In this article, we focused specifically on built-in wine coolers, also called zero clearance or under-counter wine coolers, which are those that are designed to fit below your counter, right into your cabinetry. What makes them unique is that they all have a vent on the front of the fridge that allows them to properly cool the compressor by drawing heat away from the unit. While many built-in wine coolers can be used as a freestanding wine cooler, it isn't necessarily the case that freestanding coolers can be built-in, and here's why. Freestanding wine coolers are built with a vent at the back of the fridge. This placement requires space behind it so that the heat can dissipate, allowing the compressor to function properly. If the heat can not escape, it will begin to build up and affect the temperature inside the cooler. This could cause the unit to overheat and may cause it to stop working. In turn, this can adversely affect your wine with temperature fluctuation. In the end, you may sacrifice not only the refrigerator itself but its contents as well, which is everything you are trying to preserve in the first place.