Very Disappointing

Received the EdgeStar Cooler as a gift. It is very attractive and I was was quite pleased when I took it out of the box. It was downhill from there.

First off it uses thermoelectric cooling which the manufacturer claims "is very quiet", since there is no refrigeration compressor. True enough, but no mention is made that air is recirculated within the unit and heat removed from the unit via two fans (one for each zone). These are not quiet. Not quite as loud as bathroom exhaust fans, but close. This must be an issue because the Owner's Manual under troubleshooting makes the point that "The fan makes normal fan noises when operating - this is normal". And the fans ran all the time - 24 hours a day, even after the cooler has reached its target temperatures. Maybe this is normal for thermoelectrics, but it sure gets annoying after a while. They also indicate that it is designed for room temperatures in the mid 70's so be careful where you put it.

The fans exhaust via the back of the unit with air intake from the sides. As a consequence you are instructed to "make sure the wine cooler has several inches of ventilation on the sides and back". So it cannot back up onto a wall or be placed next to a wall or other obstruction. I was going to tuck it into a corner, but had to have it "freestanding" with gaps between the unit and the walls. Not a great look.

After installed the unit worked fine for 3 days (with the fans continuously blowing) and I left it on while away on a 2 week trip. When I returned the bottom section was at 75 degrees despite being set at 60. The fan was still on, but nothing could get the temperature down -- the thermoelectric thingy or whatever was simply no longer working. Not sure when it failed but it was after less than 3 weeks of operation. I am returning it and will buy another manufacturer's model.

One last item of note. The Owner's Manual states "if the cooler is going to be left alone for several months, you should unplug it, ... set it aside somewhere safe, ... crack the door slightly to prevent mold grow." If that is true, what is the point of having a wine cooler. Glad our refrigerator does not have that instruction.