WHISPER KOOL WK 3000 User manual

XLT
WhisperKOOL
Owner’s Manual
®
Protecting Your Investment In Fine Wines

Copyright ©1998-2004 Vinothèque Wine Cellars All rights reserved.
This manual, the product design, and the design concepts are copyrighted by Vinothèque Wine
Cellars, with all rights reserved. Your rights with regard to the hardware and manual are
subject to the restrictions and limitations imposed by the copyright laws of the United States
of America. Under copyright laws, this manual may not be copied, reproduced, translated,
transmitted, or reduced to any printed or electronic medium or to any machine-readable form,
for any purpose, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Vinothèque Wine Cellars.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate.
Vinothèque Wine Cellars is not responsible for printing or clerical errors.
Vinothèque Wine Cellars reserves the right to make corrections or improvements to the
information provided and to the related hardware at any time, without notice.
Vinothèque, and WhisperKOOL are registered trademarks, and ECE is a trademark of
Vinothèque Wine Cellars. All rights reserved.
Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an
endorsement nor a recommendation. Vinothèque Wine Cellars assumes no liability with regard
to the performance or use of these products.
Rev. 17-1103

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
What Is the WhisperKOOL®System?..................2
How Does the WhisperKOOL System Work? .............2
Receiving and Unpacking .....................3
Preparing the Wine Cellar ....................4
Mounting the Unit ..............................5
Ventilation ...................................6
Installation..................................7
Electrical Needs ...............................7
Sizing Unit to Room.............................7
Placement of Unit ...............................9
Installing Thermostat .............................9
Using the WhisperKOOL System ..............10
Condensate Evaporator Switch ....................10
Drain Line ..................................10
Liquid Measuring Thermostat System .........11
PDT JR. Operating Instructions ............12
PDT Operating Instructions ................13
Normal Operation .........................14
Maintenance ...............................14
Humidity Control ............................14
Troubleshooting Guide ....................15
Solutions to Common Problems ..................15
Technical Assistance ......................20
How to Contact Customer Service.................20
Warranty Clarification on WhisperKOOL Product....21
Limits and Exclusions.........................21
Vinothèque Customer Service....................21
Warranty Service ............................22
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Table of
Contents
-1-
NEW OWNERS PLEASE NOTE…
ALWAYS PLACE UNIT IN UPRIGHT POSITION
Do not start or plug-in your new unit for 24 hours after delivery. . .
Units are sometimes accidentally tipped onto their sides
during shipping which may allow compressor oil to escape
their reservoirs. . .
Premature starting—before the oil has had a chance to
resettle—can cause damage to the compressor and result in
a lack of cooling.
A DEDICATED 20 AMP CIRCUIT IS HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED FOR OPTIMUM OPERATION!

Introduction
-2-
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the WhisperKOOL®wine cellar
temperature and humidity maintenance system.
Please take the time to read through the owner's manual so
you understand the correct operations of the WhisperKOOL
unit.
What Is the WhisperKOOL System?
The WhisperKOOL system is a specialized refrigeration unit
designed for one purpose only: to maintain the optimal
temperature and humidity levels conducive to the proper aging
of fine wines. It is a self-contained cooling unit designed to be
mounted through the wall into the wine cellar.
How Does the WhisperKOOL System Work?
• The WhisperKOOL system is designed to maintain humidity,
while measuring and maintaining the wine temperature in
the cellar. This is achieved by gently cooling rather than by
quick-chilling.
• Temperature Setting: The WhisperKOOL unit can be set at
any temperature within the acceptable wine-aging range of
50°F -to- 70°F. It is designed to cool 30°F cooler than the
ambient temperature of the space it is exhausting to.
•Humidity Control: There are no separate controls for
maintaining proper humidity. Humidity is managed through
the design and engineering of the unit. As the temperature
begins to drop within the wine cellar, the relative humidity
will rise, while the absolute humidity will stay the same. For
more information about this process, see Normal Operation
on page 14.
• The WhisperKOOL system is designed to be mounted
through an interior wall into the cellar. The unit will operate
correctly in a controlled environment to properly manage the
effective cooling of the cellar. The unit is not designed to
withstand the elements of an outdoor climate where summer
temperatures exceed 85 degrees or in winter environments
where temperatures reach freezing. The components are not
designed for these extreme conditions and premature failure
may occur.
Note: Improperly preparing your enclosure or incorrectly
installing your WhisperKOOL system may cause unit failure,
leaking of condensation, and other negative side effects.

