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Wine Refrigerator Odors

We recently experienced musty odors coming from our 10 year old U-line wine refrigerator. Thinking it needed replacing we removed it, let the cabinet area air out for about 3 weeks and installed a new unit. After a week the odor has returned. When I open the new unit I can smell the same odor coming from inside it. We don’t store old wines, we normally replenish it every 5 to 6 weeks. Due you have any clue why this would be occurring? Thank you
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW

When you refer to installing a new "unit," I assume you mean either a compressor or some part of a thermoelectric mechanism? You could try wiping down all interior surfaces with mild non-abrasive detergent and then rinse with warm water and dry with clean toweling. Let the refrigerator stand open to air out for a week. Also, you may want to replace the filter, if the refrigerator has one, by searching on u-line.com with your model number. If these steps don't resolve the problem, I can only guess that the source of the odor is inside the walls or insulation. If so, replacing the refrigerator may be the only solution.


About Our Expert

Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade as an importer and retailer, and at present he is an educator, speaker and consultant. He set up and managed Millesima USA, a New York merchant affiliated with a leading European company. Previously, he served as senior executive of importers Frederick Wildman & Sons. In recent years, Roger has judged wine competitions in Argentina, Turkey, Portugal, China and the U.S. Roger is one of America's first Masters of Wine.

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