Help!!

[jccarlin]

I had a great season last year in NJ and it was unreal!! I filled "Madison Square Carlin" two days ago with temps going to be in the single digits to teens for two nights thinking I'd be able to skate today. Sure enough I have ice but it is no good. It seems that I have a slow leak in my tarp. I had no problem filling and I have a 3 inch slope from one end to the other and was able to get it filled no problem. I even sat with a beer watching it freeze over just a tad bit next to my fire pit and never noticed any drop in level. I woke yesterday morning to see it frozen over with shell ice and down inches. In the end where it it is higher in slope I had about a quarter inch of ice and no water underneath. In the end where it fills 3' higher it was down to about any inch with no water underneath. Obviously it is not going to hold. It will thaw this weekend and I can drain it no problem. How do I find where it was leaking? I inspected it pretty well before filling and during the whole process and saw no signs of a leak. Any ideas on how to find a whole in the tarp?

Thanks,

John

[Joe]

Two thoughts - if it thaws down to 100% water and you have an idea where in the rink the leak is located, use liquid food coloring. If there is a leak, and you put the food coloring nearby, it will travel towards the hole so you can find it.

If you don't know where the hole is, your best bet might be to look around the perimeter of the rink and try to find damp wood, soggy ground, or a puddle.

Good luck!

[Matt]

Good idea Joe with the food coloring. i've heard that before but thankfully have never had to do it. hope you get it patched up carlin.

[jccarlin]

Thanks for the idea guy's. Weather doesn't look good for the next week so I should be able to find the leak. As for skating that maybe awhile :(