Cold plunges are rising in popularity due to the health and wellness benefits they provide, and now you have one of the best ways to enjoy cold plunges in the comfort of your home.
But did you ever wonder, if a 1hp water chiller for a cold plunge is enough and how do you even choose a correct chiller?
Choosing the right cold plunge chiller is an investment that will ensure your water keeps the optimal temperature, allowing you to experience all the benefits of cold plunging.
Down below, we’ll show you the best 1hp water chillers for cold plunge but also answer some of the questions we frequently get asked.
Best 1HP Water Chiller for Cold Plunge
A 1hp water chiller is a perfect choice from the durability, performance, energy efficiency, and value standpoint. These two picks are some of the best 1hp water chillers you can find on the market. Their price tag is justified and here’s why.
1HP Cryo 10 Chiller
Cryo 10 is one of the most known 1hp chillers on the market for a couple of reasons. Cryo 10 has everything you would expect from your chiller:
- Great performance and cooling efficiency
- Good build quality and durability
- Decent energy efficiency
- Low noise levels
- Ease of use
- Versatility
- Value for money
Cryo 10 is a powerful 1hp chiller that can keep your water at a wide temperature range, from 37 to 107 degrees. With that being said, versatility is its other biggest strength after power.
This chiller is really good at bringing water to a desired temperature very quickly and keeping the temperature consistent. It can handle varying capabilities, which makes it ideal for different sizes of cold plunge tubs.
The robust construction is designed to withstand continuous use, which also increases mobility since you can constantly move this chiller without worrying about any damage or wear and tear. Since it’s built using corrosion-resistant materials, it’s compact and includes weatherproof features, you can use it for both outdoor and indoor use.
When it comes down to energy efficiency, Cryo 10 is decently efficient, especially considering it’s a 1hp chiller. It has a low power draw and an automatic shutoff when the temperature reaches the desired range.
Whenever the temperature of the water is out of the desired set temperature, this chiller automatically ensures that the temperature is consistent.
Noise levels are decent, not too loud or too quiet, but are ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.
The powerful filtration system will ensure your water remains clear, and you’ll even get 3-micron filters, and an ozone filtering system integrated in the chiller.
With all the fittings that come included, you won’t need any knowledge or professional help to hook it up to your cold plunge and get your water down to your desired temperature. We should also mention that you can control this chiller both wirelessly and digitally via an integrated screen, which is a big step up, especially for people who are stepping away from ice-cold plunges.
Click Here for the Price of the 1hp Cryo 10 Chiller!
Embrace 1HP Chiller
When you’re looking for a reliable cooling solution for your cold plunge, Embrace 1hp chiller makes an ideal choice.
This chiller is built with one function in mind, maintaining consistent temperature for enhanced recovery and cold plunge benefits.
With its ability to achieve and hold cold temperatures and its 1hp power, it is a great fit for medium to large cold plunge setups.
The design of the chiller is durable and is built with long-term reliability in mind, as it’s built with corrosion-resistant materials and reinforced components. This makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Dual filtration is integrated into the chiller, which will help you keep your water clean and well-maintained at all times. Embrace chiller users report prolonged time between water changes in their cold plunge tubs.
The digital controls simplify setting and monitoring water temperature and also make it programmable for users needing specific cycles or timed cooling.
Plug and play style ensures that you receive everything needed to fit this chiller to your cold plunge without requiring help from a professional.
When it comes to energy efficiency, this chiller operates with a low power draw relative to its performance. It also includes an eco-friendly feature that minimizes energy waste during idle periods.
Noise levels are very good, as the Embrace chiller was designed for minimal disruption, which makes it suitable for home use where quiet operation is needed.
Maintenance is simplified thanks to easily removable filters, accessible components, and a filtering system that ensures your water remains clean and cold.
Compared to some other 1hp chillers for cold plunge tubs, Embrace chillers are way more affordable and yet as quality.
Click Here for the Price of the Embrace 1HP Chiller!
What Size Chiller Do You Need for Your Cold Plunge Tub?
Properly sized chillers will ensure consistent water temperature for effective cold plunges. However, choosing a chiller that lacks power for your cold plunge tub will leave you with water that might not feel as cold as you’d prefer.
Therefore, when choosing a chiller for your cold plunge, you should consider the following factors:
- Water volume
- Desired temperature range
- Ambient temperature and environment
- Usage frequency
- Insulation
Small tubs of up to 100 gallons require less powerful chillers, but larger tubs of 200+ gallons need a more robust and efficient cooling system.
Your desired temperature will also affect the cooling power, so always keep in mind that lower temperatures demand more powerful chillers, especially in warmer climates.
Your environment will also affect the type of chiller you need. For example, indoor setups typically face less heat gain so you might not need a powerful chiller, but outdoor setups will require higher-capacity chillers due to the exposure to sun and heat.
If you cold plunge often or have more people using your cold plunge tub, you might want to look for more powerful chillers. Prolonged use requires a chiller that can maintain low temperatures over extended periods of time.
Lastly, well-insulated tubs retain cold better, which can potentially reduce chiller size requirements.
