Walk-In Coolers in Vancouver & BC: Design, Installation and Repair
A walk-in cooler is the heart of a busy food operation: one cold room for produce, dairy, meat and prepared food, held at a steady 35°F to 38°F (about 2°C to 3°C), with shelving by product and room to rotate stock. Babak Food Equipment plans, supplies, installs and services walk-in coolers for restaurants, cafés, grocers, bakeries, caterers and food processors across Metro Vancouver and British Columbia.
One team handles the whole project: measuring your space, designing the box and refrigeration around what you store, coordinating the trades and permits, building it on site, starting it up and keeping it running for years after. Already have a walk-in? Our refrigeration technicians repair and maintain walk-in coolers of any make.
Walk-in cooler services, from design to repair
Whether you need a new cold room, a bigger one or a repair today, the same team looks after it from start to finish.
Design and layout
We measure the room, check door swing, ceiling height, drains and power, and lay out the box, shelving and refrigeration around your menu and delivery days. Larger projects get a layout drawing before you commit.
Custom sizes and cold rooms
Modular insulated panels let us build almost any footprint: compact 6′ x 6′ boxes for cafés, 8′ x 10′ to 10′ x 20′ restaurant rooms, L-shapes and large cold rooms for grocers and processors.
Supply: panels, doors and refrigeration
We source the complete package: wall, ceiling and floor panels, doors, refrigeration system, lighting, shelving and accessories, matched to each other and to your site, from leading brands such as Norbec, Canadian Curtis, Kolpak, Master-Bilt, Refplus, KeepRite and Heatcraft.
Installation and start-up
Our crew assembles the box, sets the refrigeration and works with licensed electricians and refrigeration mechanics on the connections. We pull the room down to temperature and check it before handing it over.
Repair
Not holding temperature, iced coil, water on the floor, a noisy condensing unit or a door that will not seal: our technicians diagnose the cause and repair walk-in coolers of any brand. Book through the service request form.
Maintenance and monitoring
Scheduled coil cleaning, seal, drain and refrigerant checks keep a walk-in efficient and catch problems early. Add smart temperature monitoring to get an alert before stock is at risk.
How a walk-in cooler project works
- Call or send your details. Tell us what you store, roughly how much, and send photos and measurements of the space.
- Site visit and measurements. We check floor level, access, ceiling height, drains, power and where the condensing unit can go.
- Design and quote. You get a layout and a written quote with the box, refrigeration and installation listed clearly, so options are easy to compare.
- Permits and trades. We tell you what your site needs (electrical, refrigeration and, for some sites, a building permit) and coordinate the work.
- Build and connect. Panels, door and refrigeration are installed, then electrical and refrigeration connections are made by licensed trades.
- Start-up and handover. The room is pulled down to temperature and checked, and you get the operating and care basics.
- Service for the long run. Maintenance visits and repairs by the same company that built it.
What a walk-in quote covers
- Wall, ceiling and floor panels (or floorless on an approved slab)
- Insulated door with heated frame, closer and inside safety release
- Refrigeration system: condensing unit and evaporator, or a self-contained unit
- LED lighting, thermometer or temperature monitor
- Shelving, strip curtains, kick plates and ramps as needed
- Delivery, assembly, connections and start-up
- Removal of an old walk-in, if required
Choosing the right walk-in cooler
These are the decisions that shape price, running cost and how well the room works day to day. We walk you through each one.
Size and shelving
Size for your busiest delivery day, not an average day. Plan shelving on the walls with a clear centre aisle; dunnage racks keep cases off the floor. A common rule is to leave about a third of the floor clear for movement.
Panels and floor
Most coolers use 4″ foamed-in-place polyurethane panels with cam-lock joints. A cooler can sit on an existing level slab without a panel floor; an insulated floor is used on upper floors, over heated spaces or where rolling carts need a reinforced surface.
