Wine & Beverage Coolers

Thermoelectric and compressor units: not cooling, condensation and sensor codes.

4 field manuals · 22 error codes · 9 diagnostic guides · 3 brands

Field service manuals

Field manual · Wine Cooler

NewAir AWR-290DB 29-bottle dual-zone wine cooler: quick sheet

NewAir AWR-290DB (stainless; also -B black finish listings), 15-inch built-in/freestanding dual-zone compressor wine cooler, sold about 2017 onward (NewAir product page and manual).

6 components4 common failuresNewAir

Field manual · Wine Cooler

Whynter BWR-0922DZ 92-bottle dual-zone wine refrigerator: quick sheet

Whynter BWR-0922DZ 24-inch built-in or freestanding dual-zone compressor wine refrigerator (92 bottles), sold about 2017 onward (Whynter product page and user manual).

6 components4 common failuresWhynter

Field manual · Wine Cooler

Thermoelectric wine coolers: field service manual

Small freestanding wine coolers that use a Peltier (thermoelectric) module instead of a compressor

4 components3 common failuresNewAir, Whynter, Koolatron, EdgeStar, Danby, All

Field manual · Wine Cooler

Compressor wine and beverage refrigerators (incl. dual-zone): field service manual

Freestanding and built-in wine coolers and beverage centers with a vapor-compression sealed system; single and dual zone

5 components4 common failuresDanby, U-Line, Sub-Zero / Wolf, Frigidaire, GE, Kalamera, Vinotemp, EdgeStar, Whynter, NewAir

Diagnostic guides

Guide · Wine Cooler

Thermoelectric wine cooler not cooling (fans run, cabinet near room temperature)

Thermoelectric coolers move heat with a solid-state Peltier module and two heat-sink fans, so they can only pull the cabinet a limited amount below room air. Rule out a hot room, blocked airflow and dusty fins before condemning the module, its fans or the DC power supply.

5 steps ~45 minmoderate

Guide · Wine Cooler

Dual-zone wine cooler: one zone warm, the other fine

When one zone of a dual-zone cooler works, the compressor or main cooling is usually alive. Focus on what each zone has on its own: its sensor, its fan, its air path or damper, its door seal and its section of the control.

6 steps ~60 minmoderate

Install · Wine Cooler

Built-in wine cooler: front venting and clearances

Only front-venting units are designed to be built in. Rear-venting (freestanding) units need open space around them and overheat when boxed in. Keep the front grille or kickplate vents fully open and follow the opening and clearance dimensions in the installation instructions.

6 steps ~60 mineasy

Guide · Wine Cooler

Wine cooler not cooling (thermoelectric vs compressor)

First identify the type: thermoelectric units (quiet, no compressor) are limited by room temperature and depend on their fans and heat sinks; compressor units depend on a clean condenser and working fans. Many no-cool calls are ventilation, door seal or room temperature problems.

7 steps ~45 minmoderate

Guide · Wine Cooler

Wine cooler too cold or bottles freezing

Over-cooling comes from a cold room (especially with thermoelectric units, which have no heater), an iced evaporator, a blocked internal fan, or a failed sensor/control.

4 steps ~30 mineasy

Guide · Wine Cooler

Condensation on the glass door or water on the floor

Door sweating is usually humid room air on cold glass, made worse by a leaking gasket, blocked vents or frequent openings. Water on the floor usually means the drip tray is out of place or the defrost drain is clogged.

5 steps ~30 mineasy

Guide · Wine Cooler

Noisy wine cooler or beverage center

Most noise is the unit not being level or touching something, loose parts, or a fan blade hitting ice or debris. Thermoelectric units only have fans, so noise there is almost always a fan. Some fan cycling is normal.

4 steps ~30 mineasy

Guide · Wine Cooler

Display shows an error, HI/LO, or does not respond

Many alarms (HI/LO, door) clear once the door is closed and the cabinet recovers. Sensor codes point to a thermistor or its wiring. A dead display with power present is usually the display board.

4 steps ~30 mineasy

Guide · Wine Cooler

Door seal problems and interior light not working

A worn or poorly seated gasket causes warm cabinets, moisture and long run times. A dead light is usually the bulb/LED, a loose connection or the light switch, which on many units is part of the display board.

3 steps ~30 mineasy

Danby · 3 codes

Danby · Wine Cooler

CL

Cabinet near freezing for an extended time

The inner cabinet has stayed at or near freezing for more than 30 minutes (Danby's manual for one series says 32°F; another code list says about 28°F). The alarm sounds and the unit stops cooling to protect the bottles.