Receiving and
Unpacking
-3-
Please examine the WhisperKOOL packaging for any damage
to the carton. Note any damage on the bill of lading, shipper’s
receipt, or airbill. Damaged merchandise should be accepted.
Contact Vinothèque Customer Service immediately.
A representative will file a claim with the shipping company,
arrange for a replacement unit to be shipped to you and for the
original unit to be picked up. In some instances, an inspection
must take place at the point of receipt, in which case you will
be contacted by the shipping company to schedule an
appointment to inspect the damaged goods.
Please leave the WhisperKOOL System in its original box until
you are ready for installation. This will allow you to move the
product safely without damaging it. When you are ready to
remove the product from the box, see Installation on page 7.
Note: Save your box and all packing materials. They provide the
only safe means of transporting the unit.
RECEIVING AND UNPACKING

Wall & Ceiling Framing
Build wine cellar walls using standard 2x4 or 2x6 construction methods and ceiling joists
following the guidelines of local and state codes in your area. The general rule for a cellar
is the thicker the walls, the higher the insulation factor, the better the cellar remains at a
consistent temperature.
Insulation
Insulation is REQUIRED with the use of the WhisperKOOL product; Standard “Fiberglass”
or “Rigid Foam” insulation is normally used in cellar construction, or in some cases,
“blown in” insulation is used. It is very important that all walls and ceiling be insulated to
keep the cellar temperature as consistent as possible during the summer and winter months.
The R factor or thickness of insulation is determined by the thickness of the walls and
ceiling. For example, fiberglass insulation of R13 is designed to be used in a 2x4 wall.R19
is used in a 2x6 wall. It is important to use the correct insulation for the wall thickness.
Preparing the
Wine Cellar
-4-
PREPARING THE
WINE CELLAR
The performance and life of your WhisperKOOL System are contingent upon the steps you
take in preparing the wine cellar.
It is highly recommended that you obtain the assistance of a wine
storage professional.
Wine storage professionals work with licensed contractors, refrigeration technicians, and
racking companies to build well-insulated, beautiful, and protective wine cellars. In some
areas of the country, these professionals are not available. We have put together some
useful tips to assist in the installation process.
Our recommendations are meant to act as a guide in the process of building a proper
enclosure. Your intended location may have specific needs that we do not address.
Vapor Barrier
Vapor barrier is REQUIRED if a climate control cooling unit is installed to keep the cellar at
the correct temperature and humidity. 6mm plastic sheeting is applied to the warm side of the
cellar walls.The vapor barrier must be either applied to the outside walls and ceiling, or if it
is impossible to get to the outside, then the plastic must be applied from within the cellar. The
most common method is to wrap the entire interior, leaving the plastic loose in the stud cavity
so the insulation can be placed between each stud. All walls and ceiling must be wrapped in
plastic for a complete vapor barrier.
In areas of humidity, such as the southern and gulf states, the vapor barrier will prevent
infiltration of warm moist air. The moist air can cause mold to form. The cooling unit will strip
excessive moisture from the air and create water, which will need to be dissipated back out
of the cellar using the Condensate Evaporator system or drain line. In dry climates, the vapor
barrier will provide more control over retaining the higher correct humidity within the cellar.
Ducting
The unit is designed to exhaust into an open area. Any attempt to duct the exhaust ports
to redirect airflow will result in voiding the warranty. The fans are not designed to push air
through a restricted duct system. The fans and compressor will be over worked and may
result in premature failure.

