Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/850186
48 / JULY.AUGUST.2017 USICERINKS.COM by JEFF THEILER, CIRM IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, where temperatures and humidity creep into the 90s, and even the coldest of rinks can't seem to save us from the beads of sweat dripping down our faces. While the dog days of summer are a welcome climate change from our usual (and likely preferred) chilly air, there's no doubt that this warm and moist air will eventually find its way into your rink and wreak havoc. It's why maintaining your dehumidifier, especially in the months of July and August, is so important. HOW DOES MOISTURE GET IN? The amount of moisture infiltration will depend on how air tight the building envelope is, how many people go in and out every day, and how much outside air is brought into the building by the HVAC system. THEN WHAT HAPPENS? High air temperature and relative humidity equals a high dew point temperature. Dew point is important because it is the temperature that water vapor in the air starts to condense on colder surfaces inside a rink such as roof beams, dasher boards, shielding, and the ice surface. This condensation results in fogged up shielding, stalagmites on the ice surface from dripping roof beams and a high heat load on your refrigeration system. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DEHUMIDIFIER ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY? If the dehumidifier (mechanical or desiccant type) in your rink isn't running as efficiently as it should, there will most certainly be a negative impact on your building structure, ice quality, and utility usage. This is why regular visual Moisture MANAGEMENT Keep your rink's dehumidifier working properly HOW To Maintain Dehumidifiers PHOTOS: RINK ARCHIVES