Building a DIY Chest Freezer Ice Bath

Buying purpose-built cold plunges is convenient, but they can cost a couple of thousands of dollars, and not everyone has that kind of budget. 

Skip the high cold plunging price tag and build your own chest freezer cold tub instead. With just a few simple-to-follow steps, you can build a household ice bath freezer with all the trimmings, like a built-in temperature controller and filtration and sanitation systems like a proper ice bath tub. 

They are widely available, relatively cheap, more or less the same size as a standard tub, insulated, and have a built-in chiller, so there’s no need for ice cubes. It makes adding a regular cold plunging habit easier to your wellness routine without breaking the bank. 

With all that said, let’s skip straight to every piece of equipment you need to convert a chest freezer into your own ice bath and the step-by-step DIY guide to set up your cold plunge chest freezer.

Convert a Chest Freezer to an Ice Bath: Step-by-Step Guide

There are many ways to make a DIY ice bath, but you don’t have to be a DIY pro to build an ice bath using a chest freezer. You only need to be able to follow basic directions as we walk you through our simple guide to converting or building a chest freezer into a cold plunge for your home.

Here’s What You Need

Below is the shortlist of the key items and equipment you need for this chest freezer ice bath setup. You can find these items in many variations and buy them from a few different locations, but we’ve included a few recommendations to make the process easier for you.

• • Chest Freezer 

Picking the right freezer for an ice bath is important. There are two most important things to look for when choosing the best chest freezer for a cold plunge—size and lid functionality. 

If you get a freezer that is too small, it will feel cramped when you soak, and you won’t be able to submerge in the water completely. But if you get one too big, it will need a lot of water and more electricity to keep the water cool. This 21 cubic feet chest freezer will work for most people, but check the dimensions before buying a freezer to find one that fits your size. 

Another thing to remember is to pick a chest freezer with a lid that doesn’t have a self-locking mechanism, especially if you’re converting an old freezer. It shouldn’t be a problem for new freezers, but it’s always smart to check that the lid remains open and stable without holding it. You don’t want the lid closing in while you’re soaking for obvious reasons. 

• • Sealing Material 

Despite what you may think, a chest freezer is not 100% waterproof. Hence, sealing the freezer is essential to prevent the water from leaking and destroying the electrical components of the freezer. 

Silicone is a common sealing material, although we wouldn’t recommend it for submerged parts. We recommend getting an epoxy putty like the JB WaterWeld for a DIY cold plunge. 

• • Filtration Pump 

A filtration pump will get the water in your freezer ice bath tub moving and filter out small particles and buildups, which is excellent for maintaining the water quality and keeping your freezer ice bath running smoothly. 

The three-stage filtration with water polishing of this canister filter will help clean your chest freezer from any debris, odor, discoloration, and other water impurities. 

• • Digital Temperature Controller 

A digital thermostat will help you control the water temperature of your freezer ice bath within your preferred range. The DEWENWILS digital temperature controller can keep the temperature well moderated, and the buzzer will get activated once it goes out of range. 

• • GFCI Safety Adapter

Using a GFCI safety adapter helps prevent electrocution and electrical fire in case of an electric short circuit. It will cut off electricity instantaneously once it detects current leakage. If the power outlet where you plan to connect the freeze ice bath doesn’t have GFCI protection, you can get an adapter like this GFCI extension cord. 

• • Ozone Generator 

Filtration alone isn’t sufficient to keep the cold water as clean and hygienic as possible. Your freezer ice tub will also need some form of sanitation. Otherwise, a film of slime that will eventually progress into algae will start building up, which is something you don’t want in your chest freezer ice bath tub. 

We highly recommend an ozone generator for this for its strong sanitizing capabilities. It’s a more natural form of sanitation and will remove the need for using salts or chemicals that can affect the water filter and the crisp feel of the cold water. 

Accessories and Other Components Needed

Listed below are a few optional items you may need to make it easier to fill, run, and maintain your chest freezer cold plunge. Most of these items you may already have at home, or you can buy them from your local hardware store. 

• • Zip ties. You’ll be dealing with a handful of cables in this chest freezer ice bath setup, and zip ties will come in handy for keeping those tidy. 

