De-icing 101 – Back to the Basics
By: Raelyn Reinardy, Content Writer | Published: September 9, 2024
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It’s the last weekend of summer, and you’re still buzzing as you pose for a picture holding the 1st place trophy from the annual fishing contest. As you glance down at your dock where you caught that winning largemouth bass, the excitement fades. Winter is coming, and with it, the chore of dismantling the dock and hauling out the boat. But what if you could keep them in the water all year round? Kasco De-icers offer a simple solution, protecting your in-water property and keeping the fish you love to catch healthy, while saving you time and money.

How do De-icers Work?

De-icers prevent ice formation by disrupting the natural layering of water temperatures that occur during the colder months. Typically, as the air temperature drops, the surface water cools and eventually freezes, while the warmer water stays near the bottom. By using an open propeller design, de-icers pull this warmer water from 360 degrees around the unit and push it to the surface, keeping ice from accruing around your boat and dock. By breaking up the temperature layers, they create a protective, ice-free barrier that keeps your property safe from the damaging effects of ice.

Built to Last

Kasco De-icers are designed with the end user in mind, combining durability with ease of use. They’re lightweight, easy to install, and engineered for continuous operation. Constructed with stainless steel components, these units can withstand the harshest outdoor conditions and are compatible with saltwater, ensuring reliable performance in a variety of applications. Whether you’re using them in a pond, lake, or marina, these de-icers provide a hassle-free solution for keeping your water ice-free.

Benefits of a De-icer

De-icers offer reliable, year-round protection for your boats and docks, making it possible to keep them in the water all winter. By preventing ice formation, they reduce the time, effort, and cost typically spent on removing boats or dismantling docks each season. This not only simplifies the winterization process but also eliminates the need for off-season storage and reinstallation, saving both hassle and money.

In addition to protecting your in-water properties, these units offer significant environmental benefits. Thick ice and snow can block sunlight from reaching the water, disrupting photosynthesis and reducing oxygen levels in the water. These plants eventually die off, using the little oxygen that’s left in the water to decompose. De-icers help maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem by creating openings in the ice, allowing sunlight and oxygen to enter the water. This ensures that fish and other aquatic life can thrive even in the coldest months, supporting a balanced ecosystem.

Kasco Surface Aerators with Trouts

Choosing the Right De-icer

When choosing the right de-icer, it’s essential to consider how cold a typical winter gets in your area. Different temperatures affect how much open water each horsepower can maintain. For areas with milder winters, a smaller de-icer may be sufficient, while regions with prolonged deep freezes may require a more powerful model to keep more water from freezing.

Another important factor is the mounting orientation. De-icers can be installed in either an angled or vertical position, each offering distinct advantages. Angled mounting directs water movement across a broader area, which can help create a larger section of open water. This method is especially useful for protecting multiple areas, such as larger docks or multiple boats. On the other hand, vertical mounting focuses on pushing warmer water directly upward, making it ideal for concentrated protection in smaller areas. You can reference our De-icer Sizing Chart to better understand the differences between these setups to help you get the most out of your de-icer based on your specific needs.

Overall, Kasco De-icers can protect your property from harsh winter conditions without the stress and labor of seasonal removal. Not only do these de-icers protect your investments, but they also contribute to a healthy aquatic environment, ensuring that the fish in your waterbody will be thriving when the waters warm up again. After all, next year’s trophy won’t catch itself.


 

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