How to Insulate a DIY Cold Plunge
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- This video is all about what I learned while using spray foam to insulate my DIY Cold Plunge. I used a combination of canned foam insulation and pink foam board. My cold plunge lives outside, year round in Minnesota and has held up really well so far in it's first winter.
Free Downloads & Other Links:
linktr.ee/diyc...
Spray Foam Used (6-Pack + Cleaner):
amzn.to/409HpEU
Spray Gun:
amzn.to/3kH7bAd
I appreciate the work, I’m in the process of making mine thanks to these videos. Thank you🎉
Thanks! That means a lot. Makes this all worth doing!
Ugh thank you so so much for this channel!! I'm going to slowly be building g my cold plunge. Luckily I like in Idaho and I won't need to insulate it for a little while 😝
Happy to help!
Awesome work! I'm in the process of spray foaming mine now (in stages). FYI, you shouldn't have to clean out the gun between every can. They only gum up if you detach the old can without immediately connecting a new one. It's the moisture in the air that makes the foam cure inside the gun. Also, now that you have an air gap underneath, you could get additional benefit from a reflective radiant barrier, (only works with an air gap). Even aluminum foil will work.
nice tip! thanks
I have a custom drip pan for the tub, so ill be applying the foam from the sides. Going with rigid on interior of walls with spray foam around the tub itself. Also going to do rigid between 2x on bottom, under drip pan, will be elevating one end of the build utilizing some washers between the wheels and bottom of frame to encourage water in pan to collect towards mech side where it can funnel into drip hose, also putting some desiccant in that area. There will probably be some trial and error but im keeping my plunge indoors (storage bench/futon build) so condensation must be contained. Will be getting a dehumidifier for the room for extra protection.
All good ideas! Thats awesome
Thanks so much for the great information. I really appreciate all your videos! Are you concerned at all about mold build up since you are effectively closing off the ability of the condensation and spillage of water from draining out to the floor with the spray foam? That was my main concern here. Thanks.
You bet! My hope is that from wrapping, siding and silicone that there is very little potential for any water to seep inside the frame.
What are the disadvantages of using fiberglass roll insulation rather than expanding foam? It would be less expensive and quicker and easier to apply. Thanks!
I'd be worried about mold with fiberglass.
Love this and will be insulating this weekend (hopefully). Do you have a reason for not covering the sprayed insulation on the bottom? (Like using PVC panel or something to limit exposure to the foam)
You can definitely do that!
Is there any wisdom in leaving the piping without insulation around it for purposes of working on the piping?
Leaving a small void would be a good idea 👍
Love the videos man! Thanks for sharing
You're welcome 👍
Fantastic plans and videos, Joe. Thank you! What is the rationale for not closing off the bottom? I noticed that some of the primo plunges (Renu, Bluecube, etc) seem to have an additional panel on the bottom. I was thinking of adding 1/2" marine ply on the bottom. Does condensation make this a bad idea?
with the insulation, I just didnt feel the need. Condensation was a thought - but I didnt have this thing ready until October last year so I havent tested it
Do you have a video or a plan for the siding on the 150 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank?
I don't, you'll need to take some measurements and vent your build 👍
you mentioned you used pic material for the top panel. is there a video I missed that shows what you did for the top panel?
Yep! th-cam.com/video/I-AHdrEKgZo/w-d-xo.html and here is the panel www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-x-48-in-x-8-ft-White-PVC-Trim-H120AWS6/205309788
Does the spray foam remove the condensation on the exterior of the tub?
Garage is 73 degrees and water was 53. Loads of condensation, worried about this inside the cabinet or does the foam remove this effect? Thank you
If you apply the foam directly to the tank it will not condensate. If you're using foam boards it will still condensate because of the air gaps
Do you know what kind of impact the insulation made? Any data?...such as the time it holds temperature vs uninsulated.
Majority of this build's life has been in the winter months. Last summer on my first build I would see an increase from ~42°F to ~52°F on a 90°F+ day without a chiller, ice or anything added. Without the enclosure that same tank would be over 75°F
Any thoughts on using pourable boat foam for insulating?
I use a combination of panel, canned and pour these days 👍
Do you think this step is necessary if the plunge will be in a garage? Thank you
Up to you! This will help with condensation in the warmer months if that is a concern. Other than that, it will help the chiller by keeping everything cold.
Did you do anything to fix the tub in place so it doesn't shift when you flip the assembly over for insulating?
Hey Charles! When I plumbed it it and added the pipe straps to my drain that was all it needed to stay put 👍
at about 1:11 in this video I notice a drain valve set up through the side of the tub, so that you can drain the tub. Can you share how you did the plumbing and what valve you used?
Basically tee off of the line to the pump, add a ball valve and a male threaded fitting
Thoughts on using a pour foam?
Ive seen people do it! I've got another build scheduled for this summer, looking to try it then.
I am thinking about putting the foam insulation board in place, then wrapping it with moisture barrier. Any issues you can see with doing it this way? Also, is the idea to have the plumbing from the tank back to the mechanical area in place before sorting in the foam, covering that plumbing in the process?
Without the direct contact to the tank, you will see condensation. And yes, I foamed in my plumbing line. Some people have left a void to access the bulkhead if needed.
I used the foam board in between the framing but foam insulated from the tank out to the foam board. How much condensation is normal? Just trying to gauge if this is just condensation or if my bill heads are leaking?
I filled mine up with packing peanuts $18 dollars. only took 10 minute with no clean up. The foam cans cost too mush and make a mess. Ain't nobody got time for that. Love your channel, Great content.
