What Are Stand Alone Wine Fridges?

If you want to know more about stand-alone wine fridges, also commonly referred to and known as ‘freestanding’ wine coolers/fridges, then we are here with this guide if you are looking to add a new addition to your home. We have all the info on the different variations of wine coolers out there on the market and also the pros and cons of using a stand-alone wine fridge.

 

Introduction to Stand Alone Wine Fridges

A stand-alone wine fridge is extremely useful as it can be placed anywhere in your home as long as there is good ventilation and a power outlet. This means they are so much more flexible than the built-in alternatives. The built-in variations of wine fridges refer to fridges that are built into your existing kitchen cabinets, for a seamless finish. These are also referred to as under-counter wine coolers or integrated wine coolers.

 

Benefits to Stand Alone Wine Fridges

There are many benefits to using this style of wine fridge if this is the type of wine cooler you are leaning towards and would like to go for. Read on for the upsides to these coolers and why they are popular for so many homes.

 

Convenient and Flexible

You would be right in choosing a stand-alone wine fridge over an integrated model for the convenience factor, as they are a more convenient option. For example, a wine fridge that is separated from your kitchen side units and counter space allows you to move it to different locations in your kitchen or home. Whenever you fancy changing any design feature or layout in your kitchen in years to come, your wine fridge can easily be switched around with ease. However, a built-in or integrated model would require some more effort and work in order to do this.

As long as good ventilation space surrounds your cooler - which is easier to achieve anyway with a stand-alone wine fridge as it's not built-in against your other kitchen units as integrated models do. Therefore, you have the freedom and flexibility to move it anywhere. This is especially useful if you wish to move it to a completely different room, such as a separate entertaining area or garden space when you have friends or family over for a get-together. You will not have to worry about leaving them unattended to top-up their drinks, not to mention your guests can view your collection as your wine fridge comes with you wherever you are in your home, which will make you the absolute perfect host to your guests!

 

Easy Set-Up

Another big benefit to stand-alone wine fridges include the fast and easy set-up process, they do not require the help of a professional person to install it. Again, unlike built-in models which will require a professional to install it into your home due to the technicalities of it being fitted into your existing units and making sure it fits correctly and has sufficient airflow to the back - an essential part of the installation process. A freestanding wine fridge will simply be a case of switching it on and having a read of the initial set-up instructions, which will be quick and easy enough for anyone to do.

 

Cost

Freestanding wine coolers tend to come up cheaper than other alternative model types due to them requiring no professional work for the instalment of them in your home. Integrated types need help from a professional installer - with everyone's kitchens being slightly different, the seamless finish is why they require someone with those extra skills. If you crave that luxury of owning a wine fridge but you like to be super savvy with your money, or perhaps you are always looking for the best deal. Freestanding wine coolers are the best value for your money and as the reviews show, they work great and do the same job as any other type of wine cooler would do, such as an under-counter wine cooler.

The only problem with going for a more affordable model is that it will probably only be a single zone wine cooler and the cheapest models out there would probably be countertop models and would for standard sized wine bottles, so the max capacity won’t be many bottles per unit. Be sure to bear this in mind if you like to enjoy different types of wines. Take note of how big your collection is, as a dual-zone cooler might be the best option for you to store different wine types. There are smaller and therefore cheaper models of the wine fridge which are also more cost-effective on the energy rating side of it, when it comes to cost to run your cooler, making a saving in the long term.

 

Downsides to Stand Alone Wine Fridges

A downside to a stand-alone wine fridge is that unless stated by the manufacturer, you cannot fit your freestanding unit into your kitchen cabinets. Unless you have a model that supports this and is designed for both integrated and freestanding usage, you cannot use it as a built-in model. This is because special ventilation requirements are needed at the back of your unit, so if your model isn’t designed to be fitted in a tight space then this could be detrimental to your cooler. If heat cannot escape properly through the vents your cooler will overheat itself and will not operate properly and could cause permanent damage to the cooling system.

On the whole, wine fridges are a must-have if you are passionate and have a big interest in wine and want to enjoy wine correctly at its optimum serving temperature. Overall stand-alone/freestanding wine units are the way to go, as they have some of the cheaper wine cooler options available and are also not bound to some of the restrictions that integrated coolers are, which makes them a great choice and investment to add to your home.