Outstanding work here Joe! Being based here in Minneapolis I am excited to follow your lead and build one of these as you suggest. Last year, my 100-gallon Rubbermaid got pretty stank as I had nothing filtering or cleaning the water. Curious if you could shed some light on the rough operational costs of running your pump 24/7. Assuming pennies but getting ready to build out with your plans and I am certain my wife will ask. This El Nino winter is making December feel like spring :) Thanks again.
I'm so glad I found your channel! I live in MN and I just bought a 100 gallon stock tank to use for cold plunges during the winter season only when I have my hot tub running (Nov-March). I'm wondering what you suggest for keeping water clean and unfrozen? Could I just get one of those ozone/aerator things you mentioned? I was also thinking of getting a stock tank water heater from Fleet Farm for the really cold stretches. Any advice would be appreciated!
Hi Joe, you mentioned the ozone generator being rated down to 10 degrees, but do you happen to know about the pump? I have the active aqua 800 gph but I presume it would be similar to Danner's pumps. I've tried calling Hydropharm but can't get through to someone for support. I'd like to run my pump through the winter without a chiller but it's not in an enclosure like yours, it is outside under a covered patio. I live in Salt Lake City and it gets down to 10 or 20 degrees at times through the winter. Trying to figure out if my pump will break. Any insight would be great!
Ok, Joe. A little confused about the need for winterizing.. saw this and your new short rec’ing the pressurized heater.. hmmmm.. 1) Can you possibly explain what specific tubing modifications (and pieces) I’ll need to keep the pump on should I decide to pull the 900d Penguin? And 2) Where exactly do you recommend placing the in-line heater? I take it the heater will be able to keep water at a specific temp? This is all somewhat surprising. I was under the assumption the chiller would keep water from freezing even in below freezing temps..
Winterizing is just a measure to protect the system (primarily the chiller bc i'ts so spendy) You can build a small assembly to bypass and remove the chiller connecting the pump directly to the filtration. If you add a heat element it should go directly after the pump. I personally didn't need to do this on my stock tank build.
I'd like to build a plunge that can be used for a rental property in Colorado (-20F), is there a way to create it that does not need much maintenance to deal with freezing? How can the chiller be kept connected and is there a way to control the pump remotely? Great video thank you!
Can we please finally get a video about how to start your cold plunge after we’ve built one according to your plans. Do you just fill tub and plug everything in and that’s it?
Hey Joe, Thanks for all you help. I ended up using the penguin chiller rated for outdoor that has a built in pump. In this case would you just leave the chiller in there and running? If the water temp is below the set point only the pump will run. Thoughts? Thanks
I'm thinking of using a chest freezer outside as my cold plunge. I'm going to have it covered in a waterproof tight exterior and a compartment on the side for all of the filters and other plumbing parts. I was thinking of putting a space heater in there in the winter and having that hooked up to a temperature probe. Will this be sufficient? Should there be insulation around the chest freezer itself or is this not necessary as long as the condenser is getting enough warmth and possibly using insulation foam board in the compartment area.
In Colorado, our weather can fluctuate significantly. One day we might get single digits or lower and the next it's in the high 50's. Given this (and the fact that you said yours stayed high-40's in what I assume to be continuously cold Minnesota temps), would it be better to keep the chiller hooked up so it can address those warmer days that inevitably come throughout the winter? Or would you do something different?
So you suggest pulling the chiller if you have the cold plunge out of elements? I have mine in garage, and I am in Texas. Probably won’t see many days below freezing so I would think I should be good to just continue inning everything as is. Thoughts?
How long does the water stay clean in the winter without the Ozone, but with the filtration system still running? I am in Michigan, so we have similar winters.
I’m in Chicago and Chiller arrives tomorrow, so this is timely. I’ll finalize the plumbing tomorrow and test it for leaks then use it for a few weeks before winterizing. I’m assuming that the hoses will be able to connect once the chiller is taken out. Anything that I should be paying closer attention to when I take the chiller out?
