Can my Company Install the Walk in Cooler (with Minimal Help from Subcontractors)?

You can either subcontract the installation of your walk in cooler OR choose a factory installation, and SRC will coordinate everything for you—there are distinct advantages to each.

FACTORY INSTALLATIONS

Coordination of the deliveries, hiring the subcontractors, and securing proof of insurance / workers compensation coverage will be taken care of. Also, the physical part of receiving, inspecting, and installing your walk in cooler will be completed for you. The larger the job, the more time and energy these processes will take. One major benefit of a factory installation is that it allows you to focus on other areas of your business (sales, etc.). You will also receive a 90-day labor warranty on your walk in cooler equipment following start-up. However, these benefits do come with a price. You will be paying for these services through SRC.

DO-IT-YOURSELF (USING SUBCONTRACTORS)

You can save yourself some expenses by purchasing your walk in cooler equipment on a "self-installed" basis. Having some comfort level in dealing with subcontractors is preferred, since you will be purchasing only the walk in cooler equipment through us (the same as any contractor or builder would). SRC will provide you with shipping information and tracking numbers, but you will be responsible for coordinating the deliveries with the freight lines. Either you or your agents will be responsible for all aspects of receiving, inspecting, and installing the walk in cooler equipment. As a contractor, there is no labor coverage on the walk in cooler equipment (apart from the glass doors). Only the parts and components themselves are under warranty, not the labor involved in replacing them.

SO, WHICH SHOULD I CHOOSE?

If you choose to control the installation yourself, you have the ability to micro-manage the job. Many customers prefer to install the walk in cooler themselves and seek out subcontractors only for the refrigeration and electrical hook-up. It helps if you already have established relationships with installers and are comfortable in dealing with them.

However, on larger projects and new construction where you are already working with a general contractor, it may be wise for you to hire them for the walk in cooler installation also. There may be fewer conflicts if they have full control over the project (i.e. allowing them to work with subcontractors that they are familiar with).

Walk in cooler installation...

May 2011 Pictures: Buscemi's New Walk in Cooler

PICASA ALBUM: MAY 2011 WALK IN COOLERS

Instead of adding to the older albums of walk in coolers and freezers on Picasa, I decided to make a new album (May 2011) for the recent walk in coolers SRC has manufactured. There are several pictures of the walk in cooler (in progress of installation) we built for a new local Buscemi's. There are also pictures of outdoor walk in coolers, the inside of a few walk in coolers, and some beverage coolers as well. Check it out!

Pictures from Liberty USA - Coen Chestnut Oil's New Walk in Cooler!

Coen Chestnut Oil: the construction and use of their SRC walk in cooler!

Bob Erk at Liberty USA, one of our frequent customers, sent this to us! SRC manufactured a walk in cooler system for Coen Chestnut Oil in Pennsylvania. In the video clip, you can see the transformation of Coen Chestnut Oil over time. In the end, there are pictures of a successful, up and running business... complete with a new walk in cooler!

Thank you Bob!

Remodeling FAQs: Buying Specific Components vs. the Entire Walk in Cooler Package

We have plenty of customers who only wish to buy a specific component for a walk in cooler—for instance, they may not need a new refrigeration system, but they do need to purchase new doors for their walk in cooler. In other cases, they only need new walk in cooler panels. Many others need just a refrigeration system. Some customers are unsure whether or not they can purchase only specific components instead of an entire package... the answer is yes, you definitely can! We will be more than happy to supply any individual component or an entire walk in cooler package. Some things to consider:

1) If the equipment is approaching ten years old, you may want to consider replacement anyway. You are reaching the downward curve of the expected service life of some of the components in your walk in cooler. Installation costs will be the same for older re-used equipment or brand new equipment.

2) If you increase the size of the new box, the existing walk in cooler refrigeration system may not have sufficient capacity to handle the additional heat load. If you can provide us with the model numbers and manufacturer’s name from the existing refrigeration system, we can usually do the research necessary to predetermine if there will be a problem. If necessary, we will then recommend additional equipment.

Refrigeration (picture 1) / Display Doors (picture 2)...

  

This discussion is not just limited to the refrigeration system. Perhaps your display doors are in excellent shape and you would like to reuse them in your new walk in cooler system. We can manufacture the walk in cooler display to accommodate the net opening required for your existing doors as well. Whatever the case may be, we are certainly willing to work with what your company already has, and what your company needs!

Popular Options for Display Coolers and Walk in Coolers

POPULAR OPTIONS FOR DISPLAY COOLERS:

Heated glass on display doors can virtually eliminate fogging in almost all conditions. Properly conditioned stores should not need them, but tropical locations or stores with marginal HVAC systems should consider this inexpensive option.

For high traffic locations, shelf dividers and gravity feed shelving can be extremely valuable.

Upgraded doors with full-length handles are becoming very popular.

To make cleaning up spills easier, rolling milk carts and drip trays are available.

POPULAR OPTIONS FOR STORAGE WALK IN COOLERS:

“Metro” storage shelving packages are available to maximize the storage space in your walk in cooler. Based on your input, we would design a custom package specifically for your walk in cooler.

Mobile carts can also be great time savers depending on your operation.

Viewing ports in your walk in cooler doors can help avoid collisions and eliminate opening the doors unnecessarily.

Strip curtains and PVC inner doors are low cost, high payback energy savers.

Extra lighting is inexpensive at the time of ordering your walk in cooler system. A good rule of thumb is one watt per square foot of space should be provided.

Electronic temperature controls are available for precise control of temperature and differential, as are temperature alarms for critical storage. These controls can be linked to your building alarm system.

Compressor Location Fundamentals (Indoor vs. Outdoor)

Indoor:

Indoor air-cooled condensing units in walk in coolers consist of a compressor motor and fan assembly that is mounted on a base plate. Condensing units make noise and give off heat—both of which can be objectionable depending on where they are located. Kitchen locations can be problematic to condensing units due to heat and grease over time. Compressors 1½ horsepower and above produce a significant amount of noise—they should be located either outdoors or in a basement. Another alternative is a water-cooled condensing unit; they are much quieter and greatly reduce heat output of the walk in cooler. However, since they use water for cooling, they can be very expensive to operate. Consequently, water-cooled condensing units are rarely used.

Outdoor:

Outdoor condensing units are pre-assembled and enclosed in a protective weatherhood. They contain all necessary controls to operate in an exposed, outdoor location. Outdoor condensing units also remove a big source of noise and heat load from your interior space. The walk in cooler will also operate more efficiently in colder weather. The initial cost of both equipment and installation will be somewhat higher, but there is a quick payback in efficiency and the atmosphere of your working environment.

Walk in Cooler Delivery Information

All of our walk in coolers will ship via a common carrier from our factory in Sterling Heights, MI, where we have manufactured them. Glass doors will ship from California. Refrigeration systems will ship from Georgia or Illinois. We will do our very best to coordinate the ship dates so all the equipment arrives around the same time. Click here to read more about how soon you can receive your walk in cooler!

You will be provided with terminal information so you can arrange for the delivery of your walk in cooler at your own convenience. Common carrier drivers will not assist in unloading the equipment. You will be responsible for receiving and inspecting your walk in cooler panels, and it is imperative you conduct a thorough inspection at the time of delivery—any damage must be noted in writing! We will be happy to assist in claim remediation if shipping damage occurs. The shipping department will also gladly provide you with detailed receiving advice if required.

We strive to make the delivery of your walk in cooler an easy process for you—so please, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to call SRC and ask!