Cold Plunge

A cold plunge is a tub and a chiller. The tub holds the water and the chiller holds the temperature, and on this brand they are sold as two separate products. That is the first thing worth understanding, because a tub on its own is a barrel of tap water.

The tub and the chiller are separate purchases

The tub is the vessel you sit in: a cedar-clad barrel, a stainless-lined barrel, or an inflatable you can pack away. Every tub listing on this page says "Tub Only" in its title for that reason.

The chiller is a compressor unit that sits beside the tub and circulates water through a hose. It cools, most models also heat, and the better ones add ozone and a filter so the water stays clear between changes. Chiller listings say "Chiller Only".

Tell us the tub you are looking at and how you plan to use it and we will confirm the pairing before you order. Water volume and where the tub sits both change the answer.

Sizing the chiller

Chillers are rated in horsepower, and the number you need depends on water volume, how cold you want to get, and how fast you want to get there. A 0.8 HP unit suits most single-person barrels. A 1.0 HP unit pulls a larger volume down faster and holds temperature more easily in a hot garage or an uninsulated outdoor spot. Rated capacity on the Premier units runs to 150 gallons.

Ambient temperature matters more than people expect. The same chiller that holds 39°F in a cool basement will work considerably harder on a west-facing patio in August.

Cedar, stainless or inflatable

Cedar-clad barrels with a plastic liner are the value choice. The cedar is the exterior, the liner is what the water touches, and it is easy to clean.

Stainless-lined barrels cost more and feel it. A 304 stainless interior resists staining, takes sanitiser without fuss, and is the one most owners point at when they say the plunge looks like it belongs.

Inflatables pack down and travel. They are a reasonable way to find out whether you will actually keep doing this before committing to a fixed tub.

Electrical, drainage and where it goes

A chiller needs a dedicated outlet near the tub, and the manufacturer's spec sheet for your model states the draw. Have your electrician confirm the circuit before delivery rather than after.

Plan the drain too. You will empty and refill periodically, so a tub sited somewhere you cannot run a hose to becomes a tub you stop using. Outdoors, think about the same things you would for a hot tub: a level pad that can carry a full tub of water, and winter access you will still tolerate in January.

Pairing a plunge with a sauna

Contrast therapy alternates hot and cold, and it is the reason most people end up buying both. If you are planning a sauna and a plunge together, tell us early. Siting them near each other, on circuits that can carry both, is far easier to do at the planning stage than afterwards.

Sizing a plunge or working out which chiller fits your tub? Email hello@radiantsaunahq.com or call (424) 235-1861 and we will work through the volume, the circuit and the siting with you before you order.