Breezaire's WKL units are self-contained through-the-wall coolers in six sizes rated for cellars up to 2,000 cubic feet, while the WKSL units are split systems offered in two sizes for cellars up to 265 or 1,000 cubic feet. Choose the size by cubic feet first, then choose the WKSL only when the cellar has no wall that can exhaust into a well-ventilated space, or when you want the warm side and its noise moved up to 50 feet away.
Both lines are built to hold a selectable temperature between about 48 and 63Β°F with relative humidity in the 50 to 75% range, in a cellar built to Breezaire's construction guidelines. They differ in installation, where the heat goes, module depth and warranty.
How the WKL and WKSL differ
A WKL is a single cabinet that mounts through a wall. Breezaire ships it fully charged and ready to run once it is mounted in the wall and connected to 115 V power. The cold side faces the cellar, and the warm exhaust side sits flush with the outside of the wall, so the heat goes into the room behind it.
A WKSL splits the job into two modules. The fan coil (evaporator) mounts inside the cellar, and the condenser can be mounted as far as 50 feet away, connected by two copper refrigerant tubes and low voltage wiring. Breezaire designs the WKSL for installation by a qualified air conditioning or refrigeration technician, and its installation instructions specify a licensed refrigeration technician for the R134A refrigerant lines.
The Breezaire sizing ladder by cubic feet
Breezaire sizes every unit by enclosure volume. Multiply length by width by ceiling height in feet, then find the range in Breezaire's sizing guide. A 10 by 12 foot room with an 8 foot ceiling is 960 cubic feet, which falls in the 650 to 1,000 range of the WKL 4000 and WKSL 4000.
| Model | Type | Breezaire sizing range | Dimensions (W x H x D) | Weight | Amps at 115 V | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WKL 1060 | Through the wall | Up to 140 cu ft | 14.25 x 13.25 x 16.38 in | 45 lb | 3 | 41 dB-A |
| WKL 2200 | Through the wall | 140 to 265 cu ft | 14.25 x 13.25 x 16.38 in | 55 lb | 4 | 56 dB-A |
| WKL 3000 | Through the wall | 265 to 650 cu ft | 14.25 x 19.75 x 21.63 in | 76 lb | 5 | 60 dB-A |
| WKL 4000 | Through the wall | 650 to 1,000 cu ft | 14.25 x 19.75 x 21.63 in | 81 lb | 7 | 61 dB-A |
| WKL 6000 | Through the wall | 1,000 to 1,500 cu ft | 16.25 x 22.00 x 22.25 in | 101 lb | 9.5 | 67 dB-A |
| WKL 8000 | Through the wall | 1,500 to 2,000 cu ft | 16.25 x 22.00 x 22.25 in | 101 lb | 10 | 69 dB-A |
| WKSL 2200 | Split | 140 to 265 cu ft | Fan coil 14.25 x 14.125 x 7.75 in; condenser 14.25 x 14.125 x 11.00 in | 25 lb and 35 lb | 1 and 4 | Not listed |
| WKSL 4000 | Split | 650 to 1,000 cu ft | Fan coil and condenser each 14.25 x 19.75 x 12.375 in | 45 lb and 55 lb | 1.5 and 7.5 | Not listed |
For the WKSL rows, the first figure is the fan coil and the second is the condenser.
Breezaire's ratings assume a properly built enclosure, and its calculations do not include glass doors or windows. Breezaire also advises adding cooling capacity when a cellar has no vapor barrier, has glass doors or walls, or sees high traffic, and it states that it cannot warrant its units to properly cool a particular enclosure. If your room has any of those conditions, get it checked before you order. Our guides to insulation and vapor barriers and cooling a glass wine cellar cover both problems.
When the WKSL split is the right call
Breezaire's sizing guide has no WKSL for the 265 to 650 cubic foot range or for anything above 1,000 cubic feet, so in those rooms the choice is a WKL or a different system. Within its two ranges, the WKSL fits three situations.
- No wall backs onto a suitable space. Breezaire requires the area a WKL exhausts into to be well ventilated, or the unit cannot reject the heat and moisture. It lists unventilated laundry rooms, closets, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, attics and humid basements as inappropriate locations.
- Noise on the warm side matters. Breezaire's WKL ratings run from 41 dB-A for the WKL 1060 to 69 dB-A for the WKL 8000. A WKSL lets the condenser, and its noise, sit up to 50 feet of line away. Our cooling unit noise guide covers placement.
- You need a shallow module in the cellar. The WKSL 2200 fan coil is 7.75 inches deep against 16.38 inches for the WKL 2200. The WKSL 4000 fan coil is 12.375 inches deep against 21.63 inches for the WKL 4000.