Nope sounds like you've got a good handle on it. You may need to make a easy assembly with unions to route the after from the pump directly to the filter is all
I have the 1/2hp Eco Plus and it puts off a lot of heat. At what average temperature would you pull it "permanently" in the winter? Since the chiller puts out a lot of heat and the water is always flowing (I also added epsom salt) what would you advise? When the temps are consistently in the 30s? I pulled my chiller last week because we were in the teens for a weekend but now our temps are back in the 40s and between my insulation and mother nature my water temp is approaching the 50s (not what I want)
Not exactly related to the topic of this video. I was searching and couldn’t find anywhere, but do you see any problem of using two 1/3 hp chillers in the same tub? I was wondering because in theory is more powerful than an 1/2 hp chiller and often the same price or cheaper… let me know your opinion
@@DIYColdPlunge for FL weather maybe yes. The reason for 2 is just to in “theory” get somewhat in between 1/2 and 1 hp, if it even works like that. Thanks for the reply
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Outstanding work here Joe! Being based here in Minneapolis I am excited to follow your lead and build one of these as you suggest. Last year, my 100-gallon Rubbermaid got pretty stank as I had nothing filtering or cleaning the water. Curious if you could shed some light on the rough operational costs of running your pump 24/7. Assuming pennies but getting ready to build out with your plans and I am certain my wife will ask. This El Nino winter is making December feel like spring :) Thanks again.
Thanks man! I honestly can't say I've noticed any real increase with operating it. There's not much power draw on anything but the chiller.
I'm so glad I found your channel! I live in MN and I just bought a 100 gallon stock tank to use for cold plunges during the winter season only when I have my hot tub running (Nov-March). I'm wondering what you suggest for keeping water clean and unfrozen? Could I just get one of those ozone/aerator things you mentioned? I was also thinking of getting a stock tank water heater from Fleet Farm for the really cold stretches. Any advice would be appreciated!
Hey! the easiest would be a chlorine floater and stock tank heater.
Hi Joe, you mentioned the ozone generator being rated down to 10 degrees, but do you happen to know about the pump? I have the active aqua 800 gph but I presume it would be similar to Danner's pumps. I've tried calling Hydropharm but can't get through to someone for support. I'd like to run my pump through the winter without a chiller but it's not in an enclosure like yours, it is outside under a covered patio. I live in Salt Lake City and it gets down to 10 or 20 degrees at times through the winter. Trying to figure out if my pump will break.
Any insight would be great!
My hunch is that it will be fine, but I dont have direct experience with winter and AA pumps.
Joe, the Inkbird Thermometer is linking to the controller not the wireless floating thermometer..
Good catch! I must have been on autopilot creating the links. Fixed now 👍
Ok, Joe. A little confused about the need for winterizing.. saw this and your new short rec’ing the pressurized heater.. hmmmm..
1) Can you possibly explain what specific tubing modifications (and pieces) I’ll need to keep the pump on should I decide to pull the 900d Penguin?
And 2) Where exactly do you recommend placing the in-line heater? I take it the heater will be able to keep water at a specific temp? This is all somewhat surprising. I was under the assumption the chiller would keep water from freezing even in below freezing temps..
Winterizing is just a measure to protect the system (primarily the chiller bc i'ts so spendy) You can build a small assembly to bypass and remove the chiller connecting the pump directly to the filtration. If you add a heat element it should go directly after the pump. I personally didn't need to do this on my stock tank build.
@@DIYColdPlunge Thank you, Joe.
I'd like to build a plunge that can be used for a rental property in Colorado (-20F), is there a way to create it that does not need much maintenance to deal with freezing? How can the chiller be kept connected and is there a way to control the pump remotely? Great video thank you!
Man... I'd be hesitant to do something like that. Not being around to monitor it would make me nervous mainly because of the potential to freeze
What do you think about aquarium heaters for keeping the water at a good temp in freezing weather conditions?
