Is an ice bath a headache for business to own?

Horror stories about ice bath ownership in gyms and wellness spaces are sadly becoming more common. But the truth is, most problems stem from one critical mistake made on day one. Buying the wrong ice bath for your business. 

You've heard it all. Ice baths that break down constantly. Systems that can't maintain temperature. Filtration that fails, creating big water hygiene issues. Maintenance time and costs spiralling out of control. 

It's enough to put anyone off.
But here's what those stories don't tell you: every single story traces back to the same root cause - buying the wrong ice bath at the start.

The Harsh Reality of Cheaper Ice Baths
The market is flooded with residential ice baths masquerading as commercial solutions. They look similar. They cost significantly less. And they promise the same results. Some are even labelled as ‘commercial’, but their engine and filtration power is far from it. Dishonest information about how many users the bath’s are built to cope with per day is causing big issues for businesses. We’ve even seen resellers selling residential ice baths as commercial models, leaving businesses high and dry with no aftercare to turn to.  

They just want a sale.
Residential units are not engineered for commercial demands. Typically, a residential ice bath is designed for a family to use. When you put 20-50 people (of varying cleanliness) through a home ice bath daily, it will fail spectacularly and expensively. It’s far too easy for brands to tell you what you want to hear in order to generate a sale. Call us old fashioned, but we do things properly. Because it’s the right thing to do. We have a strong moral compass. Because we’re in this for the long term benefits for people and businesses all over the world. Not to make a ‘quick buck’. 

The 5 Critical Failures

1. Filtration That Can't Cope

Residential systems use basic filtration designed for one household’s use a few times a week. In a commercial setting with 10’s of daily users, they become breeding grounds for bacteria.

The real cost: 

• Ineffective filtration, visibly dirty water 

• Increased risk of member infection e.g. Swimmers Ear (acute otitis externa)

• Ice bath regularly out of use losing revenue

• Reputation damage that takes time to repair

2. Temperature Systems That Fail

Home ice baths (even when labelled as commercial) cannot maintain consistent low temperatures under use they’re not built for. They'll hit 10°C on a good day, nowhere near the 0-8°C needed to achieve the mental and physical benefits.

What happens:

• Members complain about ineffective sessions

• Cancellations and membership downgrades

• Increased technician callouts (additional costs)

• Complete system replacement within 12 months
  

3. Components That Can't Handle the Load

Residential systems use domestic-grade filters, pumps, chillers, and controls. Under commercial pressure, they fail quickly.

The spiral:

• Initial breakdown after 3-6 weeks (though often less)

• Repeated "fixes" every other week that never hold

• Frustrated members

• Eventually, complete system replacement
  

4. Zero Professional Support

Residential suppliers don't understand commercial operations. When problems arise, you're on your own. 

Reality check:

• No 24/7 remote monitoring = zero visibility of the problem until technician is present

• No over-the-phone support or technicians on hand to help when needed 

• No professional maintenance programmes available

• No compliance guidance

5. False Economy That Costs More

For example, a £6,000 residential system looks attractive compared to £17,000 commercial unit. Until you factor in:

• Monthly repair and callout costs

• Lost revenue during breakdowns

• Complete replacement when inefficiency outweighs any benefit

The Hidden Hygiene Costs
Poor filtration isn't just inconvenient, it's dangerous. Cold water doesn't kill bacteria; it just slows reproduction. Without proper commercial-grade filtration and sanitisation, bacterial risks include; E. coli, Pseudomonas (hot tub rash) and Legionella in warmer conditions.

Engineering Peace of Mind: The PWTAG Difference

At Brass Monkey, we don't just sell ice baths, we engineer complete water treatment systems that exceed commercial standards.

Our systems are PWTAG certified, the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group's gold standard for commercial water treatment. This isn't marketing fluff, it's the certification that insurance companies, environmental health, and legal teams recognise. 

What PWTAG certification means:

• Multi-stage commercial filtration

• Automated sanitisation systems

• Water quality monitoring features

• Advice on user hygiene (showers)

• Full compliance documentation

Brass Monkey: Built for Commercial Reality

Every component in our systems is commercial-grade:

Brass Monkey has different levels of commercial grade filtration systems built for different types of venues and membership volumes. So, when it comes to filtration and water chilling. They’re engineered to perform with transparent guidance on user load recommendations. 

The names of our commercial ice bath ranges marks the difference in userload capacity e.g. Pro and Spa. However, if you are a gym with a high userload (e.g. 100+ users per day), a Spa range model would be better suited to your needs to ensure filtration and chilling power can perform to the high Brass Monkey standard. 

