Bagged ice: about $6,006/year.
Chiller: about $1,800 in year one and $300/year thereafter.
This simple comparison excludes financing, repair risk, water cost, labor, residual value and the difference between fresh cooldowns and maintaining already-cold water.
How the comparison works
The calculator first applies the same ice heat-balance formula used in the ice calculator. It rounds up to whole 10-lb bags, multiplies by weekly fresh cooldowns and compares that annual cost with chiller ownership.
If annual chiller operating cost is greater than annual ice cost, this simple model reports no operating-cost payback. Convenience, repeatability and water temperature stability are separate considerations.
Static annual comparison
Assumes 11 ten-pound bags per fresh cooldown at $3.50/bag, a $1,500 chiller setup and $300/year ongoing chiller cost.
| Fresh cooldowns | Bagged ice / year | Chiller year one | Chiller later years | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/week | $2,002 | $1,800 | $300 | 0.9 years |
| 3/week | $6,006 | $1,800 | $300 | 0.3 years |
| 5/week | $10,010 | $1,800 | $300 | 0.2 years |
| 7/week | $14,014 | $1,800 | $300 | 0.1 years |
When ice can still make sense
Ice can be rational for occasional use, temporary travel setups, owners who receive ice free or unusually cheaply, and people unwilling to commit to equipment. A chiller usually gains economic ground as session frequency, local ice prices or water volume rise.
The key distinction: fresh cooldown versus maintenance
The ice side assumes the tub starts warm for every counted session. Many chiller owners instead cool once and maintain the water continuously. Do not compare a one-time ice cooldown with only one day of chiller electricity; compare the full pattern you will actually use.