New vs. Used Mortuary Coolers: What to Check Before You Buy
A used mortuary cooler can look like an easy way to save money. Sometimes it is. But a cooler that’s been taken apart, trucked, and rebuilt carries risks that the listing price doesn’t reflect. Here’s what to check, and why American Walk In Coolers builds every mortuary cooler new.
Why used coolers are tempting
- A lower price up front
- Possibly faster availability
- The belief that “a box is a box”
The first two can be real. The third is where problems start.
Hidden cost 1: panels that don’t fit back together
Walk-in coolers are built from insulated panels that lock together. Once you take a cooler down, panels can bend, cam locks can get damaged, and edges can get crushed in transit. Panels from different boxes rarely match exactly. The result can be gaps, air leaks, condensation, and a box that doesn’t hold temperature as well as it should.
Hidden cost 2: what’s inside the walls
Many older panels were built with wood framing inside the insulation. Over years of condensation and cleaning, wood can absorb moisture, rot, and hold odors. In a mortuary setting, that’s a sanitation problem you can’t clean away.
AWIC panels are 4″ high-density panels with no wood, UL-NSF approved and tested for smoke and flame spread to ASTM E84.
Hidden cost 3: energy compliance
Walk-in coolers manufactured on or after January 1, 2009, must meet federal energy requirements, including wall, ceiling, and door insulation of at least R-25 for coolers and R-32 for freezers, and automatic door closers (10 CFR 431.306). A cooler built before then, or rebuilt from mixed panels, may fall short and cost more to run.
All AWIC walk-in panels meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Hidden cost 4: tired refrigeration
The refrigeration system does the hardest work, and it’s often the oldest part of a used cooler. Things to ask:
- How old are the compressor and evaporator?
- Has the system been serviced regularly?
- What refrigerant does it use? Older systems may use refrigerants that are being phased down under EPA rules, which can make repairs harder and more expensive.
- Is the system sized for the box it’s going into?
A mismatched or worn system can fail when you need it most.
Hidden cost 5: no warranty
Used equipment rarely comes with a meaningful warranty. If a panel fails or the compressor goes, you pay. A new AWIC mortuary cooler comes with:
| Coverage | Term |
|---|---|
| Insulated panels | 20 years |
| Doors | 5 years |
| Parts | 1 year |
| Optional extended coverage | 5-year compressor / 1-year labor |
Hidden cost 6: unknown history
With a used mortuary cooler, you don’t know how it was used, cleaned, or stored. Panels may have been left outdoors, mopped with harsh chemicals, or damaged by water. That history affects how the unit holds up and how it looks to the families you serve.
Used cooler checklist
If you’re considering a used unit, check:
- Manufacture date and panel construction (wood or no wood)
- Condition of every panel edge and cam lock
- Door gaskets, hinges, and closer
- Refrigeration age, refrigerant type, and service records
- Whether all panels came from the same box
- Who will disassemble, transport, and reassemble it, and at what cost
- Any remaining warranty
Add up the purchase price, transport, reassembly, likely repairs, and the risk of failure. Then compare that total with the cost of a new unit.
Why we only build new
American Walk In Coolers doesn’t trade in used panels or refrigeration systems. We manufacture every mortuary cooler to order, build it in the USA, and cover it with our warranty. Body boxes start at $7,905*, and we offer financing, so a new cooler may be closer to your budget than you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a used walk-in cooler cost?
The listing price is only the start. A used walk-in has to be disassembled where it stands, trucked to you, and reassembled, and each step costs money. Then add any panels, gaskets, hinges, or refrigeration parts that need replacing after reassembly. Those costs are hard to know until the job is done, which is why a cheap listing can end up close to the price of a new unit.
Before you decide, add up the purchase price, disassembly, freight, reassembly, likely repairs, and a refrigeration check, then compare that total with a new cooler. New AWIC body boxes start at $7,905, are built to order, and come with a warranty. Call 1-800-430-4468, and we’ll quote a new unit so you can compare like-for-like.
How long does a walk-in cooler last?
There’s no fixed answer, because it depends on how the cooler was built and how it’s been treated. Panels with no wood inside avoid the moisture and rot problems of older panels with wood framing. Every time a cooler is taken down and moved, the panel edges and cam locks wear out. And the refrigeration system’s life depends on its age, how hard it has worked, and how well it has been serviced.
That’s why a used cooler’s history matters. Ask the seller when it was built, how many times it has been moved, and whether it has any refrigeration service records. A new AWIC cooler starts its life with you: its panels carry a 20-year warranty, doors 5 years, and parts 1 year.
Can you take a walk-in cooler apart and move it?
Yes. Walk-ins built from cam-lock panels are designed to come apart and go back together, and AWIC walk-ins can be expanded, reconfigured, or relocated if your needs change. The panels lock together at the joints, and those tight joints keep the cooler temperature.
The risk with a used unit is what happens to those joints in transit. Panels can bend, cam-locks can get damaged, and edges can get crushed in transit, and panels mixed in from another box rarely seal properly. If you’re buying used, find out who will take it down and put it back up, and check every panel edge and cam-lock before you pay.
Can I reuse the refrigeration from a used cooler?
Sometimes, but check it carefully first. The refrigeration system must be sized for the box it cools and how often the door opens. A system pulled from a different-sized cooler may struggle to hold temperature. Older systems may also use refrigerants that are being phased down under EPA rules, which can make repairs harder and more expensive.
Have a licensed refrigeration contractor inspect a used system before you rely on it, including its age, refrigerant type, and service history. With a new AWIC cooler, we match the Russell refrigeration system to your box size, location, and use, and you can add an optional 5-year compressor and 1-year labor warranty.
Is a used mortuary cooler worth it?
It can be, if the cooler is recent, built without wood, complete with all its original panels, and well maintained. In a mortuary setting, its history matters more than in most uses. You need to know how it was used, cleaned, and stored, because panels left outdoors, damaged by water, or cleaned with harsh chemicals may be hard to restore to sanitary condition.
Factor in transport, reassembly, repairs, and the lack of a warranty before deciding. If the total comes close to the price of a new body box, a new unit gives you more certainty for the money.
Do you buy or sell used mortuary coolers?
No. American Walk In Coolers doesn’t trade in used panels or refrigeration systems. We manufacture every cooler to order in the USA, so the panels match, the refrigeration is sized for the box, and our warranty covers the whole unit.
If you already own a cooler and need more space, we can build a new body box or walk-in to sit alongside it. You can keep your existing unit in service as overflow.
How can I make a new cooler affordable?
Financing lets you spread the cost of a new cooler over time instead of paying it all up front. An application and approval are required. See finance options for details.
It also helps you size the cooler correctly, so you don’t pay for space you don’t need. Our sizing guide walks you through it, and What Does a Mortuary Cooler Cost? explains what drives the price of each type.
See our mortuary coolers, or call 1-800-430-4468 to compare a new AWIC cooler with the used unit you’re considering. We’ll give you a straight answer.