Written by Jim Hopper, Wine Cooling Expert · Updated September 2026
Which Breezaire Should You Buy?
Buy the Breezaire whose rated cellar size matches your cellar's cooling load. Breezaire's sizing table runs from the WKL 1060 at about 140 cubic feet to the WKL 8000 at about 2,000 cubic feet, with the WKCE for wine cabinets and the WKSL split system when the heat has to go somewhere other than the room behind the wall.
Below is the model-by-size shortlist, the installation checks to do before you order, and what the warranty covers.
In short: measure the cellar, estimate the load, then pick the smallest Breezaire rated for it with some headroom. Most walk-in cellars end up with a WKL. Choose a WKSL 2200 or 4000 when there is no well-ventilated room for the exhaust, and a WKCE when you are cooling furniture rather than a room.
Breezaire Cooling Units by Cellar Size
The fastest way to choose is to start from the cellar size Breezaire lists for each model in its installation instructions. The through-the-wall WKL covers every size class, and the WKSL split system offers an alternative at two sizes.
Pick by cellar size (Breezaire's sizing guide)
| Cellar size | Through-the-wall pick | Split system option |
|---|---|---|
| Up to about 140 cu. ft. | WKL 1060 | No WKSL at this size |
| Up to about 265 cu. ft. | WKL 2200 | WKSL 2200 |
| Up to about 650 cu. ft. | WKL 3000 | No WKSL at this size |
| Up to about 1,000 cu. ft. | WKL 4000 | WKSL 4000 |
| Up to about 1,500 cu. ft. | WKL 6000 | No WKSL at this size |
| Up to about 2,000 cu. ft. | WKL 8000 | No WKSL at this size |
| Wine cabinet or credenza | WKCE 1060 or WKCE 2200 | Not applicable |
The table assumes a properly constructed, insulated and sealed cellar. Glass walls or doors, poor insulation and a warm exhaust room all raise the load and can push you up a size. Our guide on sizing a wine cellar cooling unit shows how to estimate it.
If you want the full technical differences between the three series first, read our Breezaire WKL vs WKCE vs WKSL comparison.
What Every Breezaire Cooling Unit Shares
Sentry III control. Every series uses the Sentry III controller. It displays the temperature of the air entering the unit, or the bottle temperature if the optional bottle probe is installed.
Blocked airflow protection. Breezaire lists a protection that shuts the unit down when a condenser blockage causes high temperatures, to protect the wine.
Humidity. Breezaire units reduce excess humidity but do not add moisture, and Breezaire advises against using a humidifier in the enclosure.
Setting the temperature on a Breezaire
A short guide to adjusting the temperature on a Breezaire unit, the first thing to do after installation.
- Where the set button is
- Raising or lowering the set point
- Confirming the new setting
When a Breezaire WKSL Split System Makes Sense
Choose a WKSL when the room behind the cellar wall cannot take the exhaust heat, or when you want the condensing unit away from the cellar. The system comes as a condensing unit and a fan/coil unit, and Breezaire recommends a licensed refrigeration technician to connect, charge and test it.
There are two sizes, the WKSL 2200 for about 265 cubic feet and the WKSL 4000 for about 1,000 cubic feet. Compare them in the Breezaire WKSL split system collection.
Cooling a Wine Cabinet with a Breezaire WKCE
Breezaire designed the WKCE series for cabinets and credenzas, with the cold air discharging from the bottom of the unit. The WKL, by contrast, is not intended to cool service cabinets.
There are two WKCE models, the 1060 and the 2200. Browse the Breezaire WKCE cabinet units to compare them.
Installation Checks Before You Buy a Breezaire
- Exhaust space: a WKL needs at least 3 feet of unobstructed airflow into a well-ventilated room. Breezaire rules out unventilated laundry rooms, closets, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, attics and humid basements.
- Ambient temperature: capacity drops when the space around the enclosure is more than 25°F warmer than the cellar.
- Access for cleaning: Breezaire says not to install the unit where removal would be difficult, because the condenser coil needs cleaning every three months.
- No drilling: drilling holes in the unit can damage it and voids the warranty.
Breezaire Warranty and Buying from an Authorized Dealer
Breezaire warranty terms by series
| Series | Parts | Labor |
|---|---|---|
| WKL (through-the-wall) | 5 years from the original retail purchase | 1 year of factory labor |
| WKCE (cabinet) | 5 years from the original retail purchase | 1 year of factory labor |
| WKSL (split) | 1 year on components | Installation warranted by the installer |
The self-contained warranty can only be enforced by the original retail customer and is not transferable. If you suspect a problem, Breezaire asks you to contact your dealer first and not to return a unit without authorization.
Breezaire Models to Compare
Three WKL sizes cover most home cellars, and the optional bottle probe lets the Sentry III display bottle temperature instead of air temperature. See the full Breezaire WKL lineup for the larger models.
Wine Cooling Expert, Wine Cellar Authority
Most Breezaire questions I get are really sizing questions. Measure the room, be honest about the glass and the insulation, and check where the exhaust will go before you pick a model. If the exhaust room is wrong, no size of WKL will fix it.
Comparing brands? See how the WKL 2200 stacks up in Breezaire WKL 2200 vs WhisperKOOL SC PRO 2000.
Questions people ask before they buy a Breezaire cooling unit. Tap any question to expand the answer.
What size Breezaire cooling unit do I need?
Match the model to your cellar's cooling load. Breezaire's sizing table lists the WKL 1060 for about 140 cubic feet, the 2200 for about 265, the 3000 for about 650, the 4000 for about 1,000, the 6000 for about 1,500 and the 8000 for about 2,000. Confirm with a licensed HVAC professional.
Which Breezaire is best for a small wine cellar?
For a closet or very small cellar, Breezaire lists the WKL 1060 for about 140 cubic feet and the WKL 2200 for about 265 cubic feet. If the room behind the wall cannot take the exhaust heat, the WKSL 2200 split system covers about 265 cubic feet as well.
What is a Breezaire split system?
The WKSL series is Breezaire's split system: a condensing unit and a fan/coil unit connected by refrigerant lines. It comes in two sizes, the WKSL 2200 and WKSL 4000, and Breezaire recommends a licensed refrigeration technician to install it.
What makes Breezaire wine cooling units different?
Every Breezaire uses the Sentry III controller with blocked airflow protection, the self-contained WKL and WKCE carry a five-year parts warranty, and the WKCE series is designed specifically for wine cabinets and credenzas.
What does the Breezaire bottle probe do?
When the optional bottle probe is installed, the Sentry III displays the temperature of the probe instead of the temperature of the air entering the unit, so you see the bottle temperature rather than the air temperature.
How long is the Breezaire warranty?
WKL and WKCE units carry five years on parts and one year of factory labor from the original retail purchase, and the warranty is not transferable. WKSL split systems carry one year on components.
Where can I buy Breezaire units from an authorized dealer?
Wine Cellar Authority is an authorized Breezaire dealer. Breezaire units and parts ship free within the contiguous United States, and Breezaire asks owners to contact their dealer first if they suspect a problem.
Can a Breezaire exhaust into a garage or closet?
Breezaire lists unventilated laundry rooms, closets, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, attics and humid basements as inappropriate exhaust locations. The WKL needs at least 3 feet of unobstructed airflow into a well-ventilated space.
Want Help Choosing a Breezaire?
Send us your cellar dimensions and construction details and we will suggest a Breezaire model and installation approach.
This guide is general and based on Breezaire's installation instructions and warranty documents. Final sizing, installation design and electrical work should be confirmed with a licensed HVAC professional and the manufacturer documentation for your model.