• • Long garden hose. You’ll need a garden hose to fill the cold plunge tub with water from the nearest faucet and for the water filter when draining the water out. 

• • Power strips with surge protection. You’ll need this to connect every component together—filtration pump, temperature controller, and ozone generator. Get one with three or more outlets with overload surge protection like this power strip surge protector. 

• • Box for your electronics. It’s for keeping all electronic components neat, organized, and protected. Get one big enough to fit the temperature controller and ozone generator. This waterproof junction box will be suitable for that, and it’s available in various dimensions. 

• • Plastic box with flat sides. It will be for scooping out the remaining water at the button of the chest freezer. A box with flat sides will work best for this over a rounded skimmer. 

Building Your Chest Freezer Cold Plunge

Now, for the fun part. Let’s bring it all together and set up your DIY chest freezer cold plunge. 

Step 1: Have the Chest Freezer Ready

The first step to get your setup ready is to decide on positioning your chest freezer ice bath. Pick an area that will give the most structural integrity to the tub. Ideally, it’s a flat, level surface. 

We also recommend placing a rubber mat or plate under the freezer for extra support at the bottom, especially if the inner compartment of the freezer hangs in the air. This way, the weight is evenly distributed and prevents the chest freezer ice bath from sliding when getting in and out of it. 

If you’re using an old freezer for this project, start with cleaning the freezer by sanding to remove all rust, washing, and drying. 

Step 2: Set Up the GFCI Safety Adapter

The GFCI safety adapter plugs directly into a standard 3-wire outlet. The one we recommended above comes with three power outlets where you plug the power strip. 

Step 3: Seal All of the Seams

Seal all the edges and corners on the inside of the chest freezer. Chest freezers will also have a plug hole on the inside. Remember to seal around it as well to avoid any leak issues later on. We also recommend sealing the upper seam of the freezer. Although this part wouldn’t be submerged in water, the sealant will add extra protection from splashes when you hop in and out of the tub. 

After sealing all the seams, let it cure before filling the freezer ice bath with water. When using epoxy putty, as we recommended above, it takes about 25 minutes to set, and the curing time is around an hour or so. 

Step 4: Set Up the Digital Temperature Controller

Connect the digital temperature controller to the power supply. In this case, it’s the power strip plugged into the GFCI adapter. More on connecting all components below. 

Then, plug the chest freezer into the power socket of the digital temperature controller unit with the sensor/NTC probe running into the water. 

Step 5: Set Up the Filtration Pump and Sanitation

Install the water filtration and sanitation units. Place the filtration pump in a spot near the bottom where dirt and debris are likely to build up, connecting the power plug to the power strip. 

To install the sanitation system, set up the unit outside the freezer and run the ozone outflow into the water along the water filter cable. This is where the zip ties will come in handy. 

Step 6: Remove All Wheels and Rails From the Chest Freezer

Most chest freezers have caster wheels, feet, or rails to raise or lower each corner. We recommend removing them so the bottom of the freezer sits closer to the ground. It will minimize the thickness of the rubber mats needed for support at the bottom. 

Step 7: Place Box Next to Chest Freezer for Electrical Components

To increase the safety of your DIY chest freezer ice bath, keep all electrical components inside a box. It will also keep everything neat and clean. The one we recommended above is waterproof, which is perfect for this setup. 

Step 8: Install Flooring in Front of the Freezer

This step isn’t necessary, but you can install flooring in front of your chest freezer ice bath. Extra flooring will make it easier to hop in and out of the tub, depending on where you placed your cold plunge. 

You can use wooden panels or place a bath mat with non-skid backing to eliminate slipping. 

How to Connect All Components

Here’s a detailed guide on how to connect all electrical components for this chest freezer ice bath tub setup. 

• 1. Connect the GFCI safety adapter to the nearest power outlet.
  2. Put the power strip inside the component box and plug it into the GFCI safety adapter switch. 
  3. Connect the power cord of the chest freezer ice bath to the digital temperature controller unit. If the unit has “heating” and “cooling” sockets, make sure it’s plugged into the latter. 
  4. Plug the digital temperature controller into the power strip.
  5. Plug the water filtration pump into the power strip.
  6. Plug the ozone generator unit into the power strip. 
  7. Keep all the cords organized using zip ties and neatly place everything inside the box. 