I haven't tested those, but a floating stock tank heater worked on my 150 gallon tank I left in the snow
Can we please finally get a video about how to start your cold plunge after we’ve built one according to your plans. Do you just fill tub and plug everything in and that’s it?
Yes. Add filtered water. Then fill up your tank then once water gets half way turn on the chiller and plug the pump in
That's pretty much it 👍 fill it up, make sure water is flowing to and above your pump and then you can turn it in
Hey Joe,
Thanks for all you help. I ended up using the penguin chiller rated for outdoor that has a built in pump. In this case would you just leave the chiller in there and running? If the water temp is below the set point only the pump will run. Thoughts? Thanks
If I had that unit I might look for a pump to run in the winter in place of the chiller combo
I'm thinking of using a chest freezer outside as my cold plunge. I'm going to have it covered in a waterproof tight exterior and a compartment on the side for all of the filters and other plumbing parts. I was thinking of putting a space heater in there in the winter and having that hooked up to a temperature probe. Will this be sufficient? Should there be insulation around the chest freezer itself or is this not necessary as long as the condenser is getting enough warmth and possibly using insulation foam board in the compartment area.
Unfortunately chest freezers are not my area of expertise...
When you disconnect the chiller do you just connect the union from the pump to the filter?
I had to build a connecting pipe with unions on both ends but yes that's exactly how to do it 👍
In Colorado, our weather can fluctuate significantly. One day we might get single digits or lower and the next it's in the high 50's. Given this (and the fact that you said yours stayed high-40's in what I assume to be continuously cold Minnesota temps), would it be better to keep the chiller hooked up so it can address those warmer days that inevitably come throughout the winter? Or would you do something different?
That's a personal risk tolerance.... I'll be testing having a chiller outside all year this year. I'll post the results
So you suggest pulling the chiller if you have the cold plunge out of elements? I have mine in garage, and I am in Texas. Probably won’t see many days below freezing so I would think I should be good to just continue inning everything as is. Thoughts?
you'll be just fine with business as usual 👍
How long does the water stay clean in the winter without the Ozone, but with the filtration system still running? I am in Michigan, so we have similar winters.
I went a touch over 90 days last year without draining/replacing and could have gone longer.
Thanks@@DIYColdPlunge
I’m in Chicago and Chiller arrives tomorrow, so this is timely. I’ll finalize the plumbing tomorrow and test it for leaks then use it for a few weeks before winterizing. I’m assuming that the hoses will be able to connect once the chiller is taken out. Anything that I should be paying closer attention to when I take the chiller out?
Nope sounds like you've got a good handle on it. You may need to make a easy assembly with unions to route the after from the pump directly to the filter is all
I have the 1/2hp Eco Plus and it puts off a lot of heat. At what average temperature would you pull it "permanently" in the winter? Since the chiller puts out a lot of heat and the water is always flowing (I also added epsom salt) what would you advise? When the temps are consistently in the 30s? I pulled my chiller last week because we were in the teens for a weekend but now our temps are back in the 40s and between my insulation and mother nature my water temp is approaching the 50s (not what I want)
the big thing is freezing in the lines... and unfortunately there's no right answer. Up to you and your risk tolerance with it
Stupid question. Do i need to get the water out of the chiller. What is the best way to do so?
I tip mine on its side and move it upright when done. Then let it sit for a day before doing anything
Not exactly related to the topic of this video. I was searching and couldn’t find anywhere, but do you see any problem of using two 1/3 hp chillers in the same tub? I was wondering because in theory is more powerful than an 1/2 hp chiller and often the same price or cheaper… let me know your opinion
This is a new one... Interesting concept. Would you really need two after the water gets down to temp?
@@DIYColdPlunge for FL weather maybe yes. The reason for 2 is just to in “theory” get somewhat in between 1/2 and 1 hp, if it even works like that. Thanks for the reply