A stable cellar requires maintenance. Here's the recommended frequency and signs that indicate a system is starting to drift.

Wine Cellar Maintenance: How Often and What Signs to Watch For

Even a very good system eventually accumulates dust, deposits, and small drifts. Maintenance serves one purpose: keeping conditions constant and preventing small signs from becoming repairs.

1) How Often Should You Do Maintenance?

In practice:

standard residential: at least once a year
heavily glazed cellar or intensive use: sometimes twice a year
commercial: more frequent depending on traffic

In Quebec, seasonal variation amplifies drifts. A system that's stable in winter can start straining in summer if maintenance and adjustments don't keep up.

2) What Serious Maintenance Covers

Useful maintenance includes:

inspection of the unit and installation
cleaning of components exposed to dust
drainage check and signs of blockage
fan control, noise, and vibration check
validation of cycles and general behavior
adjustments and recalibration if needed
simple report with recommendations

The report matters. It's what allows you to track history and prevent issues before shutdown.

3) Signs to Watch For

fluctuating temperature
unstable humidity
new noise or vibration
water on the floor, humidity smell, marks near the drain
abnormal frost
cycles too short or constant operation

The sooner you intervene, the simpler it is.

4) Why These Signs Appear

Common causes:

obstructed ventilation or reduced clearance
partially clogged drainage
dirty components
air infiltration or seal that has shifted
change around the cellar (new heat source, heated floor, direct sunlight)

A cellar is an ecosystem. A small change can have a real effect.

Conclusion

Maintenance is the best investment for keeping a precise, consistent, and documented climate. It reduces emergencies, extends lifespan, and preserves original performance.