Guide · Cold plunges

What does a cold plunge chiller cost to run?

It depends on how many watts the chiller actually draws, how many hours it runs each day and what your utility charges per kilowatt-hour. Canuck Cold Plunges does not publish a daily kWh figure, so this guide gives you the formula and a calculator, and shows you how to measure the real number.

The formula

Cost per day = average kilowatts drawn × hours the chiller runs per day × your price per kWh.

Your price per kWh is on your electricity bill. It varies a lot by place and utility, so we don't quote an average.

What Canuck publishes

A Pro 1 HP chiller holding water from 37 to 104°F.
Power: a standard 120V plug with Class A GFCI protection.
Listed capacity figures of 2,730 W for cooling and 3,605 W for heating.

From Canuck Cold Plunges product pages, read October 16, 2026. Specs can change.

Why you can't use those wattage figures directly

A standard 120V outlet on a 15A circuit can supply at most about 1,800 W, and a 20A circuit about 2,400 W (our arithmetic: volts × amps). The listed 2,730 W and 3,605 W are above both, so they are probably capacity ratings for cooling and heating, not the electricity the unit pulls from the wall. Canuck does not say. We cannot confirm the actual draw, so do not use those figures as watts in the formula.

How to find your real number

Ask Canuck for the chiller's rated input watts or amps while cooling, and its typical energy use per day.
Or plug the chiller into a plug-in power meter and note the watts while it is cooling, and how often it cycles on over a day. Have an electrician confirm the outlet is suitable for outdoor use.
Enter the average watts and hours into the calculator below.

Try your own numbers

Average chiller draw while running (watts) Hours it runs per day Your price per kWh ($) The starting values are placeholders to show the arithmetic, not Canuck's figures. Replace them with measured or manufacturer numbers.

What changes the hours

Setpoint. A colder setpoint means more cooling work. Canuck lists 37 to 104°F.
Where it sits. Indoors, outdoors, in sun or shade will change how much heat the water picks up. We have no verified figures.
Cover and insulation. A well-fitted cover and an insulated tub reduce heat gain.
Heating mode. If you use the chiller to heat the water like a hot tub, heating uses power too.

What we could not confirm. The chiller's actual electrical draw, its daily energy use, how often it cycles, and whether the listed 2,730 W and 3,605 W are input power or capacity. Ask Canuck before relying on any estimate.

Health note. Cold water immersion isn't right for everyone. If you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or another health concern, talk to your doctor before you start.

See the cold plunge bundles

Also read what a home cold plunge needs and cold plunge vs ice bath.

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