By Commercial Service Company · November 4, 2026
If you run a kitchen or grocery cooler in central Arkansas, you already know the walk-in door gets opened a lot during a shift. Every time it swings open, warm kitchen or store air pours in and the unit has to work to pull the temperature back down. Strip curtains hang in the doorway as a low-cost barrier that cuts down on that warm air exchange without slowing down staff who need to move product in and out. The question we get from owners and managers is whether they're actually worth putting up, or whether they just get in the way. Here's how to think about it.
What Strip Curtains Actually Do
A strip curtain is a set of overlapping plastic strips hung across the doorway opening, usually on a mounting bar above the door frame. When the door is open, the strips still partially close the gap, which slows the mixing of warm room air and cold box air. Staff can push through them with a cart or their shoulder, and the strips fall back into place behind them.
The benefit is mostly about reducing how hard the refrigeration system has to work during the periods the door is open or propped. Less warm, humid air getting pulled in means:
- Less frost and ice buildup on evaporator coils and ceiling panels
- More stable temperatures for product near the door
- Less strain on the compressor trying to recover temperature after each opening
- Less condensation dripping or pooling near the doorway
None of this replaces a properly sealed door. Strip curtains are a supplement to the door, not a substitute for it.
Where Strip Curtains Go Wrong
We see a lot of strip curtains in central Arkansas kitchens and coolers that aren't doing much good anymore. The most common problems:
- Torn or missing strips. Carts, hand trucks, and boxes snag and tear the plastic over time. A curtain missing several strips has gaps that let warm air pour straight through.
- Tied back or removed entirely. Staff in a hurry will tie the strips up out of the way, or just take the curtain down, because it slows them up. Once that happens, the curtain isn't providing any benefit at all.
- Wrong size for the opening. Strips cut too short or too narrow for the doorway leave gaps at the edges or bottom.
- Buildup of grime or ice. Strips that are never cleaned can get stiff, cloudy, or coated in frost, which makes them harder to push through and more likely to get propped open instead.
If your strip curtain is torn, tied back, or missing strips, you're basically paying for a curtain that isn't curtaining. It's worth checking during a regular equipment walkthrough.
How Strip Curtains Fit With Gaskets and Door Closers
Strip curtains work best as part of a complete door seal, not as a stand-alone fix. The door itself still needs:
- Door gaskets in good shape. A gasket that's cracked, torn, or compressed won't seal tight even when the door is fully closed, and that leak runs around the clock, not just when someone walks through.
- A working door closer or latch. If the door doesn't swing shut on its own and seal properly, air leaks in constantly, and a strip curtain can't make up for a door that's left ajar.
- A frame and hinges that let the door sit flush. A sagging door or worn hinges can throw off the seal even with good gaskets.
Think of it this way: the gasket and closer handle the seal when the door is shut, and the strip curtain softens the air exchange during the moments the door is open. If either piece is neglected, the other can't fully make up the difference.
Is It Worth It For Your Business?
For most kitchens, grocery coolers, and walk-ins with frequent foot traffic, strip curtains are a reasonable, low-cost addition as long as they're kept in good condition and staff actually use them instead of tying them back. If your team props the door open for long stretches, or the curtain has been in rough shape for a while, replacing or repairing it is a quick win. But if your door gaskets are shot or the door isn't sealing and closing properly, that's the bigger issue to address first, and that's work for a licensed technician to evaluate and handle rather than a DIY patch.
Commercial Service Company has been servicing walk-in coolers and refrigeration equipment for businesses across Conway, Little Rock, Benton, Bryant, Maumelle, Jacksonville, Searcy, and Russellville since 1976. If you want someone to take a look at your walk-in door, gaskets, closer, or strip curtains and tell you straight what needs attention, give us a call at 501-548-2374.