Whether you’re starting a restaurant, convenience store, bar, funeral home or another kind of business — or expanding or relocating — there are some things you need to consider when buying a commercial walk-in cooler. You want to get the capacity and capabilities of your unit right so it can pass your local inspection process and serve your needs for many years to come.
Here are some tips you need to keep in mind before you make your walk-in cooler purchasing decision:
1. Decide how big you need it to be. This is determined by the space available as well as your needs. You obviously don’t want to waste space and energy with a unit that’s too big, but you don’t want to have to expand it right away either. A good rule of thumb is to acquire a cubic foot of space for every 28 pounds of food you need to store.
2. Consider how it be accessed. A ramp can make loading and unloading easier while a strip curtain can help reduce temperature loss if a unit is opened frequently or needs to stay open. An automatic closer can save you energy, but it can be an annoyance if you don’t need it or it operates too quickly.
3. Keep refrigeration requirements in mind. The system needs to be sized correctly. Undersized units wear out too quickly while oversized ones don’t cycle often enough to remove humidity effectively. Remote refrigeration can be placed outside even if the walk-in is inside, so you won’t be adding heat to the indoor environment. Keep voltage requirements in mind too.
4. Decide about flooring. Depending on conditions and your location, you may or may not want a floor in your walk-in cooler, so consider that need carefully before you make the wrong choice and are stuck with it.
5. Turn an eye toward legal requirements too. Extended Industry Standard Architecture or EISA, implemented in 2009, requires an R value of 25 for walk-in coolers and 32 for walk-in freezers. There may be other requirements from your local code inspector or state governing agency too.
When you keep these things in mind and choose a reputable dealer you can trust, you’re well on your way to making a smart walk-in cooler buying decision that will serve you and your business well.
Since buying a walk-in is one of the larger expenses associated with owning a business and is an essential part of your success, it makes sense to step back and take some time to make sure you’re making the right choice.
Make the smart choice when you choose a new walk-in cooler or walk-in freezer for your business. Contact us now! http://www.srcrefrigeration.com/products/walk-in-coolers/
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