Is 1/4HP Chiller Enough for Cold Plunge?
1/4hp chiller is designed for small-scale cold plunge setups. Therefore, such a chiller is good only for cold plunge tubs that hold up to 100 gallons of water.
It’s sufficient for maintaining moderate temperature drops in well-insulated tubs, but don’t expect it to reach some of the lowest temperatures more powerful chillers can achieve (below 50 degrees).
Prolonged use of 1/4hp chiller, especially in high ambient temperatures can overwork the unit much quicker than if you use a more powerful chiller.
Therefore, even if you have a smaller cold plunge tub but it’s set outside, a 1/4hp chiller might still struggle to maintain temperatures. This is mostly visible in the chiller’s inability to maintain its effectiveness and keep the water temperature consistent.
Also, if you’re someone who cold plunges often or has others use the cold plunge as well, keep in mind that frequent operation isn’t good for a chiller of such size and power.
How Many HP Should Your Water Chiller Be?
Before determining how much HP should your water chiller be, there are a few questions you have to answer:
- How big is your cold plunge tub?
- What’s the water capacity your cold plunge tub can hold?
- What’s your desired temperature?
- Are you using your cold plunge tub outside or inside?
- How good is your cold plunge tub’s insulation?
- How frequently do you or your family/friends use your cold plunge tub?
All these things will determine how powerful of a chiller you need. But we highly recommend going for a more powerful chiller if you’re in doubt rather than settling for a smaller chiller that might underperform.
For example:
- 1/4hp is suitable for small tubs of up to 100 gallons of water with moderate cooling needs
- 1/2hp is suitable for medium tubs of 100 to 200 gallons of water or slightly lower temperatures
- 1hp is best for larger tubs of 200+ gallons of water and setups with extreme cooling requirements
- Over 1hp is necessary for custom cold plunge pools, commercial tubs, or outdoor setups in hot climates
Matching hp to your cold plunge setup will help you ensure that your water is consistently chill, your chiller doesn’t get overworked (which can reduce its lifespan), and you optimize energy efficiency by minimizing operational costs.
Smaller and less powerful chillers might be attractive due to the cheaper price tag, but they can be a more expensive investment in the long run.
Always keep in mind that undersized chillers might struggle to maintain temperatures, have increased wear and tear, and have inefficient performance - if you don’t match them properly with your cold plunge setup.
It’s always better to go for a bigger chiller that won’t struggle to maintain the temperature, won’t get overworked even with a higher frequency of use, and won’t get overheated in warmer climates.
Why Is My Chiller Not Cold Enough?
If your chiller is not cooling down your water up to your preference, the most common case is that your chiller isn’t powerful enough for your cold plunge tub setup.
When your chiller’s hp is lower than required for your cold plunge tub’s water volume - you might feel that your water is never as cold as you wish it to be. Unfortunately, this will require a chiller upgrade.
Other reasons can include poor insulation, high ambient temperature, clogged or dirty filters, or overworked chillers.
Poor cold plunge tub insulation allows heat to enter which makes it harder for the chiller to maintain cold temperatures. Keep in mind that if you’re using a tub cover, thin or poorly fitted tub covers can also contribute to heat gain.
Warm environments, especially cold plunge tubs for outdoor use (or indoor use with poor ventilation) can reduce the chiller’s efficiency. Also, exposure to direct sunlight is self-explanatory and something you should avoid if possible to ensure your chiller doesn’t get overworked.
Sometimes even clogged or dirty filters and mineral buildup in the filters can reduce cooling performance.
Common Maintenance Mistakes That Impact Chiller Performance
Many users unintentionally overlook key maintenance practices that often lead to reduced performance and higher energy consumption.
The most common maintenance mistakes include:
- Neglecting regular cleaning
- Failing to replace filters
- Ignoring refrigerant leaks
- Overlooking the condenser coils
- Not monitoring ambient temperature
- Running the chiller continuously without breaks
Dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate in filters, coils, and vents, blocking airflow and causing overheating. A regular cleaning schedule is highly recommended to ensure all components run smoothly.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, clogged or dirty filters can obstruct water flow, which forces chillers to work harder to cool water. Check and replace filters every 6 to 12 months.
Low refrigerant levels can reduce the cooling power and cause long-term damage to your chiller. Regularly check for refrigerant leaks, especially if you have an older chiller.
Condenser coils need to be kept clean and free of obstruction, which ensures effective heat exchange. Neglecting this can cause the child to overheat and even shut down.
We also recommend keeping the chiller in a cool, shaded area (if outdoors), or a properly ventilated room for indoor use.
Overworking the chiller for any reason can lead to overheating and premature wear.
Conclusion
Finding the best 1hp water chiller for a cold plunge tub isn’t hard, as long as you know what you’re looking for. These two are some of the best chillers on the market that won’t break the bank and yet will provide invaluable power over a long period of time in return.
If you don’t need a powerful chiller, keep in mind that you can settle for a smaller chiller. However, keep in mind that they might not do well for large or poorly insulated cold plunge tubs.
Click Here for More Cold Plunge Chillers!