Preparing the
Wine Cellar
-5-
Unobstructed Airflow
Unobstructed airflow to and from
the unit is a critical factor in the
unit’s overall performance.
Make sure there is a three-
foot horizontal clearance in the
front of the unit. This will assure
that the unit can move the air
around in an efficient manner.
Avoid the attempt to camouflage
the unit by installing racking in
front of the unit. This will restrict
airflow and thus the unit’s ability
to work efficiently.
Mounting the Unit
The unit should be mounted
within 18 inches of the top of
the room in order to achieve
sufficient cooling. As the room
cools down, the warm air will
rise to the ceiling. Mounting the
WhisperKOOL high in the room
will create a consistently cool
environment by capturing the
warm air and replacing it with
cool air. Mounting the unit low in
the room will result in a
temperature variation in the
room due to the unit’s inability to
draw warm air from the ceiling of
the cellar to the unit itself.
Door
An exterior grade (1 3/4”) door must be installed as a cellar door. It is very important that weather stripping
is attached to all 4 sides of the doorjam. A bottom “sweep” or threshold is also required. The door must have
a very good seal to keep the cool cellar air from escaping out of the cellar. One of the most common problems
with cooling units running continually is due to the door not sealing properly. In cases where glass doors are
used and the room size is close to the recommended unit size, the next larger size WhisperKOOL should be
used. This will compensate for the insulation loss due to the inefficient door.
Front of WhisperKOOL, inside cellar.

Preparing the
Wine Cellar
-6-
Ventilation
The necessity of dissipating heat away
from the unit is critical to the unit’s
performance and cannot be overstated.
As the unit operates and cools, a greater
amount of heat is generated on the
exhaust side of the unit. Adequate
ventilation is required in order to
dissipate heat away from the unit. If
ventilation is inadequate, the exhaust will
heat up and adversely affect the unit’s
ability to cool. In some cases, it may be
advisable to install a vent fan to dissipate
heat within the exhaust area on the
backside of the unit. However, you must
have a fresh air inlet as well. Do not
attempt to install ducting on the unit. The
fans are not designed for ducting and will
result in premature failure of the unit.
Unobstructed Airflow
Unobstructed airflow to and from the unit
is a critical factor in the unit’s overall
performance. Make sure there is a
minimum three-foot horizontal clearance
from the rear of the unit. This will assure
that the unit can move the air around in
an efficient manner.
Ambient Temperature Factor
The cooling system has the ability to cool a
maximum of 30°F below the ambient
temperature in the room it is exhausting
to. Therefore you want to exhaust the unit in
a room which will not exceed 85°F.
Otherwise the unit will not have the
capacity to keep the wine at a desirable
55°F.
Rear of WhisperKOOL exhaust area

Installation
-7-
Electrical Needs
The WhisperKOOL System requires a dedicated 110-volt 20-
amp circuit. The unit draws a large amount of amps at initial
start up. By designating a dedicated circuit breaker, you will
guarantee the unit has enough power to run effectively.
Contact your electrician for installation of this dedicated
electrical circuit.
Electrical Outlet
The unit is equipped with two electrical outlets, one for
installation inside the cellar and the other for installation
outside the cellar. The outlet on the inside is covered and has
been secured with screws. Regardless of which side is
utilized, the other outlet must then be covered in order to
avoid a live electrical charge.
Purchase a surge protector or power conditioner to plug
your WhisperKOOL unit into. As with any sensitive
electrical equipment, the WhisperKOOL unit’s circuitry
may be damaged by power surges and spikes. Power
surges and spikes are not covered by the WhisperKOOL
warranty.
Do not use a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) with this
product. The cooling unit will draw more amperage
than the GFI will allow.
Upon plugging the unit in and turning it on, there will
be a five minute delay before the unit starts. This is
based on the function of the thermostat.
INSTALLATION
MODEL BTU AMPS AMPS PRODUCT DIMENSIONS ROOM SIZE
(starting) (running) (H x W x D) (cubic feet)
WK 1600 1600 13 4.5 15.75" x 14.25" x 17" 300
WK 3000 3000 16 6 15.75" x 14.25" x 17" 650
WK 4200 4200 18 9 15.75" x 14.25" x 17" 1000
WK 6000 6000 22 9.5 22.5" x 14.25" x 21.25" 1500
WK 8000 8000 32 10 22.5" x 14.25" x 21.25" 2000
Sizing Unit to Room
The specification chart will provide information on the unit’s room size cooling capacity.
There are circumstances in which a cellar design may require a larger unit due to some
existing design restrictions. In such a case, we recommend that the customer consider
purchasing a unit with a larger capacity to compensate for the design limitations. Issues
such as glass doors, concrete walls and floors may seem adequate but do not offer the
insulation capacity required to maintain the optimum environment.

