So… you've decided to invest in a deicer to protect your personal property from costly ice damage this winter.  Smart move, but you’re not quite sure what you need to get the job done.

Deicing your marina slip, dock or boat is a bit of an art form, and as such, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. Each location will have a number of factors such as climate, water depth, and obstructions. These can vastly impact the success of any de-icing efforts. The key to installing the best de-icing system is to consider these five factors prior to purchasing any deicers for your particular location and application.

1. Location and Size

Geographic location and the size of the area to be cleared are extremely important in determining your deicer needs. The lower the temperatures plunge over a longer period of time, the less area a single deicer will be able to clear. Regions with typically long and extremely cold winters, such as Alaska and Minnesota, generally require a deicer with more horsepower to protect an ice-prone area. As you then factor in the size of the area to be cleared, you may find that multiple deicers are necessary.

Area Cleared by Temperature Range (Circular & Elliptical)
Horsepower	34º to 20º F (1.11º to -6.66º C)	19º to 0º F (-7.22º to -17.77º C)	-1º to -20º F (-18.33º to -28.88º C)	-21º F & below (-29.44º C & below)
1/4 HP	55' diameter 25' x 90' ellipse	40' diameter 20' x 50' ellipse	35' diameter 20' x 40' ellipse	25' diameter 15' x 30' ellipse
1/2 HP	65' diameter 30' x 100' ellipse	50' diameter 25' x 60' ellipse	45' diameter 25' x 50' ellipse	35' diameter 20' x 40' ellipse
3/4 HP	85' diameter 35' x 120' ellipse	70' diameter 30' x 80' ellipse	65' diameter 30' x 75' ellipse	45' diameter 25' x 50' ellipse
1 HP	95' diameter 40' x 150' ellipse	80' diameter 35' x 90' ellipse	75' diameter 35' x 85' ellipse	55' diameter 30' x 60' ellipse

Review the Kasco , Power House) and Taylor Made features to see which deicer or ice eater will work best for your location and application.

2. Water Type

Temperature varies among different types of water. For instance, the more salt in the water, the lower the freezing point. Fewer units may be needed in sea water or brackish water applications than in fresh water. We suggest a quick online search to determine the average high and low winter temperatures for the specific body of water in which you wish to install a deicer.

3. Water Depth

Deicers work by moving warmer subsurface water up to the colder surface water. The deeper the water, the more available warm water there will be to de-ice the area. However, if the water is too deep, the rising warmer water will not effectively spread at the surface. Likewise, mounting your deicer in shallow waters can reduce its effectiveness due to limited availability of warm water, especially during a long winter. Warmer water is more important than surface circulation in colder climates, so you may want to consider installing your deicer or ice eater in water that is a bit deeper in these areas.

To achieve maximum performance and successful de-icing efforts, water should typically be at least 4’ – 6’ deep for vertical installation, and slightly shallower for angled operation. For colder climates, consider installing your deicer in water that is at least 6’ - 8’ deep. In all cases, the deicer should be at least one foot off the bottom to prevent clogging from debris.

When dealing with tidal influences, you’ll want to split the difference in water depth so the deicer is in shallow water at low tide and deep water at high tide (one option is to mount your deicer to a boat or floating dock which will allow the deicer to rise and fall with the tide).

4. Power Type and Source

Most deicers and ice eaters are available in either 115V or 230V. Choose a model with the same voltage as your outlet. Whichever you choose, the amount of electricity used will be the same if operated similarly. This is because the 230V unit will pull more power at a time, but it will need to operate for less time than the 115V unit.
Also, consider the distance between the outlet and the location where the deicer will be used.  It’s important to order a deicer or ice eater with a power cord that is long enough to reach your deicer directly from the outlet without need for an extension cord. Voltage is naturally lost as electricity travels through a power cord, so any additional connections, such as an extension cord, will result in an even greater loss of voltage. This can result in reduced efficiency of your deicer and may damage the unit.
Kasco De-icers are available with cord lengths up to 100’ and Power House Ice Eaters offer cord lengths up to 200’.

5. Obstructions

Objects in the water (i.e. boat hulls, dock floats, pilings, etc.) can obstruct, restrict, or re-route the warm water flow created by a deicer, limiting the effectiveness of the unit. The more objects in the area, the greater the potential for obstruction. In some cases, you may need multiple deicers to ensure continuous water movement in the area you’re trying to keep clear of ice. In all cases, the units will need to be mounted in the proper location and positioned appropriately for maximum performance.

Determining the best de-icing system to protect your personal property requires prior planning, but doing so you will enjoy long-term benefits of installing what is exactly right to get the job done.