Chest Freezer as Hot Tub, yes, Hot Tub!

[stu_]

Model Number

FFCL2542AW

Brand

Frigidaire

Age

Less than 1 year

I bought 24.9 cubic foot frigidaire chest freezer to use with a epdm liner as an ice bath in summer, and, un-plugged, as a hot tub in winter (w/ submersible heater). But someone said, "chest freezers don't make good hot tubs."

I don't know why. Will hot tub temperatures damage the coolant or coolant lines?

I fully expect ridicule from you pros, and that's okay I'll promise not to try to convert you to ice baths

Thank you.
Stu_

 

[stu_]

The danger I guess is heating Cyclopentane and making it expand and burst somewhere in the coolant pipe matrix. It's highly flammable to boot.

I just read it vaporizes at 120 degrees F, but I'm not sure at what pressure that refers to. I'd like to know more about that. Hot tubs are 100-102 degrees F.

In winter I could maybe line the interior with foam board insulation and use a epdm plastic sheet on top of top of the foam.

I'd have to be real careful with the submersible heater. Maybe line the floor of the chest freezer with bricks on top of the foam and plastic sheet.

Thoughts? I won't hold you to anything.

 

[Dan O.]

Will hot tub temperatures damage the coolant or coolant lines?

It shouldn't.

The weight of the water and people inside however might damage the freezer structure thereby damaging the refrigerant lines. It is not designed to withstand that amount of weight inside.

I'm not sure the outside will survive either. Most appliances these days are made of pretty flimsy material. It's pretty much 2 layers of tin with foam insulation sandwiched in between. There is no other structure inside to withstand any kind of weight.

The danger I guess is heating Cyclopentane

I have no idea of its specifications.


g/l

Dan O.

 

[stu_]

Thanks Dan O. A lot of people are using chest freezers for cold plunges. eg https://www.facebook.com/groups/chestfreezercoldplunge
They seem to hold up. We'll see and I'll keep in mind how fragile they are on the inside.

Evidently the Cyclopentane vaporizes at 120 degrees F, but I'm not sure at what pressure that refers to. What I've read says it expands when heated and can burst pipes. That's what I'm worried about.

 

[Dan O.]

A lot of people are using chest freezers for cold plunges.

If they're newer freezers I'm surprised they'd last for long but would definitely work as a cooler until it does.

Dan O.

 

[stu_]

They line the inside in various ways to make them waterproof

And 45 to 48 degrees F!!!!!!!!! I may be more 55-58F