Know These 4 Important Parts on Your Walk In

Your walk-in is one of the biggest investments in your kitchen. Not only is the equipment itself pricey, but think about all that product stored inside! Make sure you keep your walk-in running efficiently by keeping tabs on these important parts:

CHG - W60-1112 - W60 1 1/8 IN OFFSET SELF-CLOSING HINGE
CHG – W60-1112 – W60 1 1/8 IN OFFSET SELF-CLOSING HINGE

Door Hinges and Latches
The hinges and latches on your walk-in cooler bear the brunt of the daily wear and tear. Not only are these pieces regularly in motion throughout the day, but employees aren’t the most forgiving users either; those who have a penchant for hanging on doors may wear your equipment even faster. Door handles are equally important for safety issues. With a broken door handle you’re just asking for a tragic event. For long-lasting hinges and latches, spend a little extra and opt for high quality parts; not only are they stronger, but they’ll be resistant to rust and corrosion.

Replacing your hinge is easier than you think! When buying a replacement hinge, first determine if it is a raised mount or flush mount hinge. While a raised mount hinge (also known as an offset hinge) will hang the door slightly out from the wall, a flush mount hinge will ensure that the wall and door is at the same level. Once you’ve figured out which hinge you need, check out this video on how to replace your walk-in door hinge with Chef Chris Tavano.


CHG - LED-321420W - 1600 LUMENS LED MOTION SENSOR LIGHT
CHG – LED-321420W – 1600 LUMENS LED MOTION SENSOR LIGHT

Lighting
Nothing compares to LED lights in your walk-in cooler. Though the initial cost of LEDs are higher than their fluorescent and incandescent counterparts, LEDs thrive in low temperatures, aren’t bothered by humid environments and emit just 3.4 BTUs per hour versus the fluorescent standard of 30 BTUs per hour! And since they turn on instantly, you won’t be stuck waiting for that “warm up” period to achieve full brightness every time you need to grab something out of the walk-in quickly.

 

ORIGINAL PARTS - 263393 - 1095 DOOR CLOSER
ORIGINAL PARTS – 263393 – 1095 DOOR CLOSER

Door Closers
Too often the walk-in door is left open, and every time that happens you might as well flush your cash down the drain. Letting that cold air escape means your walk-in has to work even harder to maintain its low internal temperature. As a result you could be facing higher energy bills, and a shorter lifespan on your very expensive restaurant equipment. Invest in door closers—modest little devices that help doors close. Simple and so important!

 

NOR-LAKE - 003722 - GASKET DOOR 36X78 LH W
NOR-LAKE – 003722 – GASKET DOOR 36X78 LH W

Gaskets
Gaskets are the unsung heroes of all refrigeration. This small, rubber lining is what creates the perfect seal to keep the cold air in your walk-in, and the warm air out; an important job, because it reduces the risk of temperature fluctuations and ensures your equipment runs efficiently. Over time gaskets will naturally wear, so take care and inspect them every 6 months or so. Signs that your gasket might need replacing include:

  • Cracks or gaps in the gasket
  • The gasket always feels compressed
  • You feel cold air coming out of the walk-in door

Lucky for you, replacing your gasket is easy—just a little elbow grease and you can spare yourself the cost of a service technician.

About Tundra Restaurant Supply

Tundra Restaurant Supply features over 60,000 products including restaurant supplies, equipment and equipment parts , a sweet eCommerce site with all the bells and whistles, a whole restaurant design and opening package team, low prices without sacrificing quality and more smart customer service reps than you can shake a stick at. If you'd like to browse Tundra's site, visit www.etundra.com.

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