There are 5 main components you will need to build your own DIY Cold Plunge. Those are the tub, pump, chiller, filter, and ozone generator. In this article we will explore more about each out these items and why they are so important. Additionally, we will recommended a specific product for each category.
1. The Tub- First, you will need to pick out the tub you are going to use. We have experimented with many different options including the 100 and 150 Gallon Rubbermaid Stock tanks, as well as a galvanized stock tank. Our pick is definitely the 100 Gallon Rubbermaid Stock Tank. We find this tank easy to work with and the size is big enough without taking up too much space. If you're a bit bigger you may want to consider the 150 gallon Stock Tank for some additional room.
2. Water Pump- Next, you will need to purchase a water pump that can circulate your water as well as feed it through your system. Without the water pump, the Easy Cold Plunge DIY plan would not be possible. The water pump draws water from the outlet of the tub through the pump and on through the water chiller, filter, and ozone loop, allowing all those vital functions to be completed. After the water runs through the system, the water is then pumped back into the tub via the inlet. Once back into the tub, the water will circulate and be pulled back through the outlet to start the cycle over again. We have tested many different water pumps, including pool pumps. Our favorite is the Danner Pond-Mag 1200 GPH water pump. After testing the other pumps we feel this specific pump has ideal amount of power the feed the water through the system at an effective rate, without putting too much pressure on it. Another benefit of this pump is that is conveniently small in size, which allows is to fit easily in the setup, without taking up too much space. It also has easy and compatible with the other size hookups referenced in the Easy Cold Plunge DIY setup.
3. Water Chiller- Another crucial components to the Easy Cold Plunge DIY Plan is the water chiller. Without this, you will be making a lot of trips to the store for ice. Take it from us, that gets old very quickly! Even if you own or purchase an ice maker for your home, the task of constantly adding ice loses its appeal very fast. The vast majority of DIY setups work on either a 1/4 or 1/2 HP water chiller, although there are 1/3 HP and 1 HP options that are sometimes used. We have found, through our research, that the 1/2 HP seems to be a good balance between cost and effectiveness. If you choose the 1 HP option they will be much more expensive and higher energy-consuming. In most scenarios you shouldn't need that much power. The 1/4 HP water chiller may be an option for people in cooler climates, but may struggle to keep up for others, especially during the warmer months. We have tested 1/4 HP and 1/3 HP water chillers, and they take much longer to get down to plunging temperatures (40-55 Degrees) and struggled to keep up when the ambient temperatures became higher. Our recommendation is the Penguin 1/2 HP High Efficiency Water Chiller.
4. Filter- Having a quality water filter is also an important component of the Easy Cold Plunge DIY Plan. No matter how hard we try, there is going to be debris and sediment that gets into your water. In order to keep the water as clean as possible, a water filter becomes necessary. The filter is in-line with the pump which forces the water into the filter which removes the debris and sediment before the water continues back into the tub. There are many options for filters, many of which we have tried. We find that the whole house water filtration single step systems seem to work the best for our application. That being said, there are many of these such options. We have tried an AO Smith option, as well as two different GE options. One of the GE options is the best in our opinion. It has a clear housing so you can monitor it more effectively as well as a bypass valve that allows your to change the filter while the system is still running. The AO Smith has many of the same features but we found it harder to use.
5. Ozone Generator- The last major component you will need is an ozone generator. These useful devices will allow your to keep your water sanitized for months while using minimal or no chemicals. Ozone generators work by taking air (02) and adding an electrical charge to it. The result is it producing 03, or ozone. Ozone is capable of utilizing its additional oxygen atom to neutralize many harmful molecules through the process of oxidation. The result for our application, is the ability to keep water clean and clear for an extended amount of time. Ozone generators are commonly used in hot tubs and even pools. Luckily for us, ozone generators are even more effective in cold water applications than in warm water applications. After researching many different options we were able to determine that the Ambohr Spa-124 Ozone Generator, which we sell here on easycoldplunge.com, was by far the most effective and easy to use ozone generator for the DIY setup. These ozone generators need venturi injectors to inject the ozone into the water line to sanitize the water. Luckily we well the venturi injectors with our Ozone Generator, to make this a one stop shop. The tubing we include hooks up directly from the ozone generator the the venturi injector. The venturi injector is then hooked up into the Ozone Loop we reference in our Easy Cold Plunge DIY Plan. Click the link below if you would like to purchase the DIY Plan or Ozone Generator.
Well there you have it, the 5 Most Important Components For Building A DIY Cold Plunge!