What To Consider Before Buying a Walk-in Freezer

To preserve perishable inventory, a commercial walk-in cooler or walk-in freezer is required to operate a restaurant, café, supermarket, bar, or pub.

The long-term impact of choosing the right walk-in freezer for your business can be positive. It is important to do a thorough analysis of your cooling/freezing needs to match the best walk-in cooler.

Before you buy that walk-in freezer

These are the main points to consider before you make the final decision on a business walk-in cooler.

Utility

You will need to indicate whether the freezer is required to freeze food items (0°F) or the refrigerator that cools the food (between 35°F and 41°F). You may need display coolers or floral refrigerators depending on your utility. Each utility should be addressed individually.

To address the capacity requirements

It's impossible to use every square foot. The interior of the commercial walk-in freezer should be used at least 5 ft. There will be space for shelves, racks, aisle space, and airflow to transport bulk food items.

Outdoor walk-in freezer vs indoor walk-in freezer

An outdoor walk-in cooler or outdoor walking-in freezer is a good option if space is limited and you don’t want to expand your kitchen. Because they are less expensive than indoor kitchen walk-in freezers, outdoor walk-in freezers can save you money. They also vent heat outside of the building, making it easy to get food delivered.

Indoor installations can be tricky. It is difficult to make the most of the space that you have. Self-contained indoor walk-in coolers can generate heat that runs the cooling system. This strains the HVAC system. This cooler is not recommended for hot and humid locations.

Features and accessories

1. Levelling: Because carts are often moved in and out from the walk-in freezer, the floor of its installation location should be level. 

2. Panels and insulations: Coolers built on-site should have a wall panel insulation rating of R-30 thickness. For walls, ceilings, and floors, panels are typically made with polyurethane to insulate from the inside. Outside panels can be made of aluminium or stainless steel.

3. Interior lighting: The installation should provide adequate lighting for the interior of the walk-in cooler. 

4. Compressor: For a 9-square-foot area, a compressor with at least 2 horsepower will be needed. 

5. Door: The cooler's door should be open and come with a heavy-duty door closer and cam-lift hinges. To ensure that no one is accidentally locked in the cooler, the door should be equipped with an interior safety release mechanism.

6. Shelf: You might consider installing epoxy-coated wire shelves, which are stronger. They are also resistant to rust and water.

7. Thermometers: Consider placing multiple thermometers strategically in the cooler to maintain a constant temperature inside the walk-in cooler/freezer. 

8. An alarm system: It is a good idea to install it in your walk-in freezer to alert you to sudden temperature changes. The system will alert you if the door is left open for too long.

9. Nonskid tape: Skidding and slippage are not uncommon in a frozen area. Non-skid tape is recommended for the floor of the freezer to ensure safety.

10. Foot treadle: When your hands are full, it would make a great blessing if your foot could open the door by pressing a lever or pedal with your foot!

Easy to use

Your staff must find the walk-in cooler easy to use so they can get the most out of it. It should be simple to program and its temperature display should be clear so that interior temperatures can be accurately monitored. To ensure that no one is trapped in the cooler, the doors must open and close easily.

Adequate ventilation

Poor ventilation can cause the compressor to work harder to pull hotter air from the cooling unit. The compressor should be kept at an ambient temperature of 80 degrees F. The compressor should have adequate space around its top, sides, and rear to ensure that fresh air is always available. If you don't have enough space, you should consider a remote compressor system.

Quality

A cheap walk-in freezer can prove to be costly in the long term due to high repair and replacement costs. Poor power efficiency can lead to an increase in your electricity bills. While LED lighting is more expensive than traditional lighting, it can save you money over the lifetime of your walk-in freezer. Research the various insulation options. You will get a good idea of how much R-value you can retain over the life of your cooler.

Manufacturers

There are both local manufacturers and some that sell it internationally. However, there are differences in quality, pricing, and compliance with standards. It is always a good idea to inquire why a supplier of walk-in coolers recommends a manufacturer. 

Warranty

Ask your dealer whether the panels, walk-in cooler hardware, and refrigeration are covered under warranty. Warranty coverage is available for all items. Is an extended warranty more cost-effective, considering the possibility of equipment malfunctioning or damage?

Maintainability

It should be simple to clean, maintain, and repair the walk-in cooler whenever necessary.

Main Auction Services, Inc. is a family-owned and operated company that buys and sells restaurant equipment in Texas and nationwide. We offer new and used restaurant equipment, appliances, kitchen supplies, furniture, and more. We have a huge restaurant supply store in Tulsa. By using our auction services, you can save money and can use your funds for other aspects of your restaurant. Our sellers and bidders love our company and find great equipment daily. 

Main Auction Services Inc.

972-579-4612

2100 E Union Bower Road, Irving, TX, 75061