Installation
-8-
Carefully remove your WhisperKOOL unit
from the box. Do not destroy your packing
material, as it provides the only safe
means of transporting the unit. Units
weigh 65–100 pounds and are
cumbersome for one person to carry. We
recommend that you get someone else to
help you during the installation process.
Testing Unit
Place the WhisperKOOL system on a
tabletop to prepare it for installation and
testing. Locate the by-pass plug and
insert it into the thermostat plug, located
on the front of the WhisperKOOL System.
Next, plug the system into a live electrical
outlet and turn the unit on. The system
should begin cooling. The system may
take up to 10 to 15 minutes before
running cool. Once the operation has
been tested, turn the unit off, unplug the
unit from the electrical outlet, and remove
the by-pass plug.
Note: If the system does not seem to be
running cool after 15 minutes, please
refer to the Troubleshooting Guide on
page 15.
Before installation, use the by-pass test plug
to test the unit.
Attach precut foam tape to the unit’s flange.
Foam Tape
Adhesive Covering
Flange
Test Plug
Applying Insulation Tape
Locate the four precut pieces of black
foam tape included with your system.
There should be two larger pieces and two
smaller pieces. Start with the large
pieces. Peel back the white-paper
adhesive covering, and attach the large
pieces to the top and bottom of the unit
flange. Then follow with the two smaller
pieces on the right and left sides. This
foam creates a tight seal between the
unit’s flange and the wall (see
illustration).

-9-
Placement of Unit
Slide the unit from the outside wall into
your wine cellar with the outer flange
flush to the outside wall. Secure the
flange to the wall through the predrilled
holes. The screws should penetrate the
studs as well as the upper and lower
supports to provide adequate support
for the WhisperKOOL System (see
illustration). Seal all cracks and gaps
around the WhisperKOOL unit to prevent
air leakage. If you use molding, it should
be attached to the walls, never to the
WhisperKOOL unit itself.
Slide unit, outside-in, into your
cellar, and secure all screws firmly
to the studs and supports.
Attach the PDT mounting bracket.
Attach the PDT to the mounting bracket.
Wall Stud
Two-by-Four Upper Support
Wall Stud
2” x 4”
Lower Support
Electrical Outlets
Drain line
Installing Thermostat
Attach the thermostat to the front of the
unit using the mounting bracket. Make
sure the black male plastic plug from the
unit is securely fitted into the female plug
located on the circuit board of the
thermostat. To complete the installation,
insert the small black screws into each
side of the thermostat PDT/PDT Jr.
securing it to the mounting bracket.
Electrical Outlet
The unit is equipped with two electrical
outlets, one for installation inside the
cellar and the other for installation
outside the cellar. The outlet on the inside
is covered and has been secured with
screws. Regardless of which side is
utilized, the other outlet must then be
covered in order to avoid live electrical
charge.
Installation

