermo-paned and tinted.

Choose the Right Wine Racking System

Generally, a wine collection contains a variety of wines that come in bottles of different shapes and sizes. When planning for a custom wine cellar, you need to choose the right wine racking system, that can accommodate all of the wine bottles in your collection. Also, consider the flexibility of your wine racks. Should your collection grow, you will want to be able to add more racking to accommodate more wine bottles. Wine racks in Orange County, California can either be modular or custom-designed.

Wine racks can be made from a variety of materials, too. The material that you choose depends on the design you want for your wine cellar. Wooden wine racks are great for those who desire a classic or traditional appeal, while metal wine racks are suitable for a modern or contemporary look.

Wine Cellar Builder in Orange County, California

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is a trusted wine cellar designer and builder in Orange County, California. Contact them today at +1 (888) 735-8889 for a consultation on your desired wine cellar design.

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