What makes a walk in cooler or walk in freezer a true DIY?

Answer: The refrigeration system

Any walk in cooler or walk in freezer vault can be put up by anyone, the difference between a DIY walk in cooler or walk in freezer are not the panels, but the type of refrigeration system used.

Any system referred to as "remote" or "split", regardless of whether it is "indoor" or "outdoor" means that installation of the refrigeration system, by Federal Law, will require an E.P.A. licensed refrigeration technician.

Since installation will involve charging the system, once connected, with refrigerant.

A remote system will also require control system wiring, and plumbing to drain the evaporator coil during defrost. 

A DIY system will provide a pre-charged system which includes the evaporator coil, (cooling coils that the fans blow over), condenser, (which dispels the heat removed from the walk in cooler or walk in freezer), and compressor, (the heart of the system, responsible for recompressing the refrigerant, allowing the condenser to dispel the heat, and continuing the cylcle of compression and expansion).

This type of system, whether called "Penthouse", "Capsule Pack", or "Drop In", does not require charging with refrigerant, control wiring, or plumbing.

It has been factory tested, and only requires connection to the electrical source. Saving from hundreds to thousands of Dollars in installation expense.

This type of system is usually a little more expensive, but the installation savings will usually far more than offset the slightly higher initial cost.

ALL OF OUR DIY WALK IN COOLER AND WALK IN FREEZERS AND COMBINATION UNITS FEATURE THE FOLLOWING

1. FACTORY ASSEMBLED REFRIGERATION SYSTEM!

2. NO PIPING OR LOOSE COMPONENENTS TO INSTALL!

3. FULLY CHARGED AND TESTED!

4. ATTACHED POWER CORD ON MOST MODELS!

5. COMES WITH AN ADJUSTABLE DIGITAL TEMERATURE CONTROLLER!

6. MOUNTS FLUSH WITH TOP OF CEILING. NO HANG DOWN INSIDE OF COOLER OR FREEZER!

7. PANELS MEET N.S.F. (NATIONAL SANITATION FOUNDATION), AND U.L. (UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES), REQUIREMENTS!

8. STEEL CAM LOCK PINS

Installation Guide: Getting Started:

Our walk-in coolers for do it yourselfer's will come with all of the panels numbered, with a corresponding shop drawing designating wall floor and ceiling panel layout. The entrance door is already hinged on its panel and set in the frame.

When handling panels keep them flat to prevent denting, and avoid resting them on their corner edges. Always use sufficient manpower to avoid mishandling panels.

Prepare Your Site:

Be sure the area is free of debris and swept clean. Next, chalk the perimeter outline of the structure and confirm that it is "square" by checking diagonal measurements.

Even though all of the panels have gaskets between them, it is still helpful to caulk between cooler panels, AND NECCESSARY TO CAULK WITH BUTYL RUBBER BETWEEN FREEZER PANELS to insure a tight vapor seal to avoid icing on the interior walls.

On the outside of the walk in cooler it is only necessary to caulk along the bottom of the cooler or freezer, between the slab and the bottom of the panels.(Please note: for walk in freezers it is necessary to caulk with Butyl Rubber caulking compound only!)

Start with the floor panels if your walk in cooler has one. Care must be taken to properly level and support floor panels with shims. An uneven floor could result in faulty installation

After  installing floor panels, if any,  start your walls by  standing up corner panel # 1. (ONLY "HALF CAM" DOWN THE CORNER AND WALL PANELS TO THE FLOOR PANELS, OR DON'T CAM DOWN AT ALL UNTIL ALL OF THE WALL, CORNER, AND CEILING PANELS ARE UP AND FULLY CAMMED TO ONE ANOTHER.

DO NOT FULLY CAM DOWN WALL OR CORNER PANELS TO FLOOR PANELS UNTIL ALL OTHER PANELS ARE UP AND FULLY CAMMED TOGETHER)

FOR FLOORLESS COOLERS,

Caulk between the panels with silicone caulk for a cooler, AND ONLY BUTYL RUBBER CAULK on the outside edge of the tongue and groove for a freezer.

DO NOT USE SILICONE FOR CAULKING BETWEEN FREEZER PANELS! Then stand panel # 2 up beside it, with the female side of frame # 2 up against the male side of panel # 1. Put the allen wrench in the guide holes in panel # 1 and turn. The male cam from panel # 1 will turn up inside a cut-out groove in the female side of panel # 2 and contact a metal rod that is set horizontally in the panel frame. As you continue to turn the allen wrench, the male cam pulls back the female side of panel # 2 up tight against the male side of panel # 1, and sets against a gasket that runs between the length of the panels. Continue this simple procedure until all of your panels are up.

Do it yourself walk in cooler and walk in freezer boxes can be had in either outdoor or indoor configurations. (Outdoor boxes come with a weatherproof roof membrane. Options are an entrance door rain guard and entrance door lock bar).

Now That Your box Is Up, It Is Time To Install The Self-Contained Penthouse Refrigeration System.

(Self Contained Refrigeration Systems are available for either outdoor or indoor applications).

Step 1: Mount the system to the box.
Step 2: Plug it in.
Step 3: Go do more important things than worry about refrigeration.

Ease of Installation

• Simple quick installation gives you savings on labor.
• The system is designed to mount flush in a standard 4" ceiling panel to allow for more storage in the cooler or freezer.
• Condensate evaporation pan means no condensate drain lines to install.