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For custom home builders

Cooling for a cellar in a new house

A new-house cellar is specified before the custom door is ordered. The builder owns schedule and envelope. Wine-R specifies and sells the WR2500.

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Through-the-wall wine cellar cooling

Reviewed · September 3, 2026

Frame the 15 5/8 in by 9 1/4 in opening before drywall. Walls 5.5 to 14 in. Size the room before the door is ordered. Dedicated 15A circuit and a sloped condensate drain are not punch-list items. Through-the-wall install is DIY-feasible when the site is correct.

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On the job

Takeaways

  1. 01Frame the 15 5/8 in by 9 1/4 in opening before drywall. Walls 5.5 to 14 in.
  2. 02Size the room before the door is ordered. A glass door raises load.
  3. 03Dedicated 15A circuit and a sloped condensate drain are not punch-list items.
  4. 04Through-the-wall install is DIY-feasible when the site is correct. HVAC is not required.
  5. 05Send the closing or occupancy date with the job. A person replies.

Default new-home package

Through-the-wall WR2500, above the door

  1. 01Room sized with the BTU calculator after insulation and glass are confirmed.
  2. 02Opening: 15 5/8 in x 9 1/4 in in a non-loadbearing interior wall.
  3. 03Wall thickness 5.5 to 14 in.
  4. 04Electrical and drain: dedicated 115V / 60Hz / 15A, sloped condensate line.
  5. 05US jobs are direct-to-consumer. Canada uses the retailer network.
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Who does what

One job, four seats

Builder / owner-builder

Schedule, envelope, GC, closing date.

Wine-R

Unit, spec, quote. US fulfillment is DTC.

Installer

Set the unit when the site is ready. Not certified by Wine-R.

Cellar shop

Door, racking, millwork. Not the cooling.

Specification sequence

How to specify the WR2500

For cellars that have to look finished with a through-the-wall unit in the wall. The drawing set carries the envelope, the load, the opening, the drain, and the electrical. There is no remote compressor to hide in another room.

  1. 1. Confirm the envelope. R-20 walls and floor, sealed vapor barrier on the warm side. Double-pane sealed glass only. Single-pane and non-insulated glass are not permitted and void warranty coverage.
  2. 2. Size the load. Enter length, width, height, glass, and insulation in the BTU calculator. The WR2500 covers up to 700 ft³ (19.8 m³) with glass walls or 900 ft³ (25.5 m³) fully enclosed when the envelope meets specification.
  3. 3. Place the unit. A non-loadbearing interior wall, 5.5 to 14 in thick. Cutout 15 5/8 in by 9 1/4 in, typically above the door. The face is in the cellar wall.
  4. 4. Route the drain. Mandatory 3/8 in ID condensate line with continuous downward slope. Runs over 5 ft, rises, or loops need a pump.
  5. 5. Electrical. Dedicated 115V/60Hz/15A. Do not share the circuit with lighting. No extension cord. No switched outlet.
  6. 6. Installation. DIY-feasible when the site is correct. A contractor or HVAC installer can set it. Wine-R does not certify installers.

Millwork can frame the face if free area and published clearances stay open. Leave a path to remove the unit without dismantling finished cabinetry. 2-year parts warranty.

Definitions

New-home cellar:
A wine room specified before drywall: opening framed, circuit landed, drain sloped, envelope built to specification, door ordered after the load is known.

Common questions

Role FAQ

Do you install in a new house?
Wine-R does not certify installers. In the US we sell direct. A homeowner, electrician, or HVAC contractor can set the unit when the opening, drain, circuit, and envelope are correct.
What if the door is already custom glass?
Keep it. Add the glass load, then size. Confirm the envelope before you lock the model.
Who does the cellar versus the cooling?
The builder owns schedule and envelope. Wine-R specifies and sells the cooling system. Millwork, door, and racking stay with your cellar shop. Canada still routes through the existing retailer network.
Who does the homeowner call after closing?
The homeowner contacts Wine-R directly for support. The builder is not the service path.

Back to Wine-R Pro. Related: BTU calculator, Documentation, Compatibility check.

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One portal. Seven roles.

Approval is a human review. No auto-approve on pricing. You are applying directly with Wine-R, not through a dealer.

Specification support notice

Wine-R Pro documents support design, bid, and specification work. They are not a site assessment, an engineering approval, or an installation certification. Final sizing, opening, drainage, and electrical are confirmed on site by the responsible trades. Wine-R does not install and does not certify installers. The WR2500 is sold under Wine-R’s Terms of Sale and Limited Warranty.

Liability and warranty considerations

The WR2500 is sold under Wine-R’s Terms of Sale and Limited Warranty. Wine-R’s warranty covers unit parts for two years from the original purchase date.

Warranty coverage is voided by, among other conditions:

  • Damage from improper installation, poor insulation, or oversized or unsealed rooms
  • Use of extension cords, switch-controlled outlets, or non-dedicated circuits
  • Use of single-pane or non-insulated glass in the cellar envelope
  • Installation through an exterior wall, into a sealed cavity, or into an unventilated cabinet
  • Service performed by anyone other than Wine-R or a Wine-R authorized technician
  • Damage from drainage installation, blockage, overflow, or any drainage failure

Pre-validation by Wine-R confirms unit fitment against declared measurements only. The owner or installer is responsible for envelope construction, wall structural assessment, electrical compliance, drainage routing, and ongoing operating conditions. Wine-R does not warrant against water damage, mold, finish degradation, or property loss caused by installation, drainage configuration, site conditions, or operating environment.