Power Switch
The new series WhisperKOOL units come
equipped with an On/Off switch. The
On/Off switch is simply used when the
owner does not need to utilize the
equipment.
NOTE; (It will take five minutes before
the unit begins to operate once the
switch is placed in the “On” position. This
is due to the designed safety delay in the
PDT thermostat.)
Condensate Evaporator Switch
The Condensate Evaporator is a heating
element that automatically evaporates
excess condensate that accumulates in the
cooling system as a by-product of
refrigeration. Like most cooling systems,
WhisperKOOL uses heat from the
compressor to evaporate and eliminate the
majority of the water that accumulates
during normal use. However, during
certain weather conditions or in humid
areas (above 80%), more condensate will
accumulate than the cooling system can
evaporate with heat from the compressor
alone. Only the WhisperKOOL units are
equipped with sophisticated heating
elements that automatically sense the
presence of water and work continually
until the water is gone.
Setting the Condensate Evaporator to the
“On” setting causes the heating element to
operate whenever water is present in the
compressor pan.
If your wine cellar is located in a dry
climate, there is a good chance that the
unit will not accumulate excessive water.
Therefore, elect to save electricity by
setting the Condensate Evaporator to the
“AUTO” position.
Using the WhisperKOOL
System
-10-
USING THE WHISPERKOOL SYSTEM
¤
Location of control switches
Switches
Drain Line
All units come with a drain line for
additional removal of excessive
condensate. This is a back up system to
the Condensate Evaporator. If the unit is
installed in a high humidity area of the
country, it is mandatory to install the
drain line attachment. In high humidity,
the cooling unit will strip excess water
from the air in order to maintain the
proper level of humidity within the cellar.
The Condensate Evaporator will heat and
dissipate the excess moisture through the
rear of the unit. However in extreme
humidity, additional condensate will be
created. Conversely the high humidity air
has less capacity to absorb additional
moisture through the exhaust of the unit.
Thus the drain line will prevent overflow
and leaking by allowing for discharge of
the additional condensate.

To Use the thermostat:
1. Locate an empty wine bottle.
2. Fill 3/4 full with room temperature tap
water.
3. Place bottle probe securely into bottle.
4. Place bottle with probe in a central
location of your wine cellar.
Avoid pulling too much on the probe cord.
It may become disconnected resulting in
non operation of the unit.
Note: Thermostat can be set between 50°F
and 76°F.
Remember: The WhisperKOOL System is
based on the temperature of the wine.
Do not be misled by thermostats reading
air temperature. The air temperature in the
cellar will be cooler than the liquid
temperature of the wine while it is coming
to optimum balanced temperature.
Liquid Measuring
Thermostat System
-11-
LIQUID MEASURING THERMOSTAT
SYSTEM
Room-temperature
Water
Fill an empty bottle with room-temperature water;
then insert the probe.
All WhisperKOOL units come equipped
with our Precision Digital Technology
(PDT/PDTJR) liquid temperature measuring
thermostat system. This system
incorporates the following advantages:
1. Self-Calibrating Probe: The probe
contains a sensor chip, which actually
communicates back and forth to the
thermostat. This results in a consistent
temperature setting and accuracy.
2. Built in Defrost Cycle: The unit is
designed to shut off for five minutes
every ninety minutes in order to prevent
frost build up. This allows the cooling
unit to continue to cool effectively in
demanding environments. A count down
timer is observed by depressing the
center button on the thermostat. (PDT
upgrade version only)
3. Heavy-duty Circuitry: The circuitry
within this new unit has been upgraded
to resist power surges, which play
havoc on electrical components. This
improvement will ensure years of
trouble-free use. However, for high
reliability, we still recommend that the
customer install a surge protector for
the unit itself.
4. Fahrenheit and Celsius Readout (PDT
upgrade version only): The thermostat
has the ability to produce the readout in
both Fahrenheit and Celsius for
overseas customers. The readout can be
changed by depressing both the center
and right buttons at the same time.
Measuring liquid temperature has a few
unique advantages:
1. Wine temperature is kept in a very
precise controlled environment. This
assures a consistent temperature.
2. By measuring the liquid temperature
rather than air, the unit will run less
often.

PDT JR Operating
Instructions
-12-
Indicators
There are three colored lights on the left side of the thermostat:
•PWR (Green) – When this light is on, the unit is powered.
•RUN (Yellow) – When this light is on, the compressor is
running. If the light is flashing, the unit is currently in the five-
minute lockout.
•SET (Red) – This light flashes when the set-point
temperature is changed by pressing one of the three control
buttons (see below). It flashes once for each press of the ⇑or
⇓ button, and twice when the 55 button is pressed.
When the unit is first turned on, all three lights flash slowly
while the thermostat starts up. Once the unit completes its
start-up check, the compressor is locked out for five minutes.
During this time the RUN light will be flashing slowly (1 flash
per second).
All three lights will flash rapidly if there is no probe connected
to the thermostat.
Buttons
To change the set-point temperature, press either the ⇑or ⇓
button. The SET light will flash once for each 1°F the set-point
is changed. This set-point will remain in memory until you
change it.
If you forget where the unit is set, pressing the 55 button will
reset the set-point to 55°F and the SET light will flash twice.
The temperature cannot be adjusted below 50°F or above 76°F.
Attempting to set the unit outside this range will cause the SET
light to rapidly flash.
Operation
Whenever the compressor shuts off normally, a five-minute
lockout period begins and the RUN light will be flashing slowly
(1 flash per second).
If the compressor runs for 90 continuous minutes, a five-
minute defrost cycle is forced, during which time the
compressor will not run. During this defrost cycle the RUN light
will be flashing rapidly (2.5 flashes per second).
Operating Instructions for Vinothèque PDT JR. Thermostat
PDT JR OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

