Cold Plunge Filter Cartridge: Stainless Steel Vs. Paper – What’s the Difference?

To make ice baths bring more health benefits to people, keeping the water clean becomes a top priority. Cold plunge filters play an important role in filtering impurities such as stone particles, insects, and paper scraps from the water. As a manufacturer with many years of ice bath chiller production experience, we will talk about COLDCHILLER‘s cold plunge filters in detail: stainless steel filter cartriage and paper filter cartriage. Read on to learn more about the differences between the two cold plunge filters.

Stainless Steel Filter Cartridge Vs. Paper Filter Cartridge: Which One Is Better for Your Cold Plunge Chiller?

Which cold plunge filter is better, stainless steel filter cartridge or paper filter cartridge? Here, we will make a detailed comparison between the two to help outdoor sports teams, hotels, and gyms choose the product that is more suitable for their cold plunge.

We will discuss the aspects of material and structure size, filtration effect and efficiency, cost, maintenance methods and service life.

Size, Material, Structure

The paper filter cartridge is 250mm long, 28mm inner diameter, 68mm outer diameter. And the stainless steel filter cartridge is 254mm long, 30mm inner diameter, 62 outer diameter.


The stainless steel filter cartridge is mainly made of 304 stainless steel woven mesh, with multiple layers of metal mesh stacked to form a porous structure to achieve a good filtering effect.
The paper filter cartridge is mainly composed of polyester fiber, and uses a folded structure to form a precise filter.

Filtering Effects

Our stainless steel filter element has a mesh rating of around 100 mesh, with a filtration precision of up to 165 microns. It can effectively filter out tissues, leaves, and large particles such as sand, metal shavings, welding slag, algae, and other debris.

In contrast, paper filter elements feature a fine fiber structure with a filtration precision of up to 5 microns, capable of capturing tiny dust, dirt particles, and other fine impurities, enabling more refined filtration. Relatively speaking, the paper filter cartridge filters more cleanly and is suitable for cold plunge systems with high water quality requirements.

Filtration Efficiency

The paper filter cartridge adopts a folded structure, with 120 folds inside, which has a larger filtration area and higher filtration efficiency.

In contrast, the stainless steel filter cartridge uses a flat stainless steel filter mesh, with a smaller filtration area and relatively slower filtration efficiency.

Cost

The initial cost of the stainless steel filter cores is higher, but in the long run, it is more economical. The initial cost of paper cores is lower, but they are not as durable as stainless steel cores and need to be replaced frequently.

Maintenance Methods and Service Life

The stainless steel filter cartridge has a stable structure and can remain stable in a corrosive environment. It can be disassembled and cleaned and reused repeatedly, which is suitable for long-term use. However, due to the large pore size of stainless steel filter elements, they are easily clogged by foreign matter such as hair and require regular maintenance.
The paper filter cartridge is mainly composed of polyester fibers and is difficult to clean. Generally, the filter element needs to be replaced when it becomes dirty.

How to Choose the Right Cold Plunge Chiller Filter According to Your Needs?

Whether it is a home ice bath or a commercial cold plunge in a gym, rehabilitation center, spa, etc., a filter is needed, so how to choose the right cold plunge filter for you? COLDCHILER provides you with detailed solutions below to help you make a choice.

Budget

Paper filter cartridges are cheaper per unit, but the long-term costs can be higher due to frequent replacements. Stainless steel filter cartridges have a higher upfront cost but do not need to be replaced as often. If you have sufficient budget, you may consider buying paper filter cartridges in bulk. The filter elements provided by COLDCHILLER are strong and durable, and there are discounts for bulk purchases.

Usage Frequency

Stainless steel filter cartridges require less frequent replacement, making them ideal for high-frequency use and helping to reduce maintenance costs over time. For budget-conscious commercial facilities, stainless steel cartridges are a smart choice. If your cold plunge is used occasionally, we recommend paper filter cartridges. Paper filters are more effective at capturing finer particles, making them suitable for DIY cold plunges at home.

Filtration Performance

Paper filter cartridges filter cleaner and more efficiently than stainless steel filter cartridges.
If you prioritize clean and hygienic water and seek high-precision filtration for a premium cold plunge experience, paper filter cartridges will meet your needs perfectly.

