Tips and Ideas for a Walk-In Cooler

[Belo]

We are currently building our dream home on 40 acres in western ny which is on a semi-functioning peach and apple orchard that will over time turn into a road side stand at its best. The land was owned by my wife's late grandfather and there are 2 outbuildings, 1 is going to be sold with the existing house and has a walk-in, the other is pole barn with dirt floors, structurally sound but in need of a little work to make it what I want. It will have water and electric that is now ours.

On the back of the pole barn is what I would call a lean too, but is basically a sloping roof with an open front that's been used to store fruit picking ladder, apple crates and a few pto attachments. We currently have half of it used for firewood.

I have the brilliant idea to turn part of this into a walk-in that will mostly be used to preserve apples and peaches, but can also be used to hang deer for an early bow kill. Generally in NY we don't worry about hanging temps, but the sloping roof is 8' at its lowest so why not put a hanger in there?

Anyhow, I will include pics later, but it's semi framed with the roof and 1 side. I'll need to build a floor, some additional framing on the front and side, frame for a door and then cutout a slot for an a/c unit, wire some electrical for a light, hoist, the a/c and a coolbot.

I'm handy, but carpentry isn't my specialty. I don't need pretty, just functional and in the beginning stages of planning this all out and thought I'd make a post here for anyone who has tips or wisdom for me. I think initially I was hoping to stay around $2k not including the electrical work, with my biggest cost being the coolbot and window unit, but was caught off guard a little with how expensive insulating board goes for. I see recommendations for r25, but r20 would meet my needs and saving more on only going r10 for the floor. I see kits for spray foam for sale but haven't done enough research to know if that's more cost effective. With some basic rough lumber included I'm now around $3.5k and again that's without some misc stuff, so likely closer to $4k.

Anyhow, any advice, tips or tricks is more than welcome. Thanks in advance!

 

[bwoods11]

Good question, I think they sell them pre-made ?

Hopefully someone on here gives you some advice …

 

[bigboreblr]

What temp are you looking to get in there.

The 1st thing an A/C evaporator does is condense moisture to water. Then once you hit 100% humidity, the temperature starts reducing more.

When a typical A/C approaches the freezing point, it ices up. Also, some A/C's start to have problems with compressor at 40ish temp degrees outside. Couple that with poor evaporator performance, you might damage the compressor.

I forgot which refrigerant is better for the walk in cooler via A/C. But it is a concern. Might want to look at which A/C unit someone has had good luck with and stick with that.

You could do this for round $1000 if you go smaller sized. Something to fit 2 deer in.

A garage ok fridge with the door removed and a circulating fan added might be a bit better.

I am thinking of buying the biggest vertical freezer, putting a few hook on the top and hanging quarters. uartering, putting in the basement fridge with plenty of absorbent for it to sit on seems to be doing ok so far.

Kinda like double lung, because they pump most of the blood out.

I live in the hudson valley NY. Even rifle gets too warm. Even muzzleloader has been too warm some years.

R-13 fiberglass with foamboard and the cheap bathroom wall stuff is an cheap n easy way to go. Look on craigslist / facebook for foamboard. Someone trucks it in for 1/2 price. Isocyanate used boards are cheap, but hold moisture. IF it stays dry inside and sealed from the inside via good boards n caulk, you'd be ok. Seem folks use just 2 inch foamboard R-11 or so and be ok.

Using it for apples for months at a time, extra insulation will save $$$$.

I can apple slices pie filling and make applesauce and freeze. Save a few good desert apples. Mostly macoun.

 

[Foggy47]

I was recently surfing on Facebook Marketplace and saw several walk in coolers for sale in various conditions. That's the direction I would look. I think you could buy something that would be far easier and cheaper (and better?) than you might build. (at least around my part of the country)

Example:

Bei Facebook anmelden

Melde dich bei Facebook an, um dich mit deinen Freunden, deiner Familie und Personen, die du kennst, zu verbinden und Inhalte zu teilen.

www.facebook.com

 

[KY wild]

I have considered this also because we shoot numerous does a year, here is the what I would do..........but I will probably never do it

https://agriculture.sc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/How-to-Build-a-Walk-In-Cooler-for-Your-Small-Farm-3.17.pdf

 

[bigboreblr]

A proper setup on a budget would be an embarco 1/2hp compressor chiller combo and a 4000-6000 single fan evaporator. About $1000 for both. Copper lnes, reciever dryer maybe, sweat in service valves if needed, thermostat. A few r-134a cans, service gauge set, and a vacuum pump to put in. Did my heat pumps myself.

