deicers & ice eaters buyer guide

Boats, Docks, Piers and Marinas

Deicers prevent or eliminate ice formation, creating an ice-free area around your boat, slip, dock, or pier to prevent damage from ice jacking and expansion during the cold winter months.

Deicers can also protect fish and other aquatic species in your marina during the winter by creating ice-free areas for oxygen to enter into the water.

Duck Hunting

A deicer mounted on a frame specifically designed for duck ponds will quickly clear any ice and prevent its return.

By properly adjusting the de-icer, you can create water movement for realistic, life-like decoy movement to attract more waterfowl to your favorite hunting spot.

Improve Water Quality

The aeration provided by a deicer can reduce foul odors in stagnant water, encourage natural decomposition of organic matter and pollutants, and improve the overall health of fish and other organisms. De-icers can also direct water flow so debris and nuisance vegetation are funneled to one area, making trash removal simple.

Winterkill Prevention

Heavy snow and ice limit the amount of light penetration in your pond causing plants to die, which results in decreased oxygen levels. Without oxygen, your fish will also die.

By upwelling warm, bottom water to the surface, a deicer can create an open water area in your pond to maintain safe oxygen levels and prevent a winterkill situation.

Water Towers

Protecting a water tower from costly ice damage when water demand is low and turnover rates are slow can be easy and cost-effective with a deicer.

Managing the ice in your tower will allow you to protect the coating, help prevent ice fall which can collapse the tower, and improve mixture rates for more uniform temperature and chemical profiles.

1. Location and Size

Geographic location and the size of the area to be cleared are very important factors in determining your deicer needs. The lower the temperatures fall over a longer period of time, the less area a single de-icer will be able to clear. So regions with typically long and extremely cold winters, like Alaska and Minnesota, will generally require a deicer with more horsepower to protect an ice-prone area. Factor in the size of the area to be cleared, and you may find that multiple deicers are necessary.

2. Water Type

Temperature varies among different types of water. For instance, the more salt in the water, the lower the freezing point. So 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 warm water will be available to deice the area. However, if the water is too deep, the rising warmer water will not effectively spread at the surface. Likewise, mounting your de-icer 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 de-icer 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 de-icer to a boat or floating dock which will allow the deicer to rise and fall with the tide).

4. Power Type and Source

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.

Circular or Elliptical De-icing Patterns

Deicers can be mounted to clear various diameters and either a circular or oval shaped area.

• To clear ice in a circular pattern, mount your deicer vertically.
• To clear ice in an elliptical pattern, mount your deicer at an angle.

Deicer Mounting Tips

• Mount your deicer 3 to 5 feet below the water surface and at least 1 foot above the floor of the water. If too close to the floor, debris can be pulled in to the unit, damaging the motor and/or propeller.
• Keep deicer submerged during use at all times. If operated in open air, it will quickly overheat and destroy the motor.
• For areas with varying water levels, mount de-icer to adjust with the water level, maintaining proper depth below the surface (3' to 5') and height above the bottom (1' minimum).
• For shallow water, make sure the deicer is not in a water zone that will freeze solid. If ice reaches the bottom, it will choke off the water supply to the deicer, causing serious damage to the motor.
• Always use a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) power source and check the GFI on a regular basis. A GFI is an outlet that senses current flow problems and automatically shuts off in those instances to maintain safe conditions.

Kasco Deicer Mounting Options

Rope Suspension	Dock Mount	Float Mount
Each deicer unit ships with two suspension ropes to be spread at least 8' to 10' apart	The Kasco Dock Mount secures your deicer to a dock or pilings; can be extended to a maximum of 10' from the mounting bracket	The Kasco Float Mount allows your de-icer to be used in shallow waters or where water level fluctuates; deicer floats and moves with water

Power House Ice Eater Mounting Options

Rope Suspension	Dock Mount	Shallow Water Stand
Each ice eater unit ships with two suspension ropes to be spread at least 8' to 10' apart	The Ice Eater Dock Mount secures your ice eater to a dock or pilings; can be extended to a maximum of 6' from the mounting bracket	The Shallow Water Stand allows your ice eater to be used in shallow waters and can be positioned horizontally or at an angle; ideal for duck hunting and fishing

While deicers require little maintenance, it is important to inspect your Kasco deicer or Power House Ice Eater on a regular basis to ensure it continues operating at peak performance. These maintenance tips are for general informational purposes only, and are not brand specific. You should always consult your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific brand and model.