1
Predict heat load
Model water mass, tub insulation, ambient, cover, solar exposure and pump heat.
Physics-first system planning
Build a cold plunge or ice bath system that works as one system.
Size the chiller from BTU and heat load, then check tub insulation, pump operating flow, filter restriction, hose diameter, sun exposure and cooldown range together.
BTUnot horsepower alone
Flowafter real system losses
Rangeno fake precision
What the calculator checks
Thermal + hydraulic, together
A chiller can be thermally large enough and still fail because the pump cannot maintain minimum flow through a restrictive filter and undersized hose.
Cooling loadWater mass, ambient, insulation, cover, solar exposure and pump heat.
Operating flowPump curve vs. pipe, fittings, filter and chiller resistance.
Start with the problem
Choose your path
Cold plunge systems
Design the tub, chiller, pump, filter and plumbing as one loop.
Ice bath systems
Ice-bath language, same physics: chiller sizing, setup, filtration and DIY.
Tubs & vessels
Compare insulation, usable gallons, ports, portability and system fit.
Plumbing & filtration
Preserve chiller flow with the right pump curve, filter and hose layout.
Why this is different
Not another “buy a 1/2 HP chiller” site.
2
Solve the plumbing
Intersect a pump curve with system resistance, then check the manufacturer minimum flow.
3
Separate engineering from monetization
Affiliate tracking never enters the recommendation engine. If the cheaper option clears the same gates, it can rank first.
Have a tub or target temperature in mind?
Enter the real gallons, temperatures, environment, pump, filter and plumbing. Get a cooldown range, flow range, confidence and compatible supported equipment.
Open the System DesignerKnowledge base
Go from first idea to commissioning and maintenance.
Complete DIY build guide
Plan, build, commission and maintain the whole loop.
Plumbing diagram
See pump, filter, chiller, return, unions and valves.
Open methodology
Read the equations, data hierarchy, confidence logic and known limitations.