Heat removal from makeshift cellar

[SiSandrine]

Hi,

I don't have a cellar and I don't have a garage. However a couple of years ago I removed some floorboards in the understairs cupboard, formed a hatch and used it to store my finished wine. Whilst this should be better than say under the stairs it isn't ideal as the temperature seems to fluctuate between 11 celsius in the depths of winter to as much as 20 at the height of summer.
The change of temperature is slow though and the extremes tend not to last very long.
The floor within the understairs cupboard is covered with thick linoleum and under the floorboards there are air bricks from the outside (south facing) about 4.5 metres away from the storage area of the wine. The depth of the cellar is about 45cm i.e. not deep.
I have a sort of idea to install some copper piping to the underside of the trap door and vent that pipe into the understairs cupoboard in order to remove some of the heat from the cellar area below. However I know little knowledge of these things and wonder whether that would help or is simply barking?
Anyone got a view?

[Cellar_Rat]

I don't think the varience is tooooo bad. and more importanlty it is sloooooow.

You can't drop up the air bricks, so by creating a vent you will increase the airflow (from outside) that in turn may result in increases of variantion. Just a thought!

[goldseal]

I'm sure koomber will cut a fridge in half for you

[Rich]

I'm sure koomber will cut a fridge in half for you

Err. That indeed is on the cards for the next week or two.. I have the fridge ready.

[Cellar_Rat]

LMAO. ... and welded to that half will be a full dispense system !

[goldseal]

[SiSandrine]

OK come on Koomber lets see what you got.

[Rich]

What sort of area are we talking , 45cm deep, but how wide/long etc. How well insulated is it? maybe just insulting it really well would slow down any temperature swing. Maybe some thick polystyrene sheets, sealed up to prevent drafts. The volume of liquid and glass should hold the temp well then.

I've been toying with the idea of peltier coolers, but haven't looked too far into it yet.

Where you after a 'free' fix or an ongoing cost type fix? (inslation vs runing a cooler)

[goldseal]

.... maybe just insulting it really well ....

I bet you talk to plants, too

[Cellar_Rat]

Am I right in thinking this is the space between the bearers under the floor?

[koomber]

Hmmmm.

Inuslation would be my first suggestion, but don't block up the air vents. You would also need to condensation being a possiblity so depending on the conditions in the cellar this will need to be addressed.

Cooling is more difficult than heating because you need to find somewhere to put the excess heat. Counter to the prevailing opinion, I wouldn't suggest cutting a fridge up though.

What is the bottom of you cellar? Is it the ground? If it is, you might (might) be able to get a decent cooling effect by insulating the room well and circulating air around the room.
I would take some temperature readings and compare the temperature in the cellar relative to the outside air temp with a fan and without a fan and see how that goes.

[SiSandrine]

What sort of area are we talking , 45cm deep, but how wide/long etc. How well insulated is it? maybe just insulting it really well would slow down any temperature swing.

Where you after a 'free' fix or an ongoing cost type fix? (inslation vs runing a cooler)

The 'area under wine' is about 1.5 metres squared. The back and side walls are brick walls and the floor is concrete which is on top of the ground. It is roughly in the centre of the house. The house was built in the 1920's (not sure that is relevant though).

I was just hoping to cut the variance down a little, not planning on having aa permanent cooler though I guess this could be an option if anyone had a suggestion. Tonight I will measure the top and the bottom of the 'cellar' temperatures and see what diffference there is.

Thanks guys

[Cellar_Rat]

Tonight I will measure the top and the bottom of the 'cellar' temperatures and see what diffference there is

Simon,

If it only varies between 11 and 20 seasonally, will you see a daily difference?

[SiSandrine]

Currently 17 degrees at ground level and 18 degrees celsius at Ground + 40cm. Ground level has been constant at 17 for about 5 weeks now. Will probably peak in August/September.
Real question for me is, is this a suitable place for long term wine storage or am I going to be forced to buy a new house with vineyard and chais. (To be honest I know the answer just not the timeframe).

[Cellar_Rat]

Can you dig a cellar and then wander around the garden like someone starring in ' The Great Escape'