The Pro Filtration system for up to 75 people per day:

• Water skimmer

• Particle Filter 

• UV light killing pathogens in the water

• Automated Water testing and dosing. Measuring ORP and pH and dosing to reach target set points

The Spa Filtration system – for up to 400 people per day:

• Water skimmer

• Large Media filtration (allowing for up to 400 users per day)

• Large UV light killing pathogens in the water

• Automated Water testing and dosing. Measuring ORP and pH and dosing to reach target set points

Pro / Spa Cooling systems:

• Commercial-grade chillers

• Cooling rate of 7 °C per hour for Spa and 4 °C for Pro

• Both available with ice generation to reach 0°C

Control systems:

• Set temperatures via the Brass Monkey app

• Automated software updates

• Error monitoring, notifications & remote fixes

• Smart Eco Schedule for convenience and energy savings

• Performance data from every bath fuels software optimisation, benefiting all customers around the globe
  

ProCare: The Support No One Else Offers

We don't just install and disappear. Our ProCare support service ensures your investment keeps delivering. Because post-sales care isn’t an afterthought. It’s built into the technology of your ice bath.

From the moment it’s installed, your ice bath is connected to a team of experts monitoring its performance from 30 data points, 24/7. From cooling rate to water flow, we can see what’s happening in real time. So if ever there’s an issue, we’ll know and we can solve it, often remotely.

That’s just one element of ProCare, our one-of-a-kind care package that comes with every purchase.

We don’t bolt it on as an extra or make you pay more; it’s just good quality customer service, included as standard.

ProCare:

• Same-day support response – Get in touch with the team and the people who built your bath will be there to help. 

• Remote monitoring and updates – Real time data allows us to track how your bath is performing and we can update software remotely to keep it running smoothly

• Employee onboarding – Training for the people who’ll maintain it and use it with their clients to Maximise your investment and your customer experience

• 1-Year warranty on all parts – Because that’s the right thing to do

With Brass Monkey, you get a world-class ice bath built for business, and backed by ProCare, ensuring your investment is protected, reliable, and always ready when you are.

What's Actually Involved in Brass Monkey Maintenance?

The Right Choice vs. The Wrong Choice: A Maintenance Reality Check

Buying the right ice bath means 10 minutes of daily maintenance. A visual check and basic filter cleaning and water testing. Your staff can focus on members, not equipment problems. The system runs predictably, water stays clean for 3-day cycles, and breakdowns are virtually non-existent. When issues do arise, they're often detected and resolved remotely before impacting your operation. When needed, support over the phone or in person is provided. 

Buy the wrong system and ice bath maintenance becomes your biggest operational headache. Expect up to 2+ hours daily managing water hygiene, manual refills, and emergency repairs that shut down your service with little warning. Staff spend more time troubleshooting equipment than serving members. Within weeks, you're dealing with failing components, filtration systems that can’t cope, and mounting repair bills that quickly exceed the cost of buying right the first time.

The importance of showers

Whatever ice bath you buy, itis essential that users shower before they dip. Sweat and dirt from the body must be removed to ensure the bath can perform well. When users go straight from the sauna into the ice bath, are sweaty from a work out or roll out of bed and arrive at your facility without a shower, their bacteria is being added to the water and shared with other members. Userload capacity become less predictable if users do not shower and will increase maintenance required. 

The Pro Maintenance in a nutshell

• Daily: Test water quality, remove debris clean/replace particle filter (based on usage and pre-dip hygiene).

• Every other day: Clean and replace particle filter.  Depending on usage and hygiene, this may need to be done daily or every few days. It's essential that users shower before getting in.

• Weekly: Check and balance water, replace water as needed.

• Monthly: Biological water testing by certified lab, system flush and drain.

• Quarterly: Deep clean.

• Every 6 months: Replace UV light bulb.

• Every 12 months: Recalibrate chemical sensor

The Spa Maintenance

• Daily: Water quality testing throughout the day, debris removal, top up water if required

• Every 4 days: Flush media filter

• Weekly: Full drain & refill, Water balancing testing

• Monthly: Biological water testing by qualified laboratory

• Annually: Replace UV bulb

• Please Note: Volumes of microdoser solution should be adjusted based on userload to maintain water safety

The Choice Is Clear

You can buy cheap and pay twice (or three times), dealing with constant problems, member complaints, and business risk.

Or you can buy right first time.

Our systems cost more initially because they're engineered for your success. Every component, every process, every support structure is designed to ensure your ice bath enhances your business rather than becoming a burden.

The Bottom Line

Ice bath ownership isn't a headache when you choose the right partner. The problems you've heard about? They're entirely avoidable with proper commercial equipment and professional support.

Your members deserve better than a temperamental residential unit masquerading as commercial equipment. Your business deserves the security of a properly engineered system.

Ready to invest in peace of mind?

Book a consultation with our team. We'll show you exactly why leading facilities choose Brass Monkey systems, and how we eliminate the problems that plague inferior equipment.

Because in business, buying right first time isn't expensive, but buying wrong is.

Get in touch and speak with one of our experts now.