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THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, January 7, 2010
de-ic i n g th e O r Y & Pr a c t i c e -
ke e P i n g YO u r dO c k sa F e in th e wi n t e r
by paul goodwin
floes moving randomly around in
Contributing Writer the spring. Spring floe ice is best
counteracted with ice protection
There are a lot of myths and pilings (ice clusters) or by remov-
miss-conceptions regarding de- ing a dock during the winter. His-
icing around your dock, break- torically, some areas of our lakes
water, or boathouse during the are more regularly susceptible to
winter months. First and foremost, floe damage from year to year. Of
everyone seems to call these units course, “ice out” and the thawing
something different. We’ve heard; process is not an exact science, so
bubbler, aerator, circulator, pump, almost any permanent structure
aquatherm, and de-icer used inter- can be at risk from ice floes. Dur-
changeably for as long as we can ing the winter months, the ice ex-
remember, but in the end, they all pands and moves around. If your
mean the same thing; some sort of dock is frozen in the ice, it is likely
mechanical or electrical device to to be damaged. If the water levels
keep the freezing ice from wrecking are low, and the ice rises due to
your waterfront structures. rain and inflow, then pilings can
First, let’s review the theory and be pulled out of the lake bottom.
physical properties of de-icing It is this combination of factors
around a dock. One of the unique which causes the “ski jump” type
properties of water is that as it damage often seen on piling docks
starts to freeze, its density chang-
The “ski jump” type of damage is common to many docks. The use of a
in the spring. The goal is to open-
es. Around 39 degrees Fahrenheit,
the density changes and creates a
de-icer is important in keeping the ice at bay.
up just enough water to keep your
CoUrtesY Photo
structure disconnected from the
flip-flop affect that brings colder the local Indians recognized this phenomenon that allows a de-icer ice sheet, but only enough to ac-
water to the surface and warmer characteristic and said the water to keep ice at bay. complish this separation.
water to the bottom. This is why was “holding hands”. Under just Second, understand that a de- Years ago, and this is the origin
water lakes, ponds, and rivers the right conditions on a calm icer only prevents ice damage from of the words bubbler and aerator,
freeze only on the surface and fish day you can see the surface of the freezing expansion and water level small air compressor pumps were
can survive in the relatively warm water appear just like syrup right changes during the winter. It does used on docks during the freez-
water below. We’ve been told that before it freezes. It is this same not protect against the large ice
See gOOdwin on 30
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