Walk-In or Reach-In? Which Commercial Cooler is Best for Your Business?

Walk-in and reach-in coolers are popular solutions for reliable cold storage in restaurants, medical facilities, research labs, floral shops and a variety of other industries. 

For those of you setting up a brand new space for your company, renovating or simply making some upgrades, we’ve created a quick comparison between walk-ins and reach-in so you can choose the best option for your business. Each business is unique and has its own perfect solution but these are some general guidelines to help you out! 

What’s the Difference Between a Walk-In and a Reach-In?

Walk-in coolers are cold storage rooms with a larger capacity for maintaining perishable products. Reach-in coolers are industrial refrigeration units. Some reach-in designs may look similar to a home refrigerator or they can be configured in horizontal style like a chest freezer. Some horizontal reach-in coolers even have workable counter space! Reach-in coolers can have multiple sections, often with the ability to set different temperatures. However, their storage is limited.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest deciding factors when choosing between a walk-in and a reach-in.

Storage Capacity

Walk-in coolers have significantly more storage capacity than reach-ins. If your business requires cold storage for a large volume of product, a walk-in would likely be the better choice. Walk-in coolers also allow for greater customization when organizing cold products. There are more options for shelving and the larger interior space means you can get more creative when setting things up for ease of accessibility. 

That being said, reach-in coolers can be a simple, one-door model or they can have three or four sections, often with customizable thermostats. 

Space Requirements

A walk-in cooler will take up more interior space than a reach-in. For those of you looking to outfit a smaller space, a walk-in, even a small one, might not fit. And if it does, how will it affect your staff’s ability to work around it? In a high-traffic environment (like a kitchen) this could be a pretty big concern. 

Installation Costs 

Reach-ins are typically cheaper to purchase and have fewer installation requirements than walk-ins. For those of you on a tight budget, a reach-in might be the better choice. Walk-in coolers require professional installation and set up. While a reach-in cooler can often be purchased and set up yourself, we still recommend going through a commercial refrigeration company for better warranty options.

Store chilled products correctly. 

Overstocking and, conversely, understocking can make for higher energy bills. An overstocked cooler will run continuously as it struggles to maintain temperature, while an understocked cooler may short cycle. 

Walk-in coolers and freezers are meant to work efficiently when stocked with product. If there’s not much in the cooler, it will reach the set temperature too fast and will shut off without creating a stable environment. This means the interior temperature will start to rise quickly and the cooler will start up again. Short cycling reduces the coolers efficiency, creates excess wear and tear, and increases energy consumption.

Keep coils clean and clear.

Check the evaporator coils regularly for a buildup of airborne dirt and dust. Any blockage on the outside of the coils reduces the cooler’s ability to function and may even cause it to freeze up. And it’s not just dirt that can block the coils! If you stock products too close to the evaporator, it will block airflow and the cooler will act the same as if the coil was plugged up with dirt. Any lack of airflow to the coil will make the cooler work harder than it needs to and increase energy consumption. 

Monitor your monthly bills.

If you’ve been in business for a while, you probably have a pretty good idea of your average utility costs. Any sudden increase in energy usage without an explanation is a sign to call in the professionals for a tune up. A walk-in that’s using more energy than normal could be a simple fix, like a dirty coil, or it could have a more substantial problem like a coolant leak or weak compressor. Either way, high energy bills are a big indicator that something is wrong and needs to be addressed.

 To schedule walk-in cooler service or maintenance in Lubbock and Austin, TX, contact us at 512-651-4565 or email info@tripointref.com

Austin, Texas Location

Tri-Point Refrigeration, Inc

118 Iron Road Suite 100,

Hutto, Texas 78634

(512) 651-4565

Lubbock, Texas Location

Tri-Point Refrigeration, Inc

13805 Avenue P Unit B

Lubbock, Texas 79423

(806) 686-0050