How I battle condensation in my DIY Cold Plunge | DIY Cold Plunge Tips & Tricks

Summary

This video offers practical advice on managing condensation in cold plunges, especially in warmer climates. It emphasizes the importance of insulation for the tank, mechanical area, and pipes, using foam spray or wraps. It also suggests using a neoprene cover for the filter housing and maintaining proper ventilation with vents or exhaust fans. Lastly, it recommends installing a drip tray with a drain to collect and remove condensation, preventing long-term issues. The video acknowledges that condensation can't be completely avoided but provides steps to minimize its impact.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Condensation is an inevitable part of cold plunges, but there are ways to manage it.
• 🛠️ Building a DIY cold plunge? Check the speaker's website for plans and products to simplify the process.
• 🔧 Insulation is key to reducing condensation; foam spray insulation is recommended for the tank.
• 🧩 For mechanical areas, proper insulation helps manage condensation around plumbing.
• 🌡️ Two types of pipe insulation are mentioned: foam 'pool noodles' and foam wrap.
• 💧 Neoprene covers can be used to limit condensation on filter housings.
• 💨 Adequate ventilation is crucial; at least two large vents are recommended around the chiller.
• 🌀 In extreme cases, exhaust fans can be added to improve airflow and reduce condensation.
• 🗑️ A drip tray is essential to collect condensation and prevent water buildup in the mechanical area.
• 🚰 The drip tray should have a drain to channel the collected water away from the mechanical area.
• 📝 The video encourages viewers to share additional tips for managing condensation in the comments.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is how to limit condensation in a cold plunge, especially in warmer climates or during warmer seasons.

Why is condensation an issue in cold plunges?

Condensation is an issue because it can cause water buildup, which over time may lead to problems with the structure and functionality of the cold plunge.

What is the first step suggested to limit condensation in the video?

The first step suggested is to properly insulate the cold plunge, particularly around the tank, using foam spray insulation.

What type of insulation is recommended for the mechanical area of the cold plunge?

For the mechanical area, the video recommends using foam insulation similar to a 'pool noodle' or foam wrap to insulate the plumbing.

How can condensation on the filter housing be managed according to the video?

The video suggests using a neoprene cover that fits over the filter housing to help limit condensation.

What are the recommended ventilation practices for the mechanical area of a cold plunge?

The video recommends having at least two big vents for proper airflow and, in some cases, adding exhaust fans to help dissipate heat and condensation.

What is the purpose of having a drip tray in the mechanical area of a cold plunge?

The purpose of a drip tray is to collect the condensed water, preventing water buildup in the framing and facilitating drainage away from the mechanical area.

What additional resource is mentioned in the video for building a DIY cold plunge?

The video mentions the speaker's website, which offers several plans and products to assist with building a DIY cold plunge.

What is the speaker's stance on completely eliminating condensation in a cold plunge?

The speaker states that it is impossible to completely eliminate condensation in a cold plunge but suggests steps to limit and manage it effectively.

What is the final recommendation made in the video to further manage condensation?

The final recommendation is to drill a hole in the drip tray, attach tubing, and create a drain for the condensation to flow out and away from the mechanical area.

How can viewers share their own tips or experiences with managing condensation in a cold plunge?

Viewers are encouraged to share their tips or experiences in the comments section of the video.

Outlines

00:00

🌡️ Managing Condensation in Cold Plunges

This paragraph discusses strategies to limit condensation in cold plunges, especially in warmer climates. It acknowledges that condensation is an inevitable part of cold plunge maintenance but suggests several steps to manage it effectively. The speaker recommends using foam break and spray can insulation around the tank and plumbing to reduce condensation. They also suggest using a foam 'pool noodle' or foam wrap to insulate pipes. A neoprene cover for the filter housing is mentioned as a solution for condensation on that component. Proper ventilation with at least two vents around the chiller and possibly an exhaust fan are recommended to improve airflow and reduce condensation. Lastly, a drip tray is suggested to collect and drain the condensation water away from the mechanical area to prevent water buildup and potential issues.

Keywords

💡Condensation

Condensation refers to the process where water vapor in the air turns into liquid water when it cools down. In the context of the video, condensation is a significant issue for cold plunges because it can lead to water accumulation and potential structural problems. The script discusses various methods to limit and manage condensation within a cold plunge setup.

💡Cold Plunge

A cold plunge is a shallow pool or tub filled with cold water, typically used for therapeutic purposes such as reducing inflammation or providing a refreshing experience after exercise. The video's theme revolves around maintaining a cold plunge, particularly addressing the challenge of condensation in different climates.

💡Insulation

Insulation is a material or process that helps in reducing the transfer of heat. In the video, insulation is crucial for limiting condensation by keeping the cold plunge's tank and mechanical area warm, thus reducing the temperature difference that causes condensation. The script mentions using foam and spray can insulation around the tank and pipes.

💡Foam Break

Foam break, or spray foam insulation, is a type of insulation that is sprayed into place and expands to fill gaps and create a barrier against heat transfer. The script describes using foam break to insulate the cold plunge tank, which helps in reducing condensation by minimizing temperature differences.

💡Pipe Insulation

Pipe insulation refers to materials used to wrap around pipes to prevent heat loss or gain, which can also reduce condensation. The video mentions two types of pipe insulation: a foam 'pool noodle' and a foam wrap, both of which are used to manage condensation around plumbing in the cold plunge.

💡Neoprene Cover

A neoprene cover is a type of protective covering made from neoprene, a material known for its insulating properties. In the script, it is mentioned as a solution to limit condensation on the filter housing of a cold plunge by fitting it with a neoprene cover.

