Update on the quest for a storage solution

[hotwine]

Herewith for your Thursday amusement is offered an update on hotsie's perennial cellar problems. Delete, ignore, or laugh like hell, whatever flips your Bic.<P>Last spring, came up with the bright idea of building a new workshop that would include a nice wine room, as an alternative to the hot, moldy storm cellar that I've used for wine storage for nearly 15 years (and is the origin of the "hotwine" moniker). Found a contractor, came up with plans, and applied for a building permit, and BAM! Hit the wall. "You can't have a two-story auxiliary building." "It's so big you'll have to use an 'engineered slab'" (at double the planned foundation cost). The local zoning toads smelled "taxing opportunity" and have descended like a plague. In addition, the lovely wife's plans for remodeling the kitchen have pre-empted my construction budget, with the result being a need to revisit the whole array of possible storage solutions. <P>Currently planning installation of a split refrigeration unit for the old storm cellar; now awaiting arrival of the unit from the vendor, and a slot on the refrigeration contractor's schedule. In preparation, will have an electrician here next week upgrading the service to the current outbuildings, including the storm cellar. <P>Maybe - maybe - in a matter of weeks I'll be able to message all the troops afield, "It's done!" (But don't hold your breath.)

[Bucko]

Say whut....???

[Innkeeper]

Sounds a little pe-cu-liar from heah too. What's a split refer?

[winedope1]

hope all goes well for you hotwine. Sorry about the delays to what sounds like a great plan. A well done kitchen is a wonderful addition to a home, though. : )

[hotwine]

Thanks, WD.<BR>Is the term "split system" confusing, guys? It is to me, too. Here's how it works:<P>Ductless split-system air-conditioners combine the zoning flexibility of a conventional room unit (a single air-conditioner installed through a wall or a window frame) with the whole-house cooling potential of central systems. Like central systems, they have two main components: a compressor/condenser, as well as an air handling unit, which contains an evaporator and a fan. Some units operate as heat pumps and provide both summer cooling and winter heating. <P>The noisy compressor and condenser are housed as one unit and located outdoors. The quiet fan/evaporator unit is indoors, located in the area to be cooled. A conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and condensate drain, links the outdoor and indoor units. <P>The unit I'll be using is a Trenton TLP-41 Low Profile Cooler. Most of the hardware will sit on the concrete roof of the storm cellar, and use one of two existing 3 1/2" air vents for the conduit; the other air vent will be used for hot air return. This unit will chill the small cellar space (10'L X 7'W X 6' H) down to 40 degrees F, but I'll be able to hold it in the 55-57 degree range with a thermostat. (Since I'm 6'3", I get a crick in my neck after a while in there, but am planning to use this beast for long-term storage; ready-drinkers will remain in the coolers in the house.)<P>So - when I get this confounded problem whipped, we may have to come up with another monicker for the ol' hoss.... <P>

[Thomas]

how 'bout "splitwine?" preferably with your online friends...

[winoweenie]

Hope it turnd out as well as I know it can. The split-system is by far the most effecient and reliable type of wine cellar installation I found. My 2nd unit has been in continuous use for 15 years. The first one was not installed properly and only lasted 5 years here in the desert. I keep the temp at a +/- 2* of 53 and a minumum of 50% humididittiti. Hope this goes well and we can give you a new moniker ..........maybe "Cool-Tex " WW <IMG SRC="http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif">

[hotwine]

I've been called worse than either of those two....anything but "Latefersupper".

[hotwine]

Yee-haw! The AC guys spent all day yesterday installing the condenser and compressor unit on the cellar roof, and suspending the evaporator coil from the ceiling inside. Some tasks took a little longer than expected, such as drilling a 3/4" hole through the back wall for a drain (that took over an hour, to go through only 4" of concrete; extremely dense stuff!), and testing for leaks in the refrigerant line (after nearly two hours of searching for the source of a leak, they gave up and left at 6:45). But they should finish this morning. It is NICE, guys! The coil will impact one rack of diamonds against the back wall, so I'm chewing on alternative rackage designs.....sliding shelves are nice, and a very efficient use of space, so I may try building some of those.....but that kind of problem is workable....small stuff, after wrestling with high temps and humidity for so long. We're gettin' there.

[winoweenie]

Good Gracious HW, in jes' a short time you'll be able to have wine as old as your honey!(hehehe) WW <IMG SRC="http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif">

[hotwine]

Yeah, but not nearly as much of it, WW. We've still got honey out the wah-zoo around here; stumbled upon 30 lb just in cleaning out the pantry for remodeling, and there's more out in the shop (for lack of a better storage place in the house). I don't have but a few bottles of juice that are 10 years old or more; their survival rate is pretty low in this house!<P>BTW, the cooler is up and runnin'. Sure is comfy in there! <P>

[winoweenie]

I think you'll find you'll be manufacturing excuses to look for that " lost " bottle of 47 Petrus lots this summer. Being the pure gentleman I be, I always fetch my CBs' SWs' for her. WW

[hotwine]

You bet, WW. She doesn't know where to find anything anyway. She just hollers, "Hey, garcon..." She knows how to do that pretty well.

[Drew]

Mine sez..."Wine Boy, fetch!" and I do (love those pats on the head).<P>Drew

[hotwine]

You bet, Drew. Life is sweet!

[Bucko]

Glad to see you making progress -- I don't want any cooked wines when I make a visit down there..... <IMG SRC="http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif">

[hotwine]

I wouldn't do that, Buckster. Heh, heh. (I'll just put aside the cooked juice that's been in there for several years and put his name on it, to be sure to dredge it up when he visits...)

[winoweenie]

'Sokay Hotsie. Ole' leather-tongue would probably give it a 90/100(free)(heheheh)WW <IMG SRC="http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif">

[Bucko]

Hey, nice Madeira...... why does it say Cabernet on the label??????

[hotwine]

Can't even tell now what some of them once claimed to be....labels were falling like snow when we were in there.