Benefits of Chest Freezer Cold Plunge

Using a chest freezer as an ice bath has its pros. 

• • It’s fairly inexpensive. If you are on a budget but want a cold plunge at home, converting a chest freezer into an ice bath is more economical than buying a commercial ice bath tub, especially if you’re using an old, unused freezer. 

• • Optimal ice bath temperature. Most electrical cold plunges can only keep water as cold as 36-38°F. Meanwhile, chest freezers can bring water to freezing temperature (32°F) or one to two degrees of freezing without any problem. It’s infinitely better than cold showers.

• • Convenient ice bathing. Chest freezers have their own cooling systems. It means you have ready access to cold water therapy without making or buying and dumping a lot of ice into the water. 

How to Use Your Chest Freezer Cold Plunge

Once everything is set up and all electrical components connected, it’s time to make your chest freezer cold plunge ready for ice bathing. 

• 1. Fill the chest freezer ice bath with water using the garden hose attached to the nearest water source. How much water to put in will depend from person to person. What you want is the water deep enough to submerge your body up to the neck. 
  2. Plug the chiller and set your desired water temperature. Generally, it can take anywhere from 2-5 days for the freezer to cool the water. You can shorten that time by adding ice cubes on the initial run. 
  3. Unplug the freezer prior to jumping into the cold plunge tub. And not just your freezer but all other electrical components connected to avoid the risk of electrical shock. 
  4. Enjoy your cold exposure therapy!

Note: After getting out of the water, always dry yourself completely before plugging everything back in. 

How to Maintain a Freezer for Ice Bath

Even with the filtration and sanitation systems in your chest freezer ice bath, it’s important to have some cleaning and maintenance schedule, especially if you take cold plunge regularly. 

We recommend changing out the water and cleaning the tub every 1-3 months. Use the same garden hose you used to fill the tub with water, attach it to the water filter, and run the hose to a suitable spot like the drain or your garden. For the remaining water on the floor, use a plastic box with a flat size to scoop the water out. 

Note: Disconnect the garden hose before the filtration pump starts sucking in the air, and this can damage the filter.

After cleaning, plug the hose back into the tap and fill your freezer ice bath back up. Change the filter and ozone, and you can run your ice bath again. 

Chest Freezer Cold Plunge: FAQs

Q: Is it safe to use a chest freezer for cold plunge?

A: Yes, using a chest freezer for a cold plunge is relatively safe as long as you follow simple safety precautions:

• • Pick a freezer with a lid that doesn’t have a self-locking mechanism. 
  • Use a GFCI safety adapter.
  • Unplug the freezer before using the tub. 
  • Dry yourself completely before plugging everything back in.

Q: How do I drain my chest freezer for an ice bath?

A: Use the filtration pump to drain out the water in the chest freezer ice bath through the garden hose and into the drain. Use the plastic box to remove the remaining water. 

Q: What size chest freezer for a cold plunge is best?

A: It depends. A 21 cubic feet freezer, as we recommended above, is a good baseline. But a larger freezer might be better if you are over 6 feet tall or weigh over 200 lbs. For reference, the freezer should be deep enough that the water goes up to your neck and wide enough that your shoulders will be comfortably covered in cold water when seated. If you’re unsure of the size, check the inner dimensions of the freezer. 

Q: How long will a chest freezer ice bath last?

A: A chest freezer ice bath can last several years with proper setup and maintenance. Properly waterproofing the tub is essential to keeping it last longer. For example, use epoxy putties instead of silicone and other caulks as the latter doesn’t hold well when used in a freezer filled directly with water and can degrade in just a year, damaging the chest freezer. 

Final Thoughts

Now, you’re ready to operate your DIY chest freezer cold plunge tub. Fill it with water, set your desired temperature, and get ready to start cold plunging. 

For good measure, make ice bathing a regular activity to optimize the promising cold water immersion therapy benefits. For one, ice baths affect your metabolism and are known to support weight loss and reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Your mind and body will thank you for it.