Interesting! Are you experiencing any condensation?
No, it's sealed, packed tight and out of sight.
@@baddinosaur1548 Thats awesome and a really cool idea.
@baddinosaur1548 how did you seal it up? Love this idea!
So this is prob a dumb question, but have you thought about putting heavy dudy casters on the frame? Just in case you wanted to move it around after draining? Or would the weight of this just be too much?
I've seen folks do it! I would recommend reinforcing the frame, how I have it here isn't meant for that kind of weight distribution
Are you encasing the pump, chiller and ozone generator in expanding foam?
Nope, all of those items should live in the mechanical area.
Can you please send the link for the 2 vents you placed on the outside so the chiller doesn’t overheat.
Any 20" vent should work fine 👍 amzn.to/3j8n3LC
Do you have any plans for building or insulating the ice barrel
Not in the works right now, I tried to get them to send me one.
I used the cones and had a lot of scrap 2” insulation board but 6 cans of the same stuff didn’t even get me half way full. I have the same build plans too.
Yikes! did you let it expand after each can?
@@DIYColdPlunge I did. I’ve used a lot of expanding foams in my job and always give it plenty time to expand and gas off. Maybe it’s the climate here in Texas. Even though heat usually helps. There’s a lot of humidity. Either way, I got a bunch of the Home Depot cans and capped it off. No complaints here. Just an observation. I really appreciate all your videos and info. I already have ideas for another one. Thanks!
Does the foam type matter? I live near Dallas, and have a bunch of great stuff gaps n cracks foam.
I've used that gap filler too What is the best spray foam for a DIY Cold Plunge? Plus! Foambeak Nozzle Review
th-cam.com/video/NfJnRYn4TbE/w-d-xo.html
How do you dump the water out and clean the cold plunge?
I have a drain plumbed on the back side that drains it most of the way. From there it's just scrub & rinse.
Wait, you haven’t wrapped with a moisture barrier! In the wrapping video there is no insulation inside yet. Which comes first?..
Wrapping comes first 👍
Do you have two outlet lines, one on each side it looks like?
Yeah... I drilled the hole on the one side before I thought to double up the drain as an outlet.
@@DIYColdPlunge Would you recommend doing a double outlet? Is it more "effective" or more or less the same and save the $$$/time, one outlet would suffice?
I wonder if the post hole foam would be better and cheaper???
I'd go boat floatation foam over that
Are you hard mounting the tub to the frame?
I did not aside from one pipe strap attached to the drain. Spray foam and a bead of silicone is all I needed
Did you think to use pour foam? Or was that not economical?
I didnt even know about it until folks started commenting like this! I'm hoping to give it a try soon
Have any of you guys tried this during the winter? Just wondered how this would fare with weather regularly at -10*C to -20 regularly (14F to -4F). Would the internal water freeze?
Would adding salts to the water also prevent it from freezing too^
I had mine outside all winter without issue (I'm in MN), the pump kept everything from freezing up. I did pull the chiller in late December
Ima try this
tag me somewhere when you do!
How much would you charge if you made one for me?
Unfortunately not in the cards right now... busy with summer and family life!
what material did you use for the sides of the frame?
LP Siding sheets from Home Depot
What was total cost of the build?
Stock Tank $1500+ if you want to build a luxury plunge, $3000+ diycoldplunge.com/products/luxury-diy-cold-plunge-plans
gonna have to build one of these😅😅
I've loved mine so far! You can check out other peoples builds on my blog
@DIYColdPlunge will do sir!! ty 😊
How the hell do you drain the tub?
I have a drain in the plan for plumbing.
why not just use rubber K-flex insulation and glue?
I suppose that could work too as long as you don't leave an of the surface exposed.
FYI, I’d wear a mask when cutting that insulation.
thanks!
I think I’m missing some videos
What ones are you looking for?
In my opinion,,,using spray foam is too expensive and has drawbacks,,,too many air pockets which leads to condensation. A friend used this method and he can smell mold from his tub. I went a different route. I used spray adhesive to cover all the exterior surface of the tub with a moving blanket. I then wrapped with fiberglass insulation bats,,,used spray adhesive to initially secure to blankets. Then the arduous part,,,,completely and tightly wrapping tub leaving none of the fiberglass area exposed. I then used spray adhesive to adhere foil wrap completely around tub and sealed the edges with duct tape on top and bottom. Yeah,,,the asthetics might not be good,,,,but I'm sure there are ways around this,,possible rubber shrink wrap,,,etc. I have done 2 tubs,,,,the cattle trough and the rubbermade,,,,and the cattle trough is much easier since the outside of tub is flat, as compared to the rubbermade which has ridges. Anyway,,,neither tub has sweating issues,,,,,I have checked the the three areas where the plumbing go into the tubs,,,and the fiberglass is completely dry after many months. If one is going to stick with foam insulation,,,I would at the very least use a spray adhesive and cover all exposed area with cheap cotton moving blanket,,,,,,wool would be better,,,,but I could not find wool. Anyway,,,definitely learned some things from your channel and appreciate your sharing your experiences.
That's no good for your friend! I'd love to see your process.
@@DIYColdPlunge And you never know,,,my friend might not have done a good job of making sure no part of where the cold part of the tub meets the hot moist air? I would be glad to share some photos of my 2 tubs and what I did? They are functional over beauty,,,but I'm thinking of doing something fancy with my second tub and perhaps you can share your thoughts? I also did something different on each lid which you might find of interest. Not sure if you can pm me? If that is possible on youtube?
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