Chiller is circulating water but is not coolingUpdated 2 months ago
50°F is the temperature most commonly recommended by athletes, recovery experts, medical professionals and ourselves for cold plunging. It strikes the ideal balance cold enough to activate the full benefits (like reduced inflammation, faster recovery, and increased circulation), while still being safe for most users. That being said, to get your chiller down to even colder levels, we have a meticulous process for you to achieve the desired result.
First, it’s important to note that depending on the ambient temperature, water volume, and ventilation, the chiller can take anywhere from 8 to 16 hours to reach your desired set temperature especially on the initial cool-down from tap water. This is normal for our system, particularly when starting with warmer water or if the unit is placed in a warm or enclosed area. It's designed to run 24/7 so once a cool temperature is reached it will remain there.
Also, our chillers are designed to reach as low as 41°F in ambient temperatures between 80–85°F, as specified on our website. However, in higher ambient temperatures (such as 85°F+), the chiller may not be able to cool the water quite as much this is completely normal and expected due to environmental limitations. Any temperature under 59°F makes for an excellent plunge. But we will of course help you get the temp down to as low as possible. I just kindly ask to level expectations when the environment is hot/humid.
Additionally, there is a built-in +/- 5°F range setting on the chiller that helps protect the longevity of the unit. This means the chiller automatically cycles off once it reaches the low 40s, which can sometimes appear as though it's not cooling further.
Here are a few quick steps to ensure optimal performance:
Cooling Troubleshooting Steps
- For Instant Results - Water Volume: Decreasing the amount of water in your tub to the least amount necessary for a proper plunge will always help achieve lower temperatures - oftentimes significantly. I RECOMMEND THIS THE MOST FOR INSTANT RESULTS!!!!!
- Airflow: Ensure there are at least 6–12 inches of clearance on all sides of the chiller so it can properly ventilate. A lack of airflow can significantly slow cooling.
- Water Temperature Start Point: If the water starts out warm (above 70°F), please allow a full 12–16 hours for the chiller to bring the temperature down, especially if targeting 40–50°F.
- Pump Circulation: Make sure the pump is running continuously and that water is flowing freely through the chiller. Any blockages or disconnected hoses will prevent the cold water from circulating back into the tub.
- Settings Check: Double-check that the temperature setpoint is where you'd like it to be and is actively cooling (you shouldi feel warm air coming from the rear fan).
- Ambient Environment: If the chiller is in direct sunlight or in a very hot garage or shed, we recommend relocating it to a cooler or shaded spot to boost efficiency.
If you have a PRO chiller please make sure you have connected the IOS or Android Polar Dive app. Oftentimes making this connection to the chiller's hardware and then setting the temperature to 36°F on the app can do the trick.
After completing the above: To get your chiller back into action, please set the temperature to 50°F and let it run for about 3–5 hours. After that, try lowering it to 36°F and observe how the unit responds. Sometimes, this slower adjustment allows the compressor to ease into lower temps more effectively. If that doesn’t help, the next step would be to lower the F01 setting from 3 down to 2 or even 1 to increase how often the chiller activates. That usually helps in holding the temperature more steadily. Please give the above a chance and let me know how it goes. I'm here with you every step of the way and we’ll get this figured out together!
If you’ve gone through this checklist and the chiller is still not reaching your desired temperature after a full cooling cycle, please let us know. We’ll be happy to continue troubleshooting or even send you some additional cooling tools to make things right. We're in the business of chilling and are almost 100% of the time able to cool our wonderful customers down to proper levels.
Thank you again for your patience and for being a Polar Dive customer. We’re committed to getting you back in the cold ASAP!