Cross-checked

Danby · Wine Cooler

HI

High-temperature alarm

The cabinet has stayed too warm (one source gives above about 73°F for an hour). Often triggered by loading a lot of warm bottles/cans or a door that did not close.

Cross-checked

Danby · Wine Cooler

LO

Low-temperature alarm

The cabinet has dropped below its low limit (one source gives below about 28°F).

Cross-checked

Sub-Zero / Wolf · 5 codes

Sub-Zero / Wolf · Wine Cooler

05 / 07

Cabinet thermistor fault (upper 05, lower 07)

The upper (05) or lower (07) cabinet thermistor is open, shorted or erratic.

Cross-checked

Sub-Zero / Wolf · Wine Cooler

06 / 08

Evaporator thermistor fault (upper 06, lower 08)

The upper (06) or lower (08) evaporator thermistor is open, shorted or erratic.

Single source

Sub-Zero / Wolf · Wine Cooler

10 / 12

Cabinet warm alarm (upper 10, lower 12)

The upper (10) or lower (12) cabinet is warmer than its alarm limit.

Single source High-voltage / caution

Sub-Zero / Wolf · Wine Cooler

11 / 13

Cabinet cold alarm (upper 11, lower 13)

The upper (11) or lower (13) cabinet is colder than its alarm limit.

Single source

Sub-Zero / Wolf · Wine Cooler

15

Sealed-system fault

The control has flagged a problem in the sealed refrigeration system.

Cross-checked Licensed pro only

U-Line · 14 codes

U-Line · Wine Cooler

Amb Thrm Open / Amb Thrm Short

Ambient thermistor fault

The room-temperature sensor circuit reads open or shorted.

Single source

U-Line · Wine Cooler

Door Open 5M / dr

Door open more than 5 minutes

The door switch has reported the door open for more than about 5 minutes.

Single source

U-Line · Wine Cooler

E1

Thermistor 1 open

Thermistor 1 (the zone sensor on most models) reads open circuit.

Cross-checked

U-Line · Wine Cooler

E2

Evaporator thermistor open

Thermistor 2 (evaporator sensor) reads open circuit.

Single source

U-Line · Wine Cooler

E3

Door open too long

The door (or bottom drawer) has been left open too long, about 20 minutes on some models. One code list also uses E3 for an open third thermistor on some boards.

Cross-checked

U-Line · Wine Cooler

E5

Zone thermistor shorted

Thermistor 1 (zone sensor) reads short circuit.

Single source

U-Line · Wine Cooler

E6

Evaporator thermistor shorted

Thermistor 2 (evaporator sensor) reads short circuit.

Single source

U-Line · Wine Cooler

Evap T Open / Evap T Short

Evaporator thermistor fault

The evaporator temperature sensor circuit reads open or shorted, which affects defrost control.

Single source

U-Line · Wine Cooler

No Comm

Display lost communication

The display is not communicating with the main control board.

Cross-checked

U-Line · Wine Cooler

SH / EH

Showroom mode on / ended

SH means showroom (display) mode is active, so the unit may light up without cooling; EH means showroom mode ended and normal operation resumed.

Single source

U-Line · Wine Cooler

Temp Hi 6H+ / Temp Hi 12H+

Zone warm for 6 or 12 hours

A zone has been about 10°F above its setpoint for more than 6 (or 12) hours.

Cross-checked High-voltage / caution

U-Line · Wine Cooler

Temp Lo 6H+ / Temp Lo 12H+

Zone cold for 6 or 12 hours

A zone has been about 10°F below its setpoint for more than 6 (or 12) hours.

Cross-checked

U-Line · Wine Cooler

Zone T Open / (L)(R) Zone T Open

Zone thermistor circuit open

The cabinet (zone) temperature sensor reads as an open circuit. L/R identifies the zone on dual-zone units.

Cross-checked

U-Line · Wine Cooler

Zone T Short / (L)(R) Zone T Short

Zone thermistor circuit shorted

The zone temperature sensor reads as a short circuit.

Cross-checked

Official manufacturer support

We link to official documentation and never host it.

DanbyDanby product manuals (by model number)DanbyDanby FAQs (wine coolers and beverage centers)WhynterWhynter product support (manuals by model)NewAirNewAir product manualsSub-Zero / WolfSub-Zero Group owner assistanceSub-Zero / WolfSub-Zero: moisture or condensation in wine storageU-LineU-Line (documentation and customer care)VinotempVinotemp wine and beverage cooler troubleshootingTCLTCL: door sweating on wine and beverage coolers