Heat pump condensor unit might be retrofitted to work too possibility.

The redneck 2-4 deer setup with an A/C has been done many times before.

FYI many town hunting clubs own a walk-in freezer for their members.

 

[swat1018]

Just buy the shell off FB. You may be able to find a complete unit, or go with the A/C and coolbot.

 

[buckdeer1]

cool-bot seems to work well

 

[Telemark]

Our hunting club has one. Make sure you can control the humidity. Too humid, and things mold. Too dry, and the outer layers get dessicated.

I think you'll love it once you get it working properly. It will open up a whole world of possibilities making your own charcuterie.

 

[bigboreblr]

Interesting post. I sold frank the tank, the 20" 13hp rototiller. Was kicking my butt too much. Guy who bought it had 3 walk in coolers for sale.

 

[Belo]

I'll check for used, but transport would be a challenge. The all in one units seem to go for at least $5k, so making my own is still cheaper.

With regards to the type of unit, coolbot has recommendations that seem to work for almost everyone. Their unit reprogram the wall unit to go lower than the OEM setting. I would be looking to go to 40. Peaches could use a lower temp, but at some point you're just shelling out more to the utility company than those peaches are worth lol.

Again the real cost seems to be insulation. I talked to my builder and he has a slightly cheaper source for foam board at $40 for a 4x8 r10, but wanting to go to r20 it really, really adds up.

 

[Foggy47]

The self contained units I posted above ^ are selling for $2600 in Sioux Falls. Looks like they are made to be shipped on a flat bed semi trailer. Not sure that would be too expensive to anywhere in the country. I'd make a phone call if I were you. These look pretty nice...and when you want out of it....it's easy to sell. One more post.

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[Belo]

The self contained units I posted above ^ are selling for $2600 in Sioux Falls. Looks like they are made to be shipped on a flat bed semi trailer. Not sure that would be too expensive to anywhere in the country. I'd make a phone call if I were you. These look pretty nice...and when you want out of it....it's easy to sell. One more post.

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Yeah sorry I can't click facebook links on my work pc. It also looks like it's in german. I'll check it out later.

 

[Foggy47]

Yeah sorry I can't click facebook links on my work pc. It also looks like it's in german. I'll check it out later.

I dont know why it posts in another language. But if you do click on it it takes you to a USA listing for very nice refrigerated boxes with all aluminum construction. Hard to beat this deal.....IMO......if all is in good working order. I'm not buying so I'm not calling....but if I were.....

Just looked at this again. They offer 3 sizes of these refrigerated containers. Also have in three different locations.....the closest to you being in Maryland. I think they can even drop them at your site. Carrier refrigeration units. Appears from the pics they got lots of these units. (ocean freight?). Wow....seems too good to be true. Tho......I'd be careful of a scam. Do your own due diligence.

 

[Belo]

I dont know why it posts in another language. But if you do click on it it takes you to a USA listing for very nice refrigerated boxes with all aluminum construction. Hard to beat this deal.....IMO......if all is in good working order. I'm not buying so I'm not calling....but if I were.....

Just looked at this again. They offer 3 sizes of these refrigerated containers. Also have in three different locations.....the closest to you being in Maryland. I think they can even drop them at your site. Carrier refrigeration units. Appears from the pics they got lots of these units. (ocean freight?). Wow....seems too good to be true. Tho......I'd be careful of a scam. Do your own due diligence.

thanks and agree on too good to be true sometimes. What's the company? Maybe I can google without going through facebook.

 

[Foggy47]

thanks and agree on too good to be true sometimes. What's the company? Maybe I can google without going through facebook.

I inquired because I am curious.....and if I were a bit younger I would be all over this. Here is the response I got. (and it does sound legit). These look ideal for a deer camp. You could not begin to build this kind of cooler for this money. Looks like they have allot of 'em.

