Plunge pools occupy an unusual niche in the luxury bathing market. The term itself covers a wide variety of products and designs, and if the customer enquiries we receive are any indication, there is no common consensus about what a plunge pool actually is. The phrase is sometimes used interchangeably with ‘deep soaking tubs’ but there are important distinctions between the two. In this article, we seek to explain the differences.
What Is a Plunge Pool?
In the broadest terms, a plunge pool is a relatively deep pool that is larger than a conventional bath but smaller than a swimming pool. The phrase may refer to an indoor or outdoor installation but, typically, it denotes a pool that is designed for cooling off and relaxing, rather than for swimming or hygiene. Some manufacturers also sell small, barrel-like tubs for use as ice-baths and “cold water immersion therapy” but these constitute a small and specialist minority within the market.
In a home, plunge pools are perhaps most commonly seen as outdoor features in a garden; their smaller dimensions making them suitable for settings where a larger swimming pool would not fit. In such cases, their design and installation follow the same basic principles as for a domestic swimming pool – just on a smaller scale. Total project costs will typically exceed £10,000 and may well be substantially more.
Small indoor plunge pools are also available. These might be installed as an accompaniment to a sauna, enabling users to enjoy the health benefits of a cold plunge after prolonged exposure to heat. Many therapists suggest that a cold plunge offers significant health benefits, including giving a boost to the body’s immune system, enhancing the bather’s mood and, potentially, supporting good mental health.
Hot and Cold Plunge Pools
The use of plunge pools is common to many cultures, both ancient and modern. It is popular in Scandinavia, but it also harks back to the ancient Romans and their enjoyment of a bathing ritual that featured a series of baths/rooms of different temperatures (frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium).
Cold water plunge pools demand relatively little in terms of technical specifications. They need to be easy to clean, and they should obviously be durable and easily accessible. Beyond that, the choice is largely a matter of personal choice and aesthetics. (However, see ‘Plunge Pools and Maintenance’ below.)
Choosing a hot plunge pool, by contrast, requires more care and thought. It will tend to be much more cost effective if it is made of a heat-retentive material; one that will perform reliably at elevated temperatures without discolouring or degrading.
In either case, their larger dimensions mean that plunge pools will take a considerable volume of water to fill. That, in itself can prove costly but especially so if that water also needs to be heated. This begs a question about what the buyer is really looking for in a plunge pool, and whether alternative designs can achieve the same or better outcomes.
Soaking Tubs as Plunge Pools
If what is important to the bather is depth, then a deep soaking tub may be a better and more affordable option. Soaking tubs tend to be much more compact than plunge pools, and well-designed models typically include an in-built seat. Seats not only make the bather more comfortable; they also displace water, making soaking tubs much quicker, easier and cheaper to fill.
Bear in mind that a plunge pool measuring just 1 x 1 x 1 metres will contain a metric tonne of water. That is a sizeable amount, and such a pool could take a long time to fill. That alone may be a disincentive to use it, particularly if it’s a spur-of-the-moment decision. A deep soaking tub, by contrast, takes much less time to fill and uses less water even than an ordinary bath, so it’s likely to see more use overall.
A soaking tub can, of course, be used as a hot or cold plunge pool. It will offer the same opportunity to immerse almost the whole body, and the water will have the same buoyant, relaxing effect.
For hot bathing, it’s important to avoid cheap acrylic soaking tubs because they will quickly lose their heat. That, in turn, could mean frequent refills and escalating utility bills. By contrast, Cabuchon’s soaking tubs are made from Ficore, which keeps water hot over six times longer than acrylic and over twelve times longer than vitreous enamelled metal baths.
Ficore is immensely strong and requires no framework to assemble or install. Its shape will not distort on exposure to heat, nor when subjected to the weight of the water and the bather. It is also easy to clean, colour-stable, highly resistant to most chemicals and far more resistant to damage than most other bath materials.
Indoor and Outdoor Use
Soaking tubs are most commonly installed indoors but they can be used outdoors if they are set within a suitable surround and covered when not in use.
Plunge Pools and Maintenance
In terms of regular maintenance demands, larger plunge pools are usually more akin to swimming pools than to soaking tubs. Outdoors, the water will usually be recirculated through a system of filters and other treatments to keep it clean and safe, rather than being routinely drained and replenished. This, of course, saves water but it also entails the near-constant use of electrical power and consumables. Smaller indoor plunge pools might be maintained in a similar way or, if they are unlikely to be used for an extended period, they may be emptied and refilled as required.
Pictured: a deep soaking tub installed outdoors, on a hotel room terrace.
Are Plunge Pools Dangerous?
When properly used, plunge pools are not inherently dangerous. However, some people may wish to avoid sudden exposure to extremes of temperature. Health professionals note that immersion in cold water can cause a rapid increase in heart rate, blood pressure and the rate of breathing. This “cold shock response” is not in itself harmful but it can put the cardiovascular system under stress and so it is not recommended for people with heart or respiratory conditions.
Otherwise, plunge pools are generally safe, although if they are normally kept filled, they will present similar risks to swimming pools. Like a swimming pool, a plunge pool may present a drowning hazard for small children and some pets, and if it’s installed at floor level, as most swimming pools are, it may also present a trip hazard.
Cold-shock risks will occur whenever a bather chooses a cold plunge. However, a soaking tub may be safer in other respects. Like a cold-water plunge pool, it will afford the same option to bathe while almost completely submerged in water but, thanks to its compact size (and in many cases, an in-built seat) risks of drowning will be negligible. Leaving the tub will also tend to be much easier. Moreover, as with a conventional bath, a soaking tub presents no special trip hazard unless the user specifically chooses to have it set down into a deck.
Versatility and Value
Plunge pools certainly make a striking design statement and some homeowners may choose one on that basis alone. They speak of leisure, luxury and relaxation, and in an appropriate setting, they can be very impressive. However, they typically require a substantial investment as well as a significant amount of floor space in the home or garden. Consequently, for many prospective buyers, there will be a question of value; in other words, how often they are likely to be used.
In a hotel or health spa, frequent use is all but guaranteed, but in an ordinary domestic setting, perhaps less so. More utility is likely to be gained from a bath that offers the same experience as a plunge pool but which can also be used for other purposes. Those could include conventional cleansing, coupled with the optional additional therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy.
A good soaking tub can be fitted with a bespoke hydrotherapy system to create a fully functional spa bath tub. Once again, such a feature might sit very well alongside a home sauna. It could still be used either as a hot or cold plunge pool but, at other times, it could also serve as a family bath or provide a luxurious spa bath experience.
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