PDT Operating
Instructions
-13-
1. Wine Temperature Indicator: A red LED bar will light up when
the thermostat is reading the liquid temperature in the bottle via
the probe. This will remain lit and the temperature you see
displayed is what the probe is reading.
2. LED Screen: Displays your thermostat readings.
3. Wine Temperature Reading: The temperature the water bottle
is registering to the thermostat.
4. Temperature SET Indicator: A red LED bar will light up when
you are setting the temperature.
5. Unit ON Indicator: A red LED bar will light up every time the
unit turns on to run a cooling cycle.
6. SET Button: Used to set the temperature you want the unit to
maintain.
7. UP Arrow Button: Used with the SET button to set temperature
higher. In addition, by pressing and holding the button it will
allow you to see the 5-minute count down.
8. DOWN Arrow Button: Used with the SET button to set
temperature lower.
*Up and Down Arrow Buttons used simultaneously will
change the temperature read out from Fahrenheit to
Celsius*
PDT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
WINE Temperature Indicator
Wine Temperature Reading LED Screen
1
32
4
5 6
78
Temperature SET Indicator
Button UPArrow Button DOWN Arrow Button
Unit ON Indicator Button SET Temperature Button
Temperature
Precision digital Technology Thermostat
PDT
WINE
ON
SET 55F
SET
The unit is set at 55°F at the factory. To raise or lower the set
temperature, press the set button while at the same time
pressing either the arrow up or arrow down button.

Normal
Operation
NORMAL OPERATION
WhisperKOOL systems are designed to maintain both
temperature and humidity. Once the system is installed and the
temperature set, it will run continuously until the wine cellar
is at your set wine temperature. This may be as much as two
weeks, depending on the size of the room, the quality (R-value)
of insulation, the original temperature of the wine, and the
number of bottles residing in the cellar. Once the cellar has
achieved the set temperature, the WhisperKOOL unit will cycle
to maintain ±0.5°F of your set temperature.
The WhisperKOOL system will run more often than a
refrigerator or air conditioner, due to its gentle cooling
and humidity maintenance.
People often make the mistake of comparing the performance
of refrigerators with the performance and cycling of wine
storage equipment. Wine cellar cooling systems are highly
specialized and designed for one purpose only–long term
storage of wine.
Maintenance
The following maintenance should be performed on your
WhisperKOOL unit at least once every six months to promote
longevity and optimal performance.
Vacuum the back of the WhisperKOOL unit to clean the
condenser coils and prevent air blockage. The condenser coils
reside behind the grill on the back of the WhisperKOOL unit.
Don’t try to open the unit itself. Just vacuum the surface of the
grill and remove any lint or dust that has accumulated.
Humidity Control
There are no separate switches in order to maintain humidity.
The cooling unit is designed to maintain relative humidity at
50-70%.
The WhisperKOOL units do not create humidity. If you live in a
dry area of the country you many need to create humidity in the
wine cellar. This can be done by introducing a non-heat
humidifier, or installing a small fountain within the cellar.
-14-
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The back side of a
WhisperKOOL unit.
Intake Grill