💡Ventilation

Ventilation refers to the process of providing fresh air circulation in a space, which can help in reducing condensation by allowing moisture-laden air to escape. The video emphasizes the importance of having vents around the chiller area in a cold plunge setup to improve airflow and efficiency.

💡Exhaust Fans

Exhaust fans are devices that help in removing stale or moist air from an enclosed space. The script mentions using exhaust fans in extreme cases to improve air circulation and reduce condensation in the mechanical area of a cold plunge.

💡Drip Tray

A drip tray is a container designed to catch and collect dripping water. In the context of the video, a drip tray is recommended to be placed under the insulated components of a cold plunge to collect condensation, preventing water buildup and potential structural damage.

💡DIY (Do It Yourself)

DIY stands for 'Do It Yourself,' which refers to the practice of individuals creating, modifying, or repairing things without the help of professionals. The video script offers plans and products for DIY enthusiasts looking to build their own cold plunge, addressing the challenges of condensation management in the process.

💡Chiller

A chiller is a device used to cool a liquid, often water, to a lower temperature than the ambient air. In the script, the chiller is part of the cold plunge system, and proper ventilation around it is recommended to ensure efficient operation and to limit condensation.

Highlights

Video discusses combating condensation in cold plunges, especially in warmer climates.

Recommends DIY cold plunge construction plans and products available on the speaker's website.

Acknowledges that condensation cannot be completely eliminated in cold plunges.

Insulation is key to limiting condensation, with foam spray being a suggested method.

Insulating around the entire tank is crucial, including mechanical areas.

Two types of pipe insulation are suggested: foam pool noodles and foam wrap.

Neoprene covers can be used to limit condensation on filter housings.

Ventilation is important, with at least two big vents recommended around the chiller.

In extreme cases, exhaust fans can be added to improve airflow and reduce condensation.

Proper ventilation helps components work efficiently and limits condensation.

A drip tray is recommended to collect and drain condensation water away from the mechanical area.

Drilling a hole in the drip tray and attaching tubing creates an effective drain for condensation.

Preventing water buildup in framing is essential to avoid long-term issues in the build.

Encourages viewers to share their own methods for battling condensation in the comments.

Provides resources and products on diyoldplunge.com to assist in building a cold plunge.

The video concludes with a reminder that condensation can be managed but not completely avoided.

Transcripts

in complete contrast to my last video

where I talk about winterizing your cold

plunge if you live in a cold climate and

want to keep your cold plunge outside

year round this video is about the

battle against condensation so whether

you live in a climate that's warm some

of the year or you have year round

warmer weather here are some steps that

you can take to limit condensation with

your cold plunge first if you're

interested in building a DIY cold plunge

make sure to check out my website I've

got several plans and products that will

save you both time and frustration

during your build so first right off the

bat I just want to say that you are

never going to completely rid yourself

of condensation with a cold plunge

whether you build one yourself or buy

one it's just part of the game but there

are some things you can do to one limit

the amount of condensation that happens

and two deal with or manage the

condensation that you will have first

I'm going to assume that you've either

followed my plans or have been inspired

by them to build a cold plune for

yourself and one of the key factors

there is insulation the easiest way that

I found to do this on a cold plunge

build is to use the foam beak and spray

can insulation it works great at

eliminating condensation around your

tank and you're going to want to

insulate around your entire tank from

there if you have a mechanical area

that's enclosed the next spot where

condensation is going to happen is in

there and mainly just around the

plumbing and the key for this is again

insulation and there's two types of

insulation that I've used to insulate

pipes the first one is almost like a

foam pool noodle it's got an opening

down the center it's split so you can

peel it apart wrap it around the piping

and seal it up you can cut those to fit

for all of your different pipe lengths

the second type of insulation is this

foam wrap I'll link this below but I've

seen a lot of people use this with

success as well and again you're never

going to get rid of the condensation

completely you're just going to help

mitigate and manage it better from there

I also get comments around condensation

on the filter housing itself and some of

the people in the Facebook group have

found that this neoprene cover fits

perfectly over the filter housing and

also helps limit condensation some other

steps are things to keep in mind is if

you're following my plans I recommend

having at least two big vents around

where your Chiller is you want air flow

to go all the way through those vents in

that mechanical area to help your

components work more efficiently and to

limit that condensation from there in

some extreme cases I've seen people add

exhaust fans just to help air flow

through that mechanical area help dry up

some of the condensation dissipate some

heat and just make everything run more

smoothly and then once you've done all

that your tank is insulated your pipes

are insulated your filter housing is

insulated you have proper ventilation

space and maybe a fan in there the last

thing that you'll want to do or add is a

drip tray this is something that you

would either construct or buy that fits

the entire bottom of your mechanical

area and what that will do is collect

all the water in the drip tray what I

would recommend is drilling a hole in

the bottom of it attaching some tubing

and basically you're making a drain for

all that condensation to flow down to

and out away from your mechanical area

because what we don't want to have

happen is water buildup in your framing

that over time is just going to cause

issues for your build so I hope all of

that helps guys again you're never going

to get away from condensation 100% but

if you follow those steps and do those

things you're going to limit it as much

as possible if there's anything that I

missed or there's things that you guys

are doing to battle condensation make

sure to drop them in the comments below

otherwise check out diyold plunge. I've

got a ton of products and resources to

help you save thousands building a cold

plunge for yourself thank you guys for

watching and we'll see you next time