FAQ: How To Maintain An Outdoor Ice Rink?

How do you keep an outdoor ice rink frozen?

To keep the ice cold enough for skaters, the rink uses a minus-5-degree chiller, which is essentially a very large refrigerator that runs for 24 hours a day. “It’s the machine that keeps the ice frozen,” said Rachel Radawec, placemaking and community engagement manager for the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

How often should you flood an outdoor rink?

Your ice base is the most important part of making ice. I find 3 to 4 consecutive nights where the temperature is ideal (this is where weather.com forecasting helps!) and I flood my rink with almost 1/2 to 1 inch of water every night for 3 consecutive nights.

Should I shovel snow off my ice rink?

Keep the Backyard Ice Rink Clear You’ll get some snow over the winter months, but do your best to keep the DIY ice rink cleared as snow acts as an insulator and will quickly stick to the ice. And when the snow falls, shovel often.

Can ice be too cold to skate on?

The ice temperature can definitely affect how the ice feels under your skates – soft or hard. An ice rink that caters to figure skating will usually have ice that is considered softer with an on-ice temperature of 25 to 29 degrees. It is possible to have ice that is too hard and cold.

Why do they put hot water on ice rinks?

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. So try a test flooding with both hot and cold water on your rink.

Do backyard ice rinks ruin grass?

Why an Outdoor Ice Skating Rink Won’t Ruin the Lawn As long as you time your outdoor rink properly, your lawn won’t be any worse for the wear once you pull up the rink in early spring.

How long does it take for backyard rink to freeze?

It takes a minimum of 72 hours at -10 C for 8 inches of water to completely freeze. Do NOT walk on your rink before this time unless you have to. Water will seep up around the sides and flow onto your surface.

What temperature is needed for outdoor ice rink?

Weather – Let the ground cool down for a good amount of time before lining and filling. Wait until the nighttime temperatures drop to 18 to 23°F (-5 to -8°C) and daytime temperatures stay below 36°F (2°C). With those conditions, you should be able to skate in three to five days.

What do they clean ice rinks with?

The Zamboni is a mechanical ice resurfacer. It works by scraping the ice surface and collecting the snow (which is later discarded). Next, it “cleans” the ice, by putting down water which flushes the grooves deep in the ice, loosening any dirt or debris. The excess water and dirt is then collected.

How do you keep an ice rink from melting?

Ice rink refrigeration systems use ice rink chillers, a refrigerant (usually salt water) and pipes under your ice rink surface to keep your ice frozen.

Can you use a blue tarp for an ice rink?

There are a two reasons that tarp color can influence the quality of your ice rink. First, the darker the color, the more sunlight it absorbs. This can cause your rink to melt on sunnier days. Second, typical blue and green tarps you would find at a sporting goods store are known to damage grass beyond repair.

How long does an ice rink take to freeze?

How long does a 4 inch deep ice rink take to freeze? It takes 3 days below freezing for enough ice to form to start skating unless the temperature drops really really cold (below -12C). If it’s the first freeze of the year sometimes 4 days. Again the big trick here is to pump water from under the ice on top repeatedly.

How cold should it be to flood a rink?

Around -15 C is best. The lower the temperature the better. And when it comes to keeping a decent skateable surface always flood it in the evening or early morning – the temperature should be around -10 C. You’ll also want to avoid a lot of wind and snow.