Refrigeration: self-contained or remote
A self-contained (top-mount or side-mount) unit is simpler to install. A remote condensing unit on the roof or outside moves the heat and noise out of the kitchen, which matters in small or hot kitchens. Low-GWP refrigerants are now standard on new systems.
Doors and glass doors
Standard hinged doors suit most kitchens; wider doors or sliding doors help with pallets and carts. Glass-door walk-ins let customers serve themselves from the front in beer caves, liquor stores, grocers and convenience stores.
Indoor, outdoor and combos
Outdoor walk-ins need a weather roof, sealed seams, a rated condensing unit with low-ambient controls for BC winters, and a proper pad. A cooler and freezer combo shares a wall and one footprint when you need both.
Special uses
Florists, wineries, breweries, butchers and produce rooms often need different temperatures or humidity. Tell us what you store and we size the refrigeration and evaporator to suit.
Walk-in cooler repair in Vancouver
When a walk-in cooler warms up, every hour counts. Our refrigeration technicians service walk-in coolers across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, whoever built them. Common calls include:
- Cooler not holding temperature or running warm
- Ice on the evaporator coil or fans not running
- Condensing unit short-cycling, noisy or tripping the breaker
- Compressor or condensing unit failure and replacement
- Water on the floor from a blocked drain line
- Torn door gaskets, failed door closers or heaters, sagging doors
- Damaged or wet panels and air leaks at the seams
- Thermostat or controller faults
Our technician finds the cause and explains the options. When an old system costs more to keep running than to replace, we show you both numbers. Book a technician through the service request form or call us.
Maintenance that prevents breakdowns
Most walk-in failures start small. A maintenance visit every 3 to 6 months typically covers:
- Cleaning condenser and evaporator coils
- Checking door gaskets, closers, hinges and heaters
- Clearing drain lines and checking fans
- Checking refrigerant pressures, electrical connections and controls
- Recording temperatures and checking the thermometer
Read more about commercial refrigeration maintenance.
Upgrades, relocation and replacement parts
A sound box can often be given a second life. We handle:
- Replacement condensing units, evaporators and controls
- New doors, gaskets, strip curtains and door closers
- Replacement or added panels to enlarge a walk-in
- Converting a cooler to a freezer where the panels allow
- Taking down, moving and rebuilding a walk-in at a new location
- Removing old walk-ins
Walk-in brands we supply and service
We are not tied to one manufacturer. We match the box and the refrigeration system to your room, your product and your budget, from Canadian and North American brands with parts and service support across BC.
Walk-in boxes and panels
- Norbec: Canadian-made insulated panels, doors and cold rooms
- Canadian Curtis: standard and custom walk-in coolers, freezers and combos
- Master-Bilt: prefab walk-ins and matched refrigeration
- Kolpak: prefab and custom walk-in coolers and freezers
- Arctic Industries: custom walk-ins and glass-door coolers
- Polar King: one-piece fiberglass outdoor walk-ins
- U.S. Cooler: custom indoor and outdoor walk-ins
- Amerikooler: walk-in kits and custom boxes
- Nor-Lake: walk-in coolers and freezers
- Cool Master and Advanced Panel Products: Canadian cam-lock panels and doors
Refrigeration systems and compressors
- Refplus: Canadian condensing units and evaporators
- KeepRite Refrigeration: condensing units and unit coolers
- Heatcraft (Bohn, Larkin, Climate Control): condensing units, evaporators and matched walk-in systems
- Trenton Refrigeration: evaporators and condensing units
- Copeland and Tecumseh: compressors and condensing units
Our technicians also repair and maintain walk-ins and refrigeration systems from other manufacturers.
Walk-in coolers for every kind of food business
We build and service walk-in coolers for restaurants and cafés, grocery and convenience stores, bakeries and pastry shops, butchers and meat shops, catering and commissary kitchens, breweries, wineries and liquor stores, florists, hotels, schools and care homes, and food processors. Planning a whole kitchen? Our restaurant consultation and custom stainless fabrication teams can plan the walk-in together with the rest of your line.