The listed container offers Exterior Dimensions (in feet): 10' long x 8' wide x 8' 6" high. Exterior Dimensions (in meters): 3.05m long x 2.44m wide x 2.59m high. Interior Dimensions (in feet): 9' 6" long x 7' 9" wide x 7' 10" high. Internal Dimensions (in meters): 2.89m long x 2.352m wide x 2.393m highDoorway Dimensions:Width: The doorway is 2,290 mm (or 2.29 meters) wide.Height: The doorway is 2,264 mm (or 2.26 meters) high.It runs on a single phase power source, 220V powered through electricity , with a fully functional cooling system. It also comes in an inbuilt insulated interior interior with temp ranging from -30 to +30 deegrees celsius and It's stationary, can only be mobile if it is on a flatbed


^ It don't get much better than this!

 

[b116757]

We had a three door commercial fridge in the catering facility back when my wife catered loved it for space. We added 1600 sqft onto the catering facility 7 years ago and moved into it in 2018. We sold the three door fridge thinking it over kill for our home well it didn’t take to long and my wife was tired of a residential fridge so I bought a two door commercial for the house. You’re not going to hang a deer in my fridge but it’s nothing to store a quartered deer in it. Commercial units are louder than residential which may bother some folks. My three door was a True if I remember correctly and it was a good unit the two door we have now is a Traulsen and I like it bit more than the True but I have no complaints about either one. Maybe a used commercial fridge maybe the way to go I think I gave $1500 for this Traulsen we have now it was in very good shape when I bought it.

 

[birdog]

I picked up a 1 year old walk in for $800. I found a guy who replaces walk in coolers at ethanol plants. He takes the old ones and sells them. He pulled a 6x7 that was a year old that needed to be replaced by a larger unit. Works great at my farm and the deal was too good to pass up.

A friend went with the Coolbot and he loves it. The Coolbot over rides the window unit so it can get cold enough without freezing the coils. He used foam board between the studs but I suggest spray foam for the best results. I know your'e on a budget but spray foam works so much better.

If you use foam board use the spray foam cans to seal the cracks. Remember moisture/humidity will always get pulled towards colder air. That means your vapor barrier must go on the outside of the walls between the studs and the exterior sheeting otherwise your insulation will develop mold. Seal every seam or hole of the vapor barrier with tape to make it as air tight as possible. I believe spray foam seals well enough to stop this issue but I would apply vapor barrier just in case, plus vapor barrier is cheap.

He used the thin plastic sheets that are used to line car wash walls and showers. They make a special nail for installing those panels. He wishes he would have installed a floor drain but that would add significant cost to do it right. Basically what he has is a big walk in shower minus a floor drain. He uses plastic snow sleds to keep the blood off the floor. 5 gallon buckets work well also.

Add a well insulated steel door that swings out and you should be good to go.

I added Unistrut across the roof of my walk in and added roller hangers so plan on adding the appropriate roof support during your build to allow for your hangers. My cooler has a floor drain so all I have to do is remove my floor drain plug and hose it out.

On a side note why are you selling the house that's currently on the property? I see potential for future problems is why I ask.

Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Belo]

I was recently surfing on Facebook Marketplace and saw several walk in coolers for sale in various conditions. That's the direction I would look. I think you could buy something that would be far easier and cheaper (and better?) than you might build. (at least around my part of the country)

Example:

Bei Facebook anmelden

Melde dich bei Facebook an, um dich mit deinen Freunden, deiner Familie und Personen, die du kennst, zu verbinden und Inhalte zu teilen.

www.facebook.com

That fb link is dead now. Not a good sign haha

 

[Belo]

On a side note why are you selling the house that's currently on the property? I see potential for future problems is why I ask.

Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

The original plot was 40 acres with a house right up front on the road like they used to be built with 2 outbuildings. One is the pole barn and the other more of a detached garage with the walk-in. We subdivided the plot and now have the back 37 acres with the barn where we're building our home and the original home and detached garage stayed with my wife's grandfather who recently passed. The brothers are selling the front house with the 2 acres.