I'm Deven, founder of Sōlace Up North. This is the part of the setup I tell people not to cheap out on.
Chiller vs ice: the real trade-off
You can run a plunge on bagged ice. The math catches up fast. Ice is a daily errand, a recurring cost, and a temperature you can't really control — it melts, it drifts, and tomorrow you start again. A chiller replaces all of that with a thermostat. Set it, and the water is that temperature whenever you step out back.
For anyone plunging more than occasionally, a chiller pays for itself in ice money and saved hassle within a season or two.
What a chiller actually does
- Holds a set temperature, so the water is ready on your schedule rather than the ice machine's.
- Filters and circulates the water, usually paired with a sanitizer, so it stays clean between uses.
- Works year-round — including August, when ice disappears in minutes.
The best units hold a steady temperature across a wide range of outdoor conditions. That stability is the entire job.
What it costs
A standalone chiller runs roughly $400–$1,200 at the budget end. Integrated systems in a quality plunge cost more but arrive matched to the tub. Running cost is modest — about $15–$30 a month in electricity, plus $10–$20 for filters and sanitizer. Over a year, budget $300–$600 for the plunge's total upkeep.
How to choose one
- Temperature range. Can it reach the cold you actually want, and hold it in your climate? Most people settle somewhere in the 45–55°F range.
- Cooling power vs tub size. An undersized chiller struggles on hot days. Match it to your water volume, not to the price tag.
- Filtration. Built-in filtration and easy sanitizer dosing save you a weekly chore.
- Integrated vs bolt-on. A plunge with a matched chiller is simpler and usually more efficient than pairing a tub and chiller yourself.
The bottom line
If you'll use your plunge regularly, a chiller isn't optional — it's the difference between a ritual and a chore. Skimp here and you're back to hauling ice. Spend on a good one and the cold is just always there.
Those are the real prices, printed here and at checkout. They sit at the top of the ranges on this page, which is the point of the section below.
Our plunge ships with its chiller integrated and runs off a standard 110V household outlet, so there's no electrician involved on that half of the setup. Specific capacity and temperature figures come off the manufacturer's current spec sheet — ask and I'll send you exactly what they publish, rather than a number I've rounded in my own favour.