Purchasing a walk-in cooler can be a major investment for your business, which is why it is important to understand all aspects of a walk-in cooler and the benefits it can bring to your facility prior to making a purchase.
What is a Walk-in Cooler?
A walk-in cooler is a place used to store refrigerated food products before and after they are prepared. These units are much larger than your standard cooler, making them a perfect solution for operations that need to store large amounts of food.
What Size Walk-in Cooler Do I Need?
When choosing the right size walk-in refrigeration, you should choose a cooler that is equivalent to the number of meals you plan to serve on a daily basis. For example, if you own a restaurant, you will need roughly 1.5 cubic feet of storage for each meal you plan to serve each day. Walk-in coolers are available for purchase in a wide variety of sizes, designs, and styles to suit your needs.
Walk-in Cooler Benefits For Your Business
Some of the key benefits you can expect to enjoy from owning a walk-in cooler include:
Easy Maintenance
Most walk-in coolers only require the same amount of maintenance as standard commercial or residential air conditioners. This means that you need to have your cooler ventilation and airflow inspected annually. You should also have the condenser coils cleaned routinely by a certified professional. It is also important to routinely clean the interior walls of the cooler.
Energy-Saving Features
You may be under the impression that a walk-in cooler will cost you a lot of power. While it can be a major expense, when you look at the cost it would take to power several standard-size refrigerators, the cost for a walk-in cooler is much less.
Also, when compared to standard refrigerators, a walk-in cooler is designed to work more efficiently. If you are concerned about operating costs, you can reduce costs by:
- Installing quality insulation
- Installing walk-in curtains
- Providing regular maintenance
- Safety
Typically, walk-in coolers feature heavy-grade hinges as well as a deadbolt door to help ensure safety. In addition, walk-in coolers can be opened from the indie of the cooler so that no employees become trapped inside.
Space
Another major advantage of a walk-in cooler is the large interior space it provides. One of the main requirements for storing your perishable food items is having enough space. Walk-in coolers are large compared to dedicated freezers, ranging in size from 15 cubic feet to more than 400,000 square feet to meet your needs. These coolers allow you to preserve your food for an extended period of time, with enough space to do so, saving you money.
Powerful Operation
Walk-in coolers have an impressive amount of power. While smaller walk-in freezers use a large compressor to maintain their temperature of -10°F, walk-in coolers utilize a horsepower compressor instead.
Advanced Technology
Walk-in coolers are widely knowns for their state-of-the-art technology. There are coolers on the market that utilize Bluetooth connections to help notify the operator when the temperature exceeds its settings or drops down below its intended temp. Other walk-in coolers feature interior motion detectors that turn the lights on and off, which can help with energy savings.
Ready to Purchase a Walk-in Cooler?
At Fugh Refrigeration, our fully certified technicians have got you covered, from the purchase and installation of your walk-in cooler to your maintenance and repair needs! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find the right walk-in refrigeration for your needs!
About The Author
Ben Lutz is the owner of Fugh Refrigeration, has decades of experience in the HVAC/R industry, and has managed many heating, cooling, and refrigeration technicians over the years.
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