Walk in vs two/three door Fridge

I'm debating the same issue right now. The cost of a quality 3 door reach-in is almost as high as a small walk-in. There are some neat semi-DIY walk-in kits out there.

http://morris.fastcooler.com/dealer/products.asp

http://www.canddequipment.com/wst_page14.html

I don't like to waste money by buying something for the short term, especially if the item is junk or can't be used somewhere down the line. But right now I'm leaning toward a stop gap measure of buying a reach-in freezer and fridge. I'm pretty much settled on the Artic Air models. The restaurant supplier I checked with said they had been selling them for years and had been very pleased, and the refrigeration guy I spoke to said they were built as well as anything is these days.

They can be set up with hinges on either side.

Google the actual part number. Some places have free shipping which may save you a few dollars if you go this route. But expect about $1100 each.

Artic Air freezer and fridge

Very interesting on the built your self walk in's. Have you considered a used unit for the reach in.

I've bought used equipment before, but I wouldn't go near used refrigeration equipment without it getting a serious check-up from an expert, and that can be difficult to arrange. Also expensive. By the time you pay for the check-up, buy the equipment, replace worn/torn seals etc, you might have been better off buying new. Even then it would have to be VERY cheap for me to take a chance. Things can look really good and be days away from a total collapse.

I used to have a service contract with a refrigeration company and when I saw a sale (closure/bankruptcy) coming up I'd ask if they handled the service on the restaurants equipment. Frequently, he could give a thumbs up/thumbs down kind of guidance on the restaurants equipment. You might try asking around.

Todd
run don't walk away from artic air refrig or especially freezers. I bought 4 refrig and 2 single door models in 2005. freezers have never woked for over 30 days straight and both have now been junked and only have 2 refrig still working. turbo air m3 series units have worked well for me I recently purchased an additional 3 door refrig and a 3 door freezer for my restaurant.

Herman

quote:

Originally posted by hbeaman:
Todd
run don't walk away from artic air refrig or especially freezers. I bought 4 refrig and 2 single door models in 2005. freezers have never woked for over 30 days straight and both have now been junked and only have 2 refrig still working. turbo air m3 series units have worked well for me I recently purchased an additional 3 door refrig and a 3 door freezer for my restaurant.

Herman

I understand what you're saying. I've always preferred Hobart$$$$ and True, but when the fridge man, who doesn't sell but just repairs, tells me that Artic Air uses an industry generic compressor and motor, much like True, Beverage Air, Delfield, and Traulsen, and he wouldn't pay any extra for any differences he's seen, I have to just step back and flip a coin.

I don't know enough about particular designs to offer an expert opinion. I just pays my money and takes my chances. But the Artic Air commercial line does seem to have a positive review history on line, with about 80% giving it very high marks, and 20% echoing your experience.

I just had a freezer fail last month that was about 28 months old. It sat right beside another freezer that has been in continuous use since about 1985 and keeps on going strong. I don't care about the freezer so much as I cared about the load of Brunswick stew quarts headed to a church sale that were lost and had to be replaced.

All I know is that I hate buying refrigeration! Nothing like buying something that you know was better made 20+ years ago, and now is purposefully designed to fail sooner rather than later. This is progress?

My education continued today at the restaurant supply store.

Generally speaking, most reefer's are designed with about a 65-70% compressor duty cycle in mind. The question then becomes "under what conditions"?

Many of the mfg's quote run time at 70* and 90* ambient temp, giving the lowest internal temp the unit can maintain at those temps.

Well, most of the kitchens I've been in are hotter than 90*, and the humidity here in NC just makes the units work that much harder. Also, if the unit has walls or other obstruction nearby, the temp nearest the unit may be a LOT hotter than the kitchen temp.

Most of the freezers I looked at today will not maintain much below 0* in a 90* kitchen, and even then they're running right at their duty cycle design limits. If you want/need -10* for ice cream, plan on buying a new freezer in a few days. Most of the specs I looked at quoted a 100% duty cycle at 90* ambient for -5*.

Pretty much the same thing for reefers. Most will hold ~36* with 90* kitchen, but if you want 34*, in a 90* kitchen you're pushing 85-90% duty cycle. Most won't last long under those conditions.

The best refrigeration I've ever worked with had all the motors and compressors outside the building. Kept the kitchen quieter and cooler, plus the units had an easier time wasting heat outdoors. I bet it was expensive though, but it never broke either, so maybe long term it paid off. YMMV