Application Scenarios

For commercial cold plunge use, such as in gyms or spas with multiple users, stainless steel filter cartridges are a great option. They help lower initial operating costs and reduce time and money spent on maintenance. For home cold plunges, paper filter cartridges offer superior filtration performance and help maintain better water quality, making them an excellent choice.

Cold Plunge Chiller and Filter Maintenance Guide to Extend Service Life

Proper filter maintenance helps remove impurities from the water, ensures clean water quality, extends the service life of the filter, and reduces the risk of equipment malfunctions.

• Regularly check whether the filter is clogged. How can you tell if a filter is clogged? Signs include reduced filtration efficiency, slower water inflow or outflow, a darkened or blackened filter element, unusual odors from the filter, or visible debris in the ice bath tub. If any of these symptoms appear, the filter should be cleaned or replaced.
• Clean the filter element regularly. Periodic cleaning of the filter can effectively prevent clogging and ensure the refrigeration unit operates smoothly.
• Promptly remove leaves, tissues, insects, and other debris from the ice bath tub to prevent them from entering and clogging the filter.

Ice Bath Chiller Manufacturers Recommend: How Often Do Cold Plunge Filter Need to Be Replaced?

The frequency of cold plunge filter element replacement depends on the frequency of use and water quality.

Paper core: Usually it needs to be replaced after 10-15 ice baths. Otherwise, impurities will clog the water chiller for cold plunge, which will affect the refrigeration efficiency and service life of the chiller. The specific situation depends on your frequency of use and water quality.
Stainless steel core: Stainless steel filter cartridges do not need to be replaced frequently, just clean them regularly. Usually it needs to be cleaned after 10-15 ice baths. Usually, the filter needs to be replaced after 10-15 uses. If you are a commercial user, we recommend that you clean the filter frequently. If your gym or spa has a large customer flow, you need to clean it every day.

Regular maintenance of the filter helps keep the water path unobstructed, improves refrigeration efficiency, extends the service life of the cold plunge pump and water chiller for cold plunge, and reduces the occurrence of malfunctions.

Common Causes and Solutions for Cold Plunge Chiller Filter Clogging

Filter clogging is a common issue in refrigeration units. Leaves, paper scraps, tissues, insects, and solid debris (such as sand, stones, and dust particles) can accumulate in the filter, leading to blockages. The buildup of scale on the filter element surface is also a common cause of clogging.

A clogged cold plunge filter can slow down water flow or even block the water circuit entirely. This affects the chiller’s cooling efficiency and the normal operation of the water pump. It is one of the main causes of E02(Troubleshooting Water Flow Fault of the Cold Plunge Cooler) and E07(No Water Flow Fault in the Chiller for Cold Plunge) error codes in chillers.

How to Resolve It? COLDCHILLER recommends cleaning or replacing the filter.
Here are the detailed steps:

① Use the wrench provided with the unit or unscrew the filter by hand.
Note: Some water may flow out at this stage — this is normal. If you wish to stop the water flow, you can block the inlet and outlet of the ice bath tub to prevent water from entering the filter through the pipes.

② Remove the old filter cartridge and clean it. After cleaning, place the cartridge back into the filter housing. If it is a paper filter cartridge, simply insert a new one into the housing.

③ To ensure proper machine operation, you may fill the filter housing with water before reinstalling it.

④ Screw the filter back into place. Make sure it is tightened securely to avoid leaks.

The cold plunge filter is an essential component of the chiller system and a key tool for keeping your ice bath clean.
COLDCHILLER offers both stainless steel and paper filter cartridge options, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your needs.

If your priority is machine stability or water cleanliness, we recommend using a paper filter cartridge.
If you’re looking to reduce long-term costs, a stainless steel filter cartridge is the better choice.

Where can you buy cold plunge filter cartridges? Choose a professional chiller manufacturer like COLDCHILLER to purchase filter cartridges that are perfectly matched to your chiller system.

If you’re looking to purchase filter cartridges for your gym, spa, or recovery center, feel free to contact us.
Bulk purchases are eligible for additional discounts.