Mold growth is a problem that needs to be avoided by wine cellar owners to preserve their collection for years to come. The key to having a mold-free residential wine cellar is to let an expert in Florida examine if there are structural components in your wine room that can trigger mold growth. Wine Cellar International, a wine storage expert in Florida, discusses the main causes, effects, and how they can help you prevent this problem.
Mold Growth in Wine Storage Spaces
Are molds starting to grow in your home wine cellar? Mold growth is a big problem that needs to be given attention immediately. Ignoring this will result in significant expense and inconvenience in the future.
Molds can damage your collection and the structural integrity of your wine cellar. Their favorite breeding grounds are areas that are dark and damp, such as wine cellars. They commonly thrive on wooden racking of wine cellars. You may also find them on corks and wine labels of wines stored in poor conditions.
Mold growth can result in costly damage if not prevented. What are the causes of mold growth, and how do you prevent them from ruining your favorite vintages? If you want to safeguard your investment, you need to find ways to avoid or prevent fungi in your cellar.
Causes of Molds in Florida Residential Wine Cellars
The damp conditions in wine cellars favor the growth of molds. Factors that contribute to mold growth are the vapor barrier, humidity and insulation.
Poorly Installed Vapor Barrier
A vapor barrier helps control humidity in your wine cellar. Its main function is to separate the distinct conditions of your wine room from the rest of your home.
Vapor barriers prevent condensation build up in the walls and ceiling of your storage space. They must be installed on the warm side of the wall, and before insulation, to prevent condensation forming in room surfaces.
Poor installation of the vapor barrier will let moisture seep through the wall cavities, causing development of moisture. Moist wine cellars often lead to mold growth, which can damage the wine and its labels, corks, racking, walls, and ceiling.
Closed cell urethane foam is ideally used by many Florida residential wine cellar builders as a vapor barrier. It is a bit expensive, but the good thing about it is that it can act as an insulator too.
The installation of a vapor barrier in wine cellars is a critical process. Thus, it is best to let a professional do it. One of the most trusted builders in Florida is Wine Cellar International. View their custom wine cellar gallery.
Incorrect Wine Cellar Insulation
The main purpose of insulating the walls and ceilings of wine cellars is to keep warm air from entering your wine room. Without a tight seal, moisture will form in your climate-controlled wine room, which will trigger the development of mold and mildew in the wall cavities. This may result in warping of your studs or joists, and may also damage your wine and labels.
The correct R-value must be used for the insulation. The ideal insulation for the walls is R-19, and R-30 for the ceilings. In addition to walls and ceilings, the flooring and door must also be insulated. This will help maintain the desired moisture in your wine room.
High Humidity Levels
Humidity contributes to achieving perfect wine cellar conditions. Failure to have precise control of humidity will provide molds an environment for growth.
Humidity in refrigerated wine rooms should be 60-70%. When it goes higher than 80%, molds are more likely to find a breeding ground in your wine cellar. Remember that these type of microorganisms love to grow in moist areas.
An efficient wine cooling system will allow you to achieve the ideal wine cellar humidity. Refrigeration systems vary in type, style, and capacity, thus it is recommend that you seek the help of a professional. A master builder will also insulate your wine room properly.
Wine Cellar International aims to keep their clients’ collections safe. For this very reason, they use only high quality cooling units in their projects. After the assessment of your storage needs, they will determine the most suitable cooling solution for your space. All their climate-controlled systems are designed for excellent performance, allowing you to enjoy your favorite vintages for many years.
Don’t Want Molds in Your Florida Residential Wine Cellar? A Wine Storage Expert Can Help You.
Mold growth is a serious problem that must be avoided by wine cellar owners. If you want to ensure that you have a mold-free wine room, it is recommended that you hire an expert who will examine your storage space, and see if there are construction issues that cause the growth of these fungi.
Having your wine cellar fixed means additional expense, but doing this will save you money in the long run. This will ensure that your walls, wine labels, and cellar racking are free from molds, protecting your investment. Don’t wait for more serious problems to occur before taking preventive action. This will also give you the opportunity to modify your racking, or add some more accents to your storage space.
So, what are you waiting for? ACT NOW! Contact one of the top residential builders in Florida, Wine Cellar International, at +1 (954) 630-5866, or send us a message.