When faced with the choice of a freestanding wine cooler and a built-in wine cooler, it can be rather tough to decide which is better. Here, we will take a look at both, judging their pros and cons, to give you an idea of which is better. Or maybe, there isn’t much of a difference to begin with.
Freestanding wine coolers vs built-in wine coolers
If you’re in the market to buy wine coolers, you will most likely run into freestanding wine coolers first and foremost. Freestanding wine coolers come with several benefits. First of all, they are portable – even the larger freestanding coolers can be freely moved around. If you need to move it to a different room, or down into your cellar, it’s as easy as plugging it out. As well as that, freestanding wine coolers are often cheaper than built-in coolers, due to their design.
Speaking of design – the main difference between freestanding wine coolers and built-in wine coolers is the ventilation system. Freestanding wine coolers usually feature a thermoelectric cooling system, with the heating vent located at the back of the cooler – this means that, if enclosed, hot air will become trapped and the cooler won’t function properly. In comparison, a built-in wine cooler features a front-facing vent, which allows it to fit into cabinets, cupboards and wherever else you fancy. This can make them less of an eyesore.
As well as the ventilation system, the dimensions for freestanding and built-in wine coolers vary. Built-in wine coolers are crafted to specific dimensions, allowing them to fit snugly in cabinets. Meanwhile, freestanding wine coolers can come with rather awkward dimensions – making it a pain to find a place to put it. However – freestanding wine coolers do come with countertop options, whereas built-in coolers do not offer such a size. Not only that, but freestanding wine coolers can also offer much more capacity, as they’re not limited by the size of a cabinet. The difference is rather staggering – with built-in coolers averaging at around 40 bottles, and freestanding coolers ranging from 6 bottle capacity, to 300, or more!
Lastly, convenience. Freestanding wine coolers are not only easier to move around, but easier to install – just put them wherever you please and plug them in. No need to mess around with cabinets or wiring. Built-in wine coolers require quite a lot of planning, and if you happen to decide to renovate your kitchen or cellar, it’ll have to come out.
Conclusion
In the end, both the freestanding and built-in wine coolers have their pros and cons, and it is up to you to decide which one best fits your needs. If you want something discreet and out of the way, a built-in wine cooler is the right choice. If you’re looking to house a large wine collection, then the free standing wine cooler is definitely the choice for you. Overall, however, you will get more value out of a freestanding wine cooler than a built-in one – and less hassle.