The split brings its own site rules. Breezaire wants the condenser with at least 1 foot of clearance on all sides, 3 feet of unobstructed exhaust, elevated above any flooding risk and shaded from direct sun. If the air entering the condenser is above 85Β°F, its rated output drops, and if the condenser location falls below 20Β°F, Breezaire calls for a crankcase heater or fan speed control.
If the only issue is where the hot air leaves the cabinet, Breezaire builds the WKL 2200 through 8000 with the hot air out the rear as standard or out the top as a special order. Factory modifications carry a longer lead time and an upcharge, and Breezaire says they may not be cancelled or returned.
Installation requirements side by side
WKL (through the wall)
- A wall opening about 1/4 inch larger than the unit's width and height. If the unit sits above floor level, a shelf that can carry its listed weight.
- Mounted upright, warm side flush with the outside of the wall, with at least 3 feet of unobstructed airflow from the warm exhaust.
- No ductwork. Breezaire states the unit is not designed for ductwork on either the warm or the cold side.
- A GFCI outlet on its own circuit, and a condensate drain line that runs downhill, since it is a gravity system.
WKSL (split)
- Fan coil within six inches of the ceiling, close to the horizontal center of the wall, with 3 feet of unobstructed airflow.
- Copper lines of 1/4 inch (liquid) and 3/8 inch (suction), with the suction line insulated. Each line can be no longer than 50 calculated feet, minus 10 feet for every hard 90 degree bend.
- A sight glass and strainer/dryer ship as separate pieces for the technician to install.
- A 1/2 inch inside diameter vinyl drain hose with an air brake 2 to 10 inches from the unit connection, plus a condensate pump if the hose has any vertical rise.
Both lines need the same enclosure: at least R-11 insulation in interior walls and floors, at least R-19 in exterior walls and the ceiling, a vapor barrier on the warm side of the insulation, no glass doors or windows, and no enclosure wall exposed to direct sunlight or strong wind. If you are weighing a split against other system types, see ducted vs split wine cellar cooling.
Warranty and ordering differences
Breezaire covers WKL parts for five years (60 months) and factory labor for one year (12 months) from the original retail purchase. The WKSL warranty runs one year (12 months) from the original retail purchase, and it does not cover installation or removal of the unit. Both warranties can be enforced only by the original retail customer and are not transferable.
Breezaire also excludes failures caused by an enclosure of inadequate design or inadequate ventilation, so the room rules above affect coverage too. Full terms are on our Breezaire warranty page. The Black Aluminum finish is a special order; on our store it is built to order and cannot be returned or cancelled.
Products in this guide
See every size in our Breezaire wine cellar cooling units collection.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Breezaire WKL need a refrigeration technician?
No. A WKL ships fully charged, so there is no refrigerant work on site. The site work is the framed opening, a shelf if the unit sits above the floor, a GFCI outlet on its own circuit and the condensate drain. The WKSL is different: Breezaire's instructions specify a licensed refrigeration technician.
Is there a WKSL for a 1,200 cubic foot cellar?
No. The largest split, the WKSL 4000, is rated for 650 to 1,000 cubic feet. Breezaire's sizing guide puts 1,000 to 1,500 cubic feet on the WKL 6000. If the room has no wall that can exhaust into a well-ventilated space, look at the split and ducted systems in our cellar cooling collection.
Does a Breezaire unit add humidity to the cellar?
No. Breezaire states the WKL does not add moisture to the enclosure. It cools while removing excess moisture to keep relative humidity in the 50 to 75% range.
Can I duct the exhaust of a WKL to another room?
No. Breezaire states the WKL is not designed to have ductwork on either the warm or the cold side, because ducts restrict airflow. Your options are a special order top exhaust on the WKL 2200 through 8000, or a WKSL split with the condenser up to 50 feet away.
Not sure whether your cellar needs a WKL or a WKSL?
Send us the room size, construction and what sits behind the wall, and we will match it to the right Breezaire. Call (331) 244-8273 or email support@winemajesty.com, or request a free plan.
Sources
- Breezaire: WKL Products (specifications and factory modifications)
- Breezaire: WKSL Products (split system specifications)
- Breezaire: Products
- Breezaire: How to Build a Cellar (sizing guide and enclosure requirements)
- Breezaire: WKL Installation Instructions (January 2025)
- Breezaire: WKSL Installation Instructions (June 2024)
- Breezaire: Limited Warranty, self-contained units
- Breezaire: WKSL Series Limited Warranty
- Breezaire: Helpful Info
- Breezaire: Service Q&A
- Wine Majesty: Breezaire warranty
- Wine Majesty: Breezaire product pages
