Good plumbing preserves pump head, protects chiller flow and lets you service equipment without draining the tub.
Baseline plumbing diagram
Baseline loop. UV, ozone, bypasses and heaters change placement; always follow the equipment manufacturer’s required orientation and electrical instructions.
Four plumbing principles
- Keep suction short and unrestricted.
- Use enough diameter for the target flow.
- Put unions/isolation valves around serviceable equipment.
- Design with dirty-filter restriction, not only a clean loop.
Detailed resources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cold plunge plumbing layout?
A common baseline is tub → pump → filter → chiller → return, but exact manufacturer instructions take priority.
Is 1-inch hose better than 3/4-inch?
At the same flow, larger diameter usually reduces friction loss, but fittings and equipment connections still matter.
Do elbows matter?
Yes, but hose/pipe diameter and restrictive inline components often dominate. Model the complete loop.
Sources & data references
What to read next
Run your exact setup
Use your real tub volume, temperature target, climate, pump, filter and plumbing. ChillSizer checks thermal capacity and actual modeled flow together.
Open the System Designer