If you are living on a farm, it always pays to have your very own walk-in freezer. Remember that you will have to preserve your produce, so you will need somewhere cool to store them. This is also important if you hunt and you need somewhere to store your game. Overall, it is imperative that you build a walk-in freezer for your convenience. Think of it as a kind of barn, however, the barn is capable of refrigeration. Here are key tips for setting up your very own walk-in freezer:
1. Have a Set Budget
Before you jump into the building process, you should have a set budget for yourself, remember that building a walk-in freezer in your home is a worthwhile yet costly project. You will need to buy the materials yourself.
You will also need to pay for the manpower and equipment involved. So it is imperative that you have a set budget, that way you won’t go overboard and spend too much. Make a list of all your expenses, and check for features or services that are not necessary. This may seem tedious at first, but once you start the building process you will see how necessary it truly is.
2. Choose a Fitting Location for your Freezer
Aside from having a set budget, you should also decide on where to build your freezer. If there is already a pre-existing structure such as a barn or stables, you could build it within the said structure. However, you should make sure that the structure could handle the renovations and the added strain of having another structure within it.
When it comes to selecting a location for your freezer, it should be near to your house or within it. You don’t want to have to walk a long way just to store your foodstuffs. The location should not be too sandy or swampy, because it won’t provide a good foundation for your freezer. Remember that the freezer is quite heavy, and it will collapse or even sink if the foundation is weak.
3. Dig Deep
One of the most important aspects of building your very own freezer is that it should be below ground level. The freezer should be buried deep under the earth because it will make it easier to stay cool. So if you have the time or budget, you should dig as deep as possible. Think of your walk-in freezer as a kind of basement, and the deeper it is the more effectively you will be able to preserve your meat and other foodstuffs.
4. Insulate
If you want your freezer to retain cold, it is important that your freezer is as well insulated as possible. Investing in a industrial freezer is recommended for any business that needs to store large quantities of frozen or refrigerated goods. By being able to drive heavy equipment into your industrial freezer, your materials can be accessed more efficiently, and preserved for much longer. This will ensure that the food you are storing stays fresh, and harmful and dangerous bacteria are kept out. When you insulate your freezer, you should use insulating materials such as insulating foam to the structure. This will make sure that the freezer will keep the heat out and retain the cold air as much as possible.
5. Make Sure it is Airtight
A walk-in freezer is technically like a huge refrigerator, and like any other fridge, it must be airtight in order to work properly. If your freezer is not a hundred percent airtight, then your cooler will work so much harder to keep everything cool.
It will also increase your electricity expenditure, and ultimately increase your freezer’s chances of getting damaged. As such, it is important that you install key features that will ensure your freezer is as airtight as possible. Take the time to install cryogenic ball valves into your freezer as they will help your freezer retain coolness. They do this by ensuring that your freezer is airtight, and no excess cold air could get out. If you are going to purchase a ball valve, you should make sure that you check for cryogenic ball valve manufacturers that are well-accredited to get the best quality products for your set up. Remember that ball valves are an integral part of keeping your freezer as cool as possible.
6. Install a Powerful Air Conditioner
Installing a powerful air conditioner is by far one of the most important aspects of building a walk-in freezer. Remember that your foodstuffs will need to be chilled at a very low temperature. The lower the temperature, the fewer chances of bacteria growing. So it is imperative that your air conditioner is as efficient as possible. When you choose an air conditioner, you should make sure that you base your choice according to your freezer’s size. Never, buy an air conditioner that is too small for your freezer, because it will struggle to keep your foodstuffs frozen, and break down a lot easier in the long run. Aside from its size, your air conditioner should also be very energy efficient and have a defrosting feature.
7. Build Gutters and Adequate Drainage Systems
There will be times where you will have to melt the ice and clean the walk-in freezer. This means that the ice will melt and vast amounts of water will be left to the pool in your walk-in freezer. If not disposed of properly, your freezer may become a cesspit. This is where you build gutters and an adequate drainage system for your walk-in freezer. The drains should be strategically placed around the freezer, that way there won’t be any excess water left in the freezer. The gutters should lead to your main drainage system, that way the dirty water won’t contaminate any nearby streams and rivers. Make it a priority to use top quality pipes and materials, so that they will last you for decades to come.
Conclusion
If you are running your own farm or live far away from civilization, you will need to be able to store various perishable products for long periods of time. This is where walk-in freezers are essential. Before you start building a walk-in freezer though, you will need to have a set plan. With these tips, you’ll be able to build a fully-functioning walk-in freezer to ease your preservation.