What affects walk-in cooler cost
Every site is different, so we quote each project after we see the space. The main cost drivers are:
- Box size and shape
- Panel thickness and finish, and whether a panel floor is needed
- Self-contained or remote refrigeration, and refrigerant line length
- Door size, glass doors and accessories
- Indoor or outdoor placement
- Site work: access, electrical supply, drains and removal of old equipment
We list the box, refrigeration and installation separately so you can see where the money goes.
Codes, permits and energy rules in BC
Energy: Natural Resources Canada sets minimum energy rules for walk-in panels, doors and refrigeration systems. Walk-in cooler wall and ceiling panels must reach at least RSI 4.40 (about R-25).
Refrigeration and electrical: refrigeration work in BC is regulated by Technical Safety BC and done by licensed refrigeration contractors; larger systems may need an installation permit. Electrical connections need a licensed electrician.
Food safety: BC food premises must hold cold food at 4°C (40°F) or below, so the room needs enough refrigeration capacity for your busiest door-open periods.
We tell you what your project needs before you order.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a walk-in cooler cost?
It depends on the size, panels and floor, refrigeration type, door options, indoor or outdoor placement and the work at your site. Send us measurements and photos and we will quote the box, refrigeration and installation so you can compare options.
What temperature should a walk-in cooler be?
Most walk-in coolers are set between 35°F and 38°F (about 2°C to 3°C). That keeps food safely below the 4°C (40°F) limit used by BC food premises, with a margin for busy door-open periods.
How long does it take to install a walk-in cooler?
A standard modular box is usually assembled in one to a few days once the floor, power and access are ready. Remote refrigeration, outdoor units, large cold rooms and permits add time; your quote includes a schedule.
Do I need a permit for a walk-in cooler in BC?
Electrical connections need a licensed electrician and permit. Refrigeration work is regulated by Technical Safety BC, and larger systems may need an installation permit. Some municipalities also ask for a building permit for large or outdoor walk-ins. We check what your site needs.
Does a walk-in cooler need a floor?
Not always. A cooler can usually sit on a level, sealed concrete slab with a floor gasket. An insulated floor is recommended on upper floors, over heated rooms, or where you need a smooth, reinforced surface for carts. Freezers need an insulated floor.
Self-contained or remote refrigeration: which is better?
Self-contained units cost less to install and suit many small boxes. Remote condensing units put heat and noise outside, which helps in small or hot kitchens and on larger rooms. We recommend based on your site.
Why is my walk-in cooler not cooling?
The usual causes are a dirty condenser coil, an iced evaporator, a failed fan motor, a door that is not sealing, a low refrigerant charge or a control fault. Keep the door closed, move high-risk food if needed, and book a technician.
Which walk-in cooler brands do you supply?
We supply and service walk-ins from Norbec, Canadian Curtis, Master-Bilt, Kolpak, Arctic Industries, Polar King, U.S. Cooler, Amerikooler, Nor-Lake, Cool Master and Advanced Panel Products, with refrigeration from Refplus, KeepRite, Heatcraft (Bohn, Larkin), Trenton, Copeland and Tecumseh. We recommend the combination that fits your site and budget.
Can you repair a walk-in cooler you did not install?
Yes. Our technicians repair and maintain walk-in coolers of any make across Metro Vancouver. Book through the service request form or call us.
Can a walk-in cooler be moved or made bigger?
Usually, yes. Modular panels can be taken apart and rebuilt, and extra panels can extend the box. We check the panels and refrigeration capacity first.
Can a walk-in cooler and freezer share one box?
Yes. A combo uses one footprint with a shared insulated wall, usually with the freezer entered through the cooler. Each side has its own refrigeration system.
Planning a walk-in cooler?
Send us your space measurements, what you store and your power supply, and we will plan the right cooler with you. Final price and details are confirmed at the time of purchase.