Can I flood my rink at night?
If you have a floodlit rink you can see for yourself under the lights at night, without even skating on it. That's why our FloodMaster is such a popular item. So try a test flooding with both hot and cold water on your rink.
Can I see under the lights of my floodlit rink?
If you have a floodlit rink you can see for yourself under the lights at night, without even skating on it. That's why our FloodMaster is such a popular item. So try a test flooding with both hot and cold water on your rink. See if you can tell the difference and let us know!
Is it time to think backyard rink and rinkmaster?
It's time to start thinking backyard rink and RinkMaster. Our minds turn to all things winter, and the age-old question of the value of a hot-water rink flood comes to mind. Here are our thoughts on the matter
Do you use hot or cold water for floods?
We've used both hot and cold water for floods here at RinkMaster for many years. Because the question arises continually, and we periodically want to validate what we have learned. And that is, there is no noticeable difference. Hot water is usually viewed as preferred for flooding, because that's what we all see in arenas across the country.
What is the best temperature to flood an outdoor rink?
Take care of your ice The ideal temperature to flood your ice is between -7 and -20 degrees Celsius. If you try to flood your rink when it's below -20 degrees, the ice will be brittle and freeze before it has a chance to level out.
How long does it take for an ice rink to freeze after a flood?
– The go to number is a minimum of 4″ (10cm). When should I fill? Most backyarders will tell you not to fill too soon before the hard below freezing temperatures are forecasted. The rule of thumb among backyard rinkers is to have 3 or more days with highs below freezing.
At what temperature can you skate on ice?
A temperature of 17 to 23 degrees F is considered good “hard hockey ice,” while 24 to 29 degrees F is considered good “soft figure skating ice.” Harder ice allows for faster skating and smoother, less snowy playing surface making the puck slide much easier as well.
Can you resurface ice with cold water?
If you are resurfacing, anything between -10 C (14F) to -15 C (5F) is the best range. Any colder than -23 C (-10F) and water will freeze so fast that the layer created may not bond well with the ice below. Plus it is hard to get a perfectly smooth surface at that temp.
How long does it take for 4 inches of ice to freeze?
Ice may form quickly when temperatures tumble, but it takes more time than you might think for ice to reach the four-inch thickness that experts recommend. On average, it takes four days of below freezing temperatures to form ice that is safe. Also, this guideline is for ponds and lakes.
How long does it take for 8 inches of water to freeze?
It takes a minimum of 72 hours at -10 C for 8 inches of water to completely freeze.
Can you skate over freezing?
Sources such as the Canadian Red Cross say that for ice to be considered safe to go out on, it should be of a particular thickness — at least 15 centimetres thick for a person to walk or skate on it, or 20 cm thick for a group of people, and at least 25 cm thick for snowmobiling.
How thick should Pond ice be to skate?
5 inches thickIf you do plan to venture out onto the ice this winter, Bouchard's guidelines include ensuring that ice on ponds and lakes is least 5 inches thick for fishing, skating and walking, and at least 8 inches thick for travel by snowmobiles and off-road vehicles.
How do you know if a pond is safe to skate on?
When the ice is two inches (or less) in thickness, don't leave the shore. Three inches is your bare minimum for ice thickness. Four inches (or more) is recommended for walking, skating and ice fishing on foot. Five inches (and thicker) is generally safe for ATVs and snowmobiles.
Is it better to flood a rink with hot or cold water?
Hot water is usually viewed as preferred for flooding, because that's what we all see in arenas across the country. The reason is that hot water contains less dissolved oxygen, or micro air bubbles, which aids with a harder ice surface.
Can you flood a rink when it's snowing?
Shariff says you should never flood during a cold snap because it produces brittle ice that easily cracks. If that does happen, Shariff says you just need to wait until the temperature rises. Then fill the cracks immediately with a mixture of of water and snow and give your rink a warm water bath to smooth things out.
How long does it take to flood a backyard rink?
A – The first time you set up the backyard rink and get it ready to fill up with water it will take an average of 1 to 3 hours on “level” ground .
When should I flood my ice rink?
I prefer flooding my backyard ice rink when the weather is at least (almost) -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) and when it is not snowing and not windy.
How often should I flood my rink?
By flooding rink with water, you can build the ice depth during the early months of the winter season. I try to flood my rink a minimum of twice per week. I always plan my flooding around weather conditions and temperatures that are appropriate for rink flooding. Flooding your rink on nights when the weather ...
Why is ice not suitable for skating?
Ice that is only frozen on top is not suitable for skating, since the shell breaks when weight is applied on it. You need to make sure your ice is completely frozen before re-flooding your ice rink.
How Cold Does It Have to Be Before You Set Up Your Ice Rink?
The best time to set up your ice rink is when the temperature drops to 32°F. However, remember that once you’ve filled up the rink, it isn’t ready to skate on yet. There are several factors that you need to consider before you can skate on your ice rink, such as the:
How Thick Does the Ice Have to Be to Skate On?
The ice should at least be 4 inches thick before you skate on it. Although, you still have to determine the deepest slope of your rink to ensure that you have stable ice. For example, if you have an 8-inch slope on your ice rink, you’ll have deep water of around 12 inches.
When Should You Set Up Your Ice Rink?
The best time to set up your ice rink is weeks before the temperatures drop to freezing. There are two reasons for this.
When Should You Fill Your Ice Rink?
When to fill your ice rink depends on your location and local weather. Installing brackets and sideboards weeks before the temperatures start dropping continuously is ideal to ensure that the grass stays dormant. After this, you would want to lay out the liner so that the boards would “freeze in.”
Does Your Yard Have to Be Leveled for an Ice Rink?
No, your yard doesn’t have to be leveled for you to build an ice rink. You’ll never find a perfectly flat yard, which is why you’ll have to prepare a few things first to ensure that you can get a flat ice rink. One of the things you’ll have to do is measure the slope of your yard.
Should You Fill the Rink All at Once or Per Ice Layer?
You can do it both ways. However, you should consider the item that you’re using to build your rink before you actually do it.
Conclusion
Making sure that you have the best weather conditions for filling up your ice rink is crucial to ensure that you have solid ice. If you’re using a liner on your rink, you must fill it up all at once to avoid any tears and holes.