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Care and Maintenance FAQs

quick links
Downloadable care docs
Basic maintenance tutorial
Setup questions
General care instructions
Freezing temperatures and your cold plunge
Filter questions
Pump questions
Chiller questions
Ozone questions

Other questions? View our other FAQs on our cold plunge products and health related cold plunging questions.

Downloadable Care Documents

Sirona Measurement and Dosing Instructions

Cleaning and Troubleshooting your Pump

How to prepare and what to do with your Desert Plunge in freezing temperatures

Maintenance tutorial

Setup Questions

Prior to pick up or delivery, you will receive an instructional video on how to put everything together. It should take about 30-40 minutes to set up.

Depending on ambient temperature and humidity, our cold plunge will cool down 2-5 degrees per hour.

To control the temperature, hold down the set button on the chiller until it beeps or flashes, press the up or down buttons to the temperature you desire and then wait 8 seconds until it is no longer flashing. Make sure the green switch is on, on the side of the chiller.

You can find water treatment options and replacement o-rings for your cold plunge here. We’ve also put together some additional links to purchase filters and other items here. If you make a purchase through the additional links above, Desert Plunge may receive a small commission on the sale.

General Care Instructions

Yes, you can use your plunge outdoors. However, it should be kept under a covered patio, or structure shielding it from the elements. If you choose to place a cover over your chiller, ensure the chiller has proper ventilation. There are also special considerations for your tub needed in cold temperatures.

To care for your cold plunge, you will want to 

  • Change the filter cartridge – depending on use, change your filter cartridge every 1-4 weeks, we do not recommend going over 4 weeks. You know your filter needs to be changed if the water flow coming into your plunge slows down or stops, and/or your pump sounds louder than normal (making a loud humming noise.) See more details below on filter care. 
  • Clean chiller screens monthly if your plunge is outside. If your plunge is indoors, you should do this every 1-2 months. 
  • Change your water every 3 months. If you are clean when getting in, and using the Sirona sanitation protocol we recommend or ozone sanitation, your water can stay clean for 3 months. See more tips on keeping the water clean below. 
  • If your cold plunge is kept outside in freezing conditions care instructions can be found here. 

Be sure to rinse off well before getting in your plunge. Makeup, soap, lotions, and oils from your body will affect the sanitation of the water.

Only wear a swimsuit in your plunge, anything else is not recommended. Lint and laundry detergent soap will come off your clothing, causing the water to get dirty faster.

Put a mat down in front of your plunge. Don’t walk from where you rinse off to the plunge barefoot, where sandals and take them off right before you get in.

You can try using a “scum bug” to help soak up some of the oils. 

Using our Sirona  cold plunge sanitation kit is also a good option for sanitation. 

You can also purchase a spa vacuum from Amazon to help suck up some of the loose debris that may fall to the bottom of your plunge.

We provide you with a drain adapter that attaches to the return on your plunge. Simply screw it in and attach a standard garden hose, use the plunge pump to drain.

If you live in a climate that drops below freezing in the winter, and you keep your plunge outdoors, you need to take special care of the chiller and other components on your plunge; exposure to freezing temperatures can potentially damage it. You’ll need to do one of the following. Care instructions can be found here. 

 

Freezing Temperatures and Your Cold Plunge

Preparation and special care is important if you keep your plunge outdoors in freezing temperatures.
Your pump is one of the most important pieces of your Plunge, ensuring you have good water flow is key.
Inspect and Clean:
  • Clean your drain intake strainer frequently for any hair build up or loose debris.
  • Monitor your filter cartridge, if your water flow has slowed down or it has been over a month since you changed your filter cartridge, be sure to replace it.
  • Inspect your pump for any debris or buildup that might impact performance.
  • Click here to find helpful tips on cleaning your pump. Pump should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year.
Keep an eye on the weather forecasts in your area. If you know that temperatures are going to be below 20 degrees consistently or you see the water temperature on your chiller drop below 38 degrees it’s time to take action.
  • It is ultimately your responsibility to ensure you protect your plunge from freeze damage. If you have the option to bring your plunge in a garage or inside during the winter months that is your safest bet.
  • Freeze damage will happen in extreme cold weather conditions, if you lose power, or if your water flow is to slow or stops flowing in below freezing temperatures.
  • If temperatures are consistently between 20-32 degrees and you decide to keep your plunge running outside, be sure to keep a vigilant eye. Ensure water is flowing optimally and follow the “Inspect and Clean” steps above to ensure optimal water flow.
  • Keep an eye on the temperature reading on your chiller, if the water temperature is dropping below 38 degrees, its time to drain and store your plunge for the winter, or disconnect your chiller and plumbing components and use the tub only.
  • If using the tub only, once you have disconnected your chiller and plumbing components be sure to drain the chiller and components of all water and store for the winter.
  • If desired, you can now cap the return and intake holes and keep your plunge full of water and let mother nature do the cooling for the winter.
If temperatures fall below 20 degrees, we suggest you remove all plumbing components; chiller, filter, tubing, pump, and ozone and store for the winter.
  • Disconnect your pump, filter, and chiller (ozone generator if you have it) from your plunge.
  • After all components are removed, cap/plug the return (hole up high) on your plunge with a 3/4” threaded plug. Any hardware store should have this, but you can Google 3/4 in. PVC Schedule 40-Plug MPT to find multiple options.
  • Install the Grizzly drain plug or the rubber plug provided at the intake (bottom hole)
  • By plugging/capping the return and intake this will allow you to continue using your tub and let mother nature do the cooling.
  • When removing your chiller connections and hoses, be sure to not lose any O rings on the fittings.Drain and store your chiller and components for the winter.
1. Power Down Your Entire System:
  • Ensure your entire system, is safely powered down and disconnected from any power source.
2. Disconnect the “In” and “Out” Chiller Connections:
3. Turn Your Chiller Upside Down:
  • Carefully turn your chiller upside down. This will allow the water to drain out through the “In” and “Out” ports.
  • Do not rest the ports on the ground as this could crack the ports from to much weight.
4. Carefully Upright Your Chiller:
  • Once you are confident the water has fully drained, carefully turn it right side up.
5. Clean and store your chiller:
  • After draining is complete, wipe down the chiller and all internal components.
  • Be sure to store the chiller in the upright position and in a dry, temperature-controlled room.
6. Hooking your chiller back up, allow the chiller to rest before turning back on:
  • If your chiller was not stored sitting completely upright or it was moved at an angle, it’s essential to let the chiller rest for a minimum of 3 hours prior to turning on. This allows the refrigerant to settle and ensures optimal performance.
  • Bypassing this step can lead to a chiller that is not cooling properly.

