Q:
What is Cellartherm?
A:Cellartherm is a system of six individual components
that are designed to work together for controlling
the most common problems found in wine cellars. Each
component is selected and manufactured to our specifications
to work together and solve the inherent issues
associated with wine cellars, namely vapor
migration, mold, vibration, heat transfer, light,
and cellar instability.
Q:
Why should
I have Cellartherm specified by my architect or
designer?
A:
Cellartherm is one of many important components
making up your cellar. To ensure that your new wine cellar works harmoniously,
Cellartherm should be specified on your plans just
as the cooling, construction, cellar finishes, and
other technical aspects are specified by industry
professionals.
Q:
My contractor is very competent, can he install the
cellartherm?
A:
To ensure a consistent quality of installation in
every cellar,
Cellartherm is installed only by our trained technicians.
The contractor is responsible for the cellar frame
out, sheet rock and finishes. We work closely with
your contractor to complete the project as a team
effort.
Q:
Can Cellartherm be installed in my home in New York,
apartment in London, or penthouse in Miami?
A:
Cellartherm technicians travel to any location in
the world. It is important to schedule international
installations far enough in advance to keep shipping
costs to a minimum. Since Cellartherm creates a
completely enclosed envelope, it works perfectly for
all climates including very humid regions of the
world.
Q:
How does Cellartherm address mold issues?
A:
Cellartherm itself is impervious to mold and will
not sustain mold growth. Additionally, Cellartherm
includes Mold Sentinel, an enzymatic mold inhibitor
that helps prevent mold growth by staying dormant
on cellar walls and organic materials. Once any
moisture manifests itself in the cellar the Mold
Sentinel reactivates preventing the growth and
spread of mold.
Q:
How does the cost compare with standard types of wall
construction?
A:
Another advantage of Cellartherm is it's value. Compared
to inferior 'standard' wall construction techniques
that many builders use in wine cellars, the installed cost is about
equal to up to 20% more. However, due to Cellartherm's
outstanding R-rating, and more importantly, K-values, most
wine cellar owners find the reduced utility costs more than
make up the difference. Larger cellars have a payback
in utilities savings in only a few years.
Q:
What
is a "failed cellar"?
A:
A "failed cellar" is a wine cellar that for one
reason or another has been breached by unwanted heat
transfer and vapor migration. This can result from
many factors but is generally a cause of using
inferior insulation products, components improperly
installed, and lack of knowledge by the one building
the cellar. The result is the buildup of moisture in
the walls and ceilings and a significant reduction
in the cooling ability for the HVAC equipment. This
generally starts to occur 8-12 months after the
cellar is completed. Signs of a "failed Cellar" will
include reduction in cooling capacity, cellar not
able to maintain proper temperature, signs of water
and water stains, signs of mold, and electrical
problems. Generally the only way to remedy the
problem is to remove the entire interior of the
cellar back to the structure and rebuild fresh.
Cellartherm was designed to prevent the "failed
cellar" syndrome and assure the collector his wines
are safe from this more and more common condition.
Q:
Can
I have my wine cellar insulated in a similar fashion
as the rest of my home?
A:
Because the science of keeping a wine cellar
insulated and free of excessive moisture is
different than what is applied to common home
construction and insulation, the materials and
application also needs to be different. Many
products used in normal house construction actually
encourage what is called a "failed cellar". A wine
cellar is generally a lower temperature environment
compared with its surrounding living spaces and
therefore must be treated differently in relation to
those spaces. Cellartherm was designed specifically
with the the science of wine cellars in mind and the
special attributes involved.
Q:
I hear that
the vapor barrier should go on the warm side of the
cellar, where is the warm side?
A:
The challenging question for many wine cellars. What if
you have a penthouse wine cellar in Hilton Head, South
Carolina? Heated
living space on some sides, an exterior wall on the
other side, and an attic above that goes from freezing
and dry in the winter to a blistering 100 degrees
with 90% humidity in the summer. So where is warm
side? With traditional methods, this is a no-win situation,
but with Cellartherm's intrinsic vapor-retarding properties
throughout the depth of the product, this is a non-issue.
Q:
Are
there any other benefits to Cellartherm?
A:
As already stated, Cellartherm addresses inherent
problems associated with wine cellars. Because of
the value of your wines and the investment you make
in the wine cellar, peace of mind that you have the
most advanced wine cellar insulation system
available can not be underestimated. In addition,
some insurance companies are offing a reduction in
premiums for wine cellars protected with
Cellartherm.
Q:
How do I
get started with having Cellartherm installed in my
new
wine cellar?
A:
Please send a link of this site to your architect, or download
the quote form and send it in. For additional
information your can call or email us.
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