When the halls go quiet for fall or winter break, your walk-ins are still putting in the work. Even with no or limited foot traffic, they continue to run around the clock while energy costs don’t take a vacation. Without a little prep, schools often return to expensive surprises: spoiled food, malfunctioning compressors, or systems working far harder than necessary.
The good news? A few smart steps now can keep cold storage efficient, prevent downtime, and stretch tight education budgets further.
Give Your Walk-In a Quick Health Check
Before everyone heads out, take a moment to ensure the basics of your school’s walk-in cooler or freezer are in good shape. Check that the door seals are tight (no warm air sneaking in), temperatures are accurate, and overloaded shelves don’t block airflow. Clear out any standing water and ensure that lighting and fans are functioning properly.
It doesn’t require a full maintenance overhaul, just a thoughtful walk-through that can prevent mid-break failures.
Clean Up and Consolidate Inventory
Holiday breaks often mean lighter food storage. That’s an opportunity.
Get rid of anything expired or nearing its limit and group items together more efficiently. If inventory is extremely low, you may even be able to temporarily power down a unit or adjust temperatures to reduce load. With fewer door openings and fewer units running, energy usage drops, sometimes dramatically.
Consider Adjusting Your Temperatures
Schools don’t need cold storage running at peak performance when no one’s using it. Small changes can drive real savings:
- Coolers can often be raised a degree or two
- Freezers may also have room for a slight bump — only if products tolerate it
- Setback controls should be turned on to reduce unnecessary compressor cycling
Every degree counts over the course of several weeks.
Make a Plan for Monitoring During the Break
With limited staff on site, problems can go unnoticed for days. One compressor failure and thousands of dollars in inventory can be lost.
Before break begins, confirm that:
- Remote temperature monitoring is active
- Alerts are going to someone who will be available
- There’s a clear point of contact for emergencies
A simple system can keep small issues from snowballing into costly spoilage.
Reduce Moisture and Frost Risks
Idle periods are when moisture problems love to show up. Make sure doors close cleanly, gaskets aren’t cracked, and strip curtains aren’t torn. You’ll protect refrigeration components and make the post-break restart effortless.
Schedule Preventive Maintenance at the Right Time
If walk-ins are due for maintenance soon, the holiday lull is the perfect window. No disruption to meal prep, zero hassle for staff. A light tune-up now can improve energy efficiency, catch cooling issues before they escalate, and extend the lifespan of equipment that is asked to run 24/7, 365 days a year.
Preparing Now Saves Schools Real Money
Educational foodservice budgets are tight, and rising costs aren’t slowing down. Proactive walk-in prep means:
- Lower power bills during weeks of low demand
- Less spoilage of federally-funded food
- Zero scrambling when students and staff return
- Longer-lasting refrigeration equipment
Every dollar saved helps stretch resources into the spring semester.
The Right Equipment Makes This Easier
If your school’s cooler or freezer is already struggling, the break may reveal weaknesses or make them worse. Arctic Walk-Ins are designed specifically for education environments, with durable construction, high-performance insulation, energy-efficient LED lighting, and simple controls ideal for cafeteria teams.
Learn more about how Arctic supports schools, colleges, and universities here:
Walk-In Coolers & Freezers for Education Facilities
For additional guidance, check out our latest maintenance resources:
All Arctic Walk-Ins Blogs
Protect Your Investment Before the Holiday Starts
Walk-ins shouldn’t be the thing you worry about over break. With a little smart prep, you’ll save money, protect inventory, and walk into January stress-free.
Need help planning upgrades or preventive services?
Get a Quote at Arctic Walk-Ins and keep your food storage efficient year-round.