Troubleshooting Guide
-15-
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Problem Likely Cause Remedy
The unit does not
cool the room Inadequate door seal See “Door Seal” section on pg. 16
Improperly mounted unit See “Unit Mounting” section on pg. 17
Unit has inadequate ventilation See “Airflow” and “Ventilation” sections on pg. 15
Water leaking out Internal condensation drain See Water Leaking, Front in the
the front fan vents is clogged “Condensation” section on pg. 17
Water leaking Condensate Evaporator is not See Water Leaking, Rear in the
from the rear properly set for local climate “Condensation” section on pg. 18
Drain line is not attached See “Drain line” section on pg. 10
Unit is icing up Thermostat is faulty See “Thermostat” section on pg. 17
Unit is low on refrigerant See “Icing Up” section on pg. 18
Unit isn’t running Problem with local electrical See “Power Requirements” section on pg. 19
or makes intermittent circuit
clicking noises
Try this first!
Clean off any accumulated dust, lint, or other debris from the front and rear
intake grills. This will restrict the airflow and may affect the unit’s ability to
function properly. Periodically cleaning the unit’s vents will help assure
maximum cooling efficiency.
Airflow
Proper airflow is critical to the performance of the WhisperKOOL
unit. Any obstruction to the intake and exhaust ports on either
side of the unit will compromise the unit’s ability to cool. Make
sure the WhisperKOOL unit fan vents are clear. Check the front
and rear intake vents for any possible obstruction. There should
be a minimum clearance of three feet directly in front of the
intake and exhaust vents.
Ventilation
Proper ventilation of the WhisperKOOL unit is one of the most
important and often overlooked issues associated with the unit’s
performance.The WhisperKOOL unit does create a large amount
of heat, which needs to dissipate away from the unit freely in
order to cool correctly. This issue is sometimes overlooked for
several reasons:
1.) If there is inadequate ventilation on the rear side of the unit,
this will result in further heat buildup and will cause it to
recirculate the hot air near the ceiling on the exhaust side of
the unit, therefore limiting the ability to cool the room.

Troubleshooting Guide
-16-
2.) Even though the space may seem to be
adequate, the heat needs to be able to
dissipate away from the unit. A lack of
ventilation will cause the room to
become extremely warm.
3.) The WhisperKOOL unit is designed to
cool 30°F cooler than the ambient
temperature of the room it is
exhausting the hot air to (rear side of
unit). This means that in order to
maintain an optimum temperature of
55°F, the temperature on the exhaust
side of the WhisperKOOL unit cannot
be more than 85°F.
In order to determine if ventilation may be
the problem, try the following tests.
1.) Measure the air temperature at the
intake grill on the backside of the
WhisperKOOL unit. Measure the air
temperature in front of the circulation
fans in front of the unit. If there is a
30°F temperature variation, then the
unit is running correctly.
2.) It the air temperature is greater than
85°F at the intake grill on the backside
of the WhisperKOOL unit, then the
room is inadequately ventilated.
3.) To further test this situation, locate a
household fan and point it directly to
the rear intake grill on the unit. Operate
the fan at maximum capacity with the
rear area open to ventilation. Wait
fifteen minutes and measure the air
temperature coming from the
circulating fans in front of the unit. If
Precision digital TechnologyThermostat
PDT
55 F
WINE
ON
SET
Temperature
SET
the air temperature is cooling, it
confirms a lack of proper ventilation.
If the exhaust area is confined, (for
example, if the unit vents into a
crawlspace), then as the temperature
outside the unit rises, the WhisperKOOL
unit must expend more energy (and will
generate more heat) in order to maintain a
cool temperature inside the room.
Eventually, the unit cannot keep up and the
temperature inside the cellar climbs.
To solve the problem, make sure that the
WhisperKOOL vents into a space where
heat cannot build up.
Door Seal
A high quality door with a proper seal is
another important aspect of a well-
designed cellar. If there is a gap between
the bottom of the door and the floor, the
cool air will sink and flow out beneath the
door. While the release of the cool air may
be subtle, it will require the
WhisperKOOL unit to continue to operate
without achieving the desired results. Use
good-quality weather-stripping and seals
around the cellar door to prevent cool air
leakage. For more details, see Preparing
the Wine Cellar, “Door” on page 5.
Precisiondigital Technology Thermostat
PDT
55 F
WINE
ON
SET
Temperature
SET
Air flows on both sides of the wall.
Cool air drops and exits beneath door.

