Freezing Temps? A De-icer Can Help Protect Your Pond
The winter season is here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t utilize and enjoy your waterbody. If you live in a region that experiences freezing temperatures, it’s worth considering a de-icer to help protect docks and fountain equipment, and keep water open for increased winter safety and oxygenation benefits. Never heard of a de-icer? Below are some common uses.
Shallow Water De-icing
A de-icer helps prevent pond ice formation throughout the winter by bringing warmer, denser water from the bottom of a waterbody upward to the surface. By positioning a de-icer near the area of greatest depth and mounting it to angle back toward the targeted areas of your waterbody, you can successfully circulate the warmer water in to shallower areas. To do this in tidal waters, you will need to split the difference in water depth, so the de-icer is in shallow water at low tide and deep water at high tide. Another option is to tie your de-icer to a boat or floating dock and allow the boat/dock and de-icer to rise and fall with the tide.
Dock & Pier and Shoreline De-icing
When de-icing a dock or pier, you can place the de-icer at an angle forcing the water back toward the shoreline. If the water flow is directed toward the shore or a retaining wall, it will flair, forming a desirable “T” shape de-icing pattern. This flair will extend the total area of open water and provide an ample area of open water around the dock or pier. If shoreline de-icing is not desired, vertical installation is best and a curtain can be installed into the water to prevent flow beyond a given point, as desired.
Boat De-icing
It is often easier to prevent ice formation around a boat by installing the de-icer at or near the bow, angled toward the stern. For large boats, it may take multiple units to properly de-ice the area, but following the natural contouring of the boat hull will provide the most effective results. De-icers can often be hung from cleats and suspended under the hull. For extremely wide hulls, you may need to suspend units off either side. Depending on the depth, diffusers can also be installed directly under the hull, on the bottom.
Curious if a de-icer is the right solution for your waterbody? Contact your lake management professional.
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SOLitude Lake Management is a nationwide environmental firm committed to providing sustainable solutions that improve water quality, enhance beauty, preserve natural resources and reduce our environmental footprint. SOLitude’s team of aquatic resource management professionals specializes in the development and execution of customized lake, pond, wetland and fisheries management programs that include water quality testing and restoration, nutrient remediation, algae and aquatic weed control, installation and maintenance of fountains and aeration systems, bathymetry, shoreline erosion restoration, mechanical harvesting and hydro-raking, lake vegetation studies, biological assessments, habitat evaluations, and invasive species management. Services and educational resources are available to clients nationwide, including homeowners associations, multi-family and apartment communities, golf courses, commercial developments, ranches, private landowners, reservoirs, recreational and public lakes, municipalities, drinking water authorities, parks, and state and federal agencies. SOLitude Lake Management is a proud member of the Rentokil Steritech family of companies in North America.