water temps for resurfacing
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:11 pm
by tg21sms
Hey All - I am a new member, 2nd year with backyard rink. Last winter was great. I am growing the rink size this year and putting in a hot water spigot for hot water resurfacing this season. my question is, do I want to run right out of my hot water heater to the resurfacer (125F/51C temp)...or do I want to blend with cold water to a lower temp for best results
Thx in advance
Tom
Re: water temps for resurfacing
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 9:41 am
by MLeslie347
Likely doesn't matter, but in my old house, I used hot water straight from our utility sink. I had a 150+ foot run of hose out to the rink though so tended to cool off some by the time it got there.
Only drawback to really hot water was that you needed to keep the hose moving. Any excess hose lying on the ice with all of that hot water running through it will melt down into the surface of your ice as you resurface so try not to let excess lengths/coils of hose lie on top of your ice for any length of time.
I do like to use hot water though as it tends to melt down the high points and fill in the low points and seems to create stronger ice (my opinion only). I have side by side outdoor spigots now and currently use ~ 1/3 cold and 2/3 hot, but fill into a large sprayer tank on my garden tractor and use that to resurface so don't have all that hose lying around anymore.
Oh, and unless you have a tankless/in-line water heater make sure your wife gets her shower in before you resurface too, trust me, otherwise makes for a rather chilly reception once you head back indoors.... :-)
Re: water temps for resurfacing
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 12:24 pm
by kevmac