Filter Questions

This is a good indicator that your filter cartridge is dirty and needs to be replaced or your drain intake strainer needs to be cleaned. Check out the maintenance tutorial video above for more information.

Locate your filter housing on the back of your plunge. Simply push the white handle towards the plunge and that will put the filter in bypass mode. Unscrew the filter housing, replace the filter cartridge and pull the handle back down.

It depends on how clean you are when you get in, and how many people use your plunge. It could be every week or two or once a month. We do suggest replacing the filter at least once a month. Do not rinse off and re use filters, always replace with new.

Find additional links to purchase filters and other cold plunge accessories here.

This is due to pressure in the lines. You can hold down the red pressure relief valve on the filter housing and it should fill back up. If that doesn’t work, try unscrewing the filter housing slightly, let the water fill up and then screw tight again.

Chiller Questions

1. Pop out the two side screens and hose them off.
2. Unscrew the screw on the front bottom of the chiller.
3. Hose the screen off with water, then put it back in place.

We recommend doing this monthly if your plunge is kept outside. If your plunge is kept indoors, you should do this every 1-2 months.

If you live in a climate that drops below freezing in the winter, and you keep your plunge outdoors, you need to take special care of the chiller and other components on your plunge; exposure to freezing temperatures can potentially damage it. You’ll need to do one of the following. Care instructions can be found here. 

 

This could be due to restricted water flow. Check your filter cartridge, does it need to be changed? Also check your intake strainer or inline strainer to be sure they do not need to be cleaned out.

Yes, condensation is normal, especially during the summer and when it is humid. You can purchase pipe insulation from your local hardware store to insulate your pipes to avoid the condensation build up.

Keep your chiller on and the temperature you want it set at. It has a 2 degree temperature differential. If you have the chiller set at 45 it will run until it gets to 45 degrees, then shut off and go back up to 47. Once the temp gets to 47 the chiller turns back on and brings the water back down to 45 degrees, It will continue this cycle. If you turn your chiller off for to long, it can take a while for it to get back to temp again.

Be sure the plug strip your chiller is plugged into is on. If it is, unplug your chiller from the power strip and plug it into a separate outlet that you know is working. If the chiller turns back on, the power strip is bad, reach out to service@desertplunge.com.

Check the air coming out of the back of the chiller. Warm/hot air is good. If it is cool air reach out to service@desertplunge.com

Pump Questions

Chances are you need to change your filter or clean your drain intake strainer. Sometimes your filter looks clean, but it still needs to be changed since there can be a slime coat that forms on the filter cartridge material. Do not rinse and reuse filters, always replace with a new one. If that doesn’t work, try cleaning your pump.

Follow our guide on how to disassemble and clean your pump.

Yes, this is normal. The pump runs 24/7 to run the water through your filter.

Ozone Questions

Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent, which when diluted in water, produces a broad spectrum biocide that helps eliminate bacteria, viruses and cysts, helping to improve water odor and color.

Ozone should be used outside in a well-ventilated area due to potential off-gassing. The ozone generator’s lifespan is estimated between 24-48 months depending on a number of factors.

Please note: The ozone generator should not be operated in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using ozone outside in a climate with freezing conditions, be sure to check the ozone tubing for water build up. If the water freezes in the tubing it can block the airflow, causing damage to the ozone generator.  If this is a concern, our Sirona water santiation kit would be a good alternative.

No, if it is running constantly you need to switch the button on your timer to the clock mode. If you see your ozone running during the day, but it does shut off, readjust your timer to the correct time of day. It should only run from 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Your ozone should plug into the bottom of your timer.

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