Unit Mounting
Mounting the unit in the cellar has a
significant impact on the unit’s ability to
cool the air in the room. A law of nature
states that warm air rises while cool air
falls. The unit must be mounted high in
the room in order to capture the warm air
and replace with cool air. If the unit is
mounted low in the cellar, it has a
tendency to circulate the cool air at the
bottom of the cellar but has no ability to
draw the warm air from the higher space
in the cellar. This will result in an
inconsistent temperature range.
Thermostat
If the WhisperKOOL unit is not cooling
the room, it might be due to a faulty
thermostat. Use the following procedure
to test the thermostat.
1.) Unplug the WhisperKOOLunit.
2.) The PDT thermostat is attached
to the front of the WhisperKOOL unit
with two screws, one at each end of the
thermostat. Remove the screws and
detach the PDT.
3.) Unplug the PDT from the main unit,
and plug in the by-pass plug. The by-
pass plug lets you run the
WhisperKOOL without having the
thermostat installed.
4.) Plug the WhisperKOOL unit back in.
The unit will begin running and
cooling immediately. Let the unit run
Troubleshooting Guide
-17-
for 24 hours.
5.) After 24 hours, use an accurate
thermometer (preferably a high-
quality digital thermometer) to
measure the temperature of air
coming out of the WhisperKOOL
unit’s front fans. If it is cooling the
room, then the problem may lie with
the thermostat.
If the WhisperKOOL unit cools the room
without the PDT installed, then the
thermostat should be replaced. The by-
pass plug will allow the WhisperKOOL
unit to continue to function, but it will not
be able to monitor or maintain the correct
temperature automatically without the
thermostat.
If you continue to run the WhisperKOOL
on the by-pass plug without the
thermostat, you will need to turn off the
WhisperKOOL unit periodically to keep it
from icing up. We recommend cycling the
unit on and off every eight hours if
possible or as needed.
For replacement of the PDT, please
contact Customer Service. See Warranty
Service on page 22.
Condensation
Water Leaking, Front
Moisture condensation is the natural
result of cooling air. The WhisperKOOL
has an internal drain for removing
collected condensation from the
evaporator coil going to the compressor
pan where it is evaporated and dissipated
into the exhausting environment. Water
leaking from the front vents is caused by
build-up of dust from the air circulating
inside the cellar. This accumulation clogs
the drain line from the evaporator pan,
resulting in the overflow.
The only way to effectively prevent this
problem is to make sure that the
WhisperKOOL is installed in a relatively
dust-free environment.
Mount WhisperKOOL high in the room.

Troubleshooting Guide
-18-
Icing Up
In the unlikely event that your
WhisperKOOL unit is icing up in front,
unplug the unit for 24 hours and allow the
ice to melt away. Plug the unit back in and
test on the by-pass plug for 24 hours
(refer to page 8). Within the 24 hour
period the unit should not develop ice and
should be generating cold air. If the unit
is functioning properly when on by-pass,
the icing may have been a result of a
faulty thermostat (see page 17). If while
on by-pass, the unit continues to form ice,
first check that all 4 fans are working.
Secondly, check to see if the unit is
blowing cold air. If the air is cool to luke
warm, but not cold, the unit requires
further service. The WhisperKOOL may
have low refrigerant.
Please contact Customer Service for
assistance and guidelines.
Your options to resolve this problem are
either to send the unit back to the factory
or disassemble the unit and clear the
clogged drain line yourself. However,
unauthorized repairs will void warranty.
Please contact Customer Service for
assistance and instructions.
Water Leaking, Rear
The WhisperKOOL product is designed to
dissipate excessive moisture by collecting
it in the compressor pan and using the
natural compressor heat along with a
heating element to remove condensate.
Operating the WhisperKOOL in
excessively humid conditions can cause
the unit to accumulate more condensation
(water) then the unit can dissipate while
operating, resulting in leakage. In order
to resolve this issue, the unit is designed
with both a Condensate Evaporator
control switch and an external drain line
(see page 10). The Condensate
Evaporator switch will allow you to
operate the heating element continuously
whether the unit is operating or not. (See
Condensate Evaporator on page 10.)