Wine Cellar Heat Load Calculator
BTU/hr + System Recommendation (Concept Demo)

Fast “good-enough + guardrails” BTU/hr estimate, suggested system type, and placeholder product line mapping.
Educational estimate only – confirm assumptions with an experienced refrigeration pro.


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Length (ft)
iInterior finished dimension. Use inside drywall/finish measurements.
Width (ft)
iFor odd shapes, estimate an equivalent rectangle.
Ceiling height (ft)
iVolume drives baseline load. Taller ceilings cost BTUs.
Build quality
iGood = tight envelope + insulation + vapor barrier. Poor = leaky / under-insulated.

Glass area (sq ft)
iTotal warm-side glass area facing warmer space. Glass can dominate the load.
Glass type
iSingle pane is worst. Double pane helps. “None” means negligible / 0 sq ft.

Ambient temp (F)
iTypical adjacent space temperature. Delta-T drives the load.
Target cellar temp (F)
iCommon wine target: 55F.
Ambient humidity (RH %)
iHigh humidity adds moisture load. This v1 uses a conservative adder.
Air leakage (ACH)
iACH = air changes per hour. 0.2 tight, 0.5 average, 1.0+ leaky.
Door type
iDoor leakage is a common failure point. Weatherstripping matters.

Internal loads (lights W / people / other BTU/hr)
iWatts become heat (1W ~ 3.41 BTU/hr). People add heat.

Noise sensitivity / Constraints
iSteers system type (through-wall can be noisier; ducted/split can be quieter).

Fixed guardrail: adds +15% sizing margin and rounds to common nominal sizes.

Estimated load (BTU/hr)
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Includes +15% safety factor

Recommended nominal size
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Common sizing step

Room volume (ft3)
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Interior volume

Delta-T (F)
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Ambient – Target

Recommendation

System type + placeholder product mapping (edit mapping in code to match your catalog).

System type
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Suggested line/model (example)
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Guardrail status
–
–

Installer notes (fast)
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Breakdown (what drove the BTUs)

Pre-safety subtotal + contributions. Spot obvious culprits (leakage/glass).

Subtotal (pre +15%)
–

Safety factor
+15%

Component contributions
–

Copyable quote summary
Use the button above to copy a clean text summary for an estimate email.

Simple guide

What this is: A fast estimator that converts room basics into a rough BTU/hr load and a practical equipment direction.

How to use (quick)
  • Enter dimensions and target temperature (55F is common for wine).
  • Pick build quality and leakage (ACH). If unsure, assume Average and 0.5 ACH.
  • Add glass/door/internal loads if relevant.
  • Press Recalculate.
What usually breaks the install
  • Leaky envelope (ACH too high) and missing vapor barrier continuity.
  • Lots of glass or single-pane glass facing warm/humid space.
  • Oversizing leading to short-cycling and humidity control issues.

Reality check: Educational. Confirm insulation/vapor barrier details, infiltration, condenser environment, and duct/line-set constraints before purchase.

Disclosure: Educational estimates only. Exact results depend on insulation/vapor barrier quality, infiltration, condenser environment, equipment placement, duct losses, latent moisture handling, and usage patterns. Always confirm with an experienced refrigeration pro.