Ice and snow build up in the freezer. Experiments with ice What thickness of ice is acceptable in the freezer
Experienced housewives remember the times when refrigerators were not equippednofrostand from time to time it was required to defrost the unit. The event is long, labor-intensive and not the most pleasant. Therefore, if you suddenly find that your refrigerator has decided to return to ancient times and freezes a “fur coat” in the freezer, you should not let things take their course.
Having found increased ice formation in the freezer, first of all, check whether the freezer closes tightly. Perhaps you just “stuffed” it so much that the door does not fit properly, and it gets into the chamber warm air. Everything is good? Then the next step is to check the settings. A "fur coat" in the freezer can form if:
- Super freeze mode is on. In some models of refrigerators, it does not turn off automatically - you need to turn it off manually.
- The temperature is set to very low. This could happen by accident - the thermostat was touched or the home "helped". Or you were afraid that it was too hot in the kitchen and decided to play it safe in this way. Remember: optimum temperature in the freezer is - 19 ... - 17 ° C. Even if the room is hot, there is no need to choose a colder mode: a working refrigerator always maintains the set temperature, regardless of the ambient temperature!
The modes are also in order, but is there snow and ice in the freezer? In this case, unfortunately, we have to talk about a malfunction.
The most common reasons why ice forms in the freezer
A lot of ice in the freezer, as a rule, encourages the housewives to defrost the unit. Unfortunately, this does not always help. And if after a day or two the freezer is again covered with snow and ice, we are definitely talking about a breakdown. The table below describes the most frequent breakdowns, at which ice formation is increased in freezer.
|
Symptom |
Possible reason occurrence |
Repair cost * |
|
In a no frost refrigerator, ice and snow accumulate at the bottom of the freezer. Perhaps there is water under the boxes. |
The drain hole of the freezer is clogged. Normally, the freezer is “cleaned” of ice at least once a day: the defrost heater turns on, the ice turns into water and flows down the drainage channel. If the drainage hole is clogged, the water has nowhere to "go away", it accumulates under the boxes and freezes with a thick layer of ice. It is necessary to clean the drainage hole: for example, flush it warm water from a syringe. However, not all models of refrigerators have easy access to the drain - it may be necessary to unscrew the back panel of the freezer. If you are not sure that you know how to do this, it is better to seek help from a specialist. |
On one's own |
|
Back wall the freezer compartment is covered with a thick layer of ice and snow, while the temperature inside the freezer compartment is higher than the set one, and the unit's motor runs almost without turning off. The more snow buildup, the higher the temperature, and the less often the compressor turns off. |
Defrost system failed, which is responsible for the "cleansing" of the freezer from ice. Failure of the defrost timer, evaporator heating element, defroster, fuse or other component of the “cleaning” system does not allow the refrigerator to start the defrost cycle, and the evaporator “overgrows” with a fur coat. As a result, the cooling capacity of the unit decreases, the temperature in the freezer gradually rises. The motor-compressor tries to compensate for the lack of cooling capacity by constant operation and rarely turns off. In full No Frost models, the cold air supply channel to the refrigerator compartment freezes, and it stops cooling. It is required to diagnose the defrost system, identify the failed unit and replace it. |
from 2900 to 8000 rubles. Depending on the number of failed nodes in the defrost module |
|
The refrigerator rarely turns off. The walls of the freezer are evenly “overgrown” with snow and ice. If the temperature in the chambers in the refrigerator is independently controlled, only the freezer compartment will be refrozen (for example, in a two-compressor unit). If the design of the refrigerator involves one thermostat located in the evaporator, then the refrigerator compartment will also freeze - you will see ice on the back wall. |
Most likely, the thermostat has failed. As a result, the refrigerator control module receives incorrect information about the temperature in the freezer and, based on this data, “instructs” the motor to freeze more than necessary. A failed thermostat needs to be replaced. |
from 1900 to 3900 rubles. |
|
Snow and ice is uneven, b about Larger “growths” are located closer to the freezer door. The temperature in the freezer is too high. The alarm indicator on the control panel of the unit is on or flashing. Electronic Models refrigerators may beep and report a problem with an error on the screen. |
More likely worn out or broken rubber compressor doors. Because of this, the tightness of the freezer is broken. Warm air enters the freezer and you can see the ice closer to the door. The seal needs to be replaced. |
from 2500 to 7000 rubles. |
|
There could also be unbalanced freezer door fastening system. The freezer door is hinged. In the case when the door fasteners “loose” and “sag”, the tightness of the door is broken and warm air enters the chamber. In this case, you will see more frost near the refrigerator door. It is necessary to balance the fasteners or replace them. |
from 1900 to 4500 rubles. |
|
|
Strong uneven frost is visible in the area of the evaporator of the freezer. Refrigerator motor does not turn off. The temperature in the freezer is higher than the set value. The alarm indicator on the refrigerator control panel may be lit or flashing. Electronic models may beep. After a complete defrosting of the refrigerator, the freezer or refrigerator, in general, stops working at all. |
In rare cases, the freezer evaporator may freon leak. As a result, the cooling capacity of the unit drops, the compressor of the refrigerator is on initial stage works without shutting down and freezes large layer ice at the leak on the evaporator and freezer. After the freon all the freon has evaporated from the system, the freezer compartment or both chambers will stop working. Repair or replacement of the evaporator and recharging of the system with refrigerant is required. |
from 3500 to 6500 rubles. leak in the sealed part – from 8000 rub. |
* The above table shows FULL PRICES for repairs, including the cost of the master's work and new spare parts. The master will name the exact cost after the diagnosis.
If you find snow and ice in the freezer of your refrigerator - please do not delay contacting the repair shop. This is not only “inconvenient”, but also indicates that some kind of breakdown has occurred in the refrigerator. If it is not corrected promptly, there is a high probability of more complex, and therefore more costly, troubleshooting.
Contact "RemBytTech":
7 (495) 215 – 14 – 41
7 (903) 722 – 17 – 03
We will repair your refrigerator on the day you contact us, and you will forget about problems with refrigeration equipment for many years!
Instruction
The rate of freezing of water depends, firstly, on the heat exchange surface area, and secondly, on the thickness of the water layer: the larger it is, the slower the entire volume of water will freeze (and vice versa). Therefore, pour water into containers so that the cooling surface is large enough and the thickness of the water layer is small. You can use, for example, glaciers - plastic substrates with small and shallow containers, which are produced specifically for this purpose - food ice in . Place this container of water in the freezer. Ice forms much faster than if the exact same amount of water were poured into plastic cup, For example.
In addition, you can speed up the freezing of water as follows. When its temperature is already close to 0, throw one or two grains of table salt into each container. It would seem, because it is known that water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water. But this paradox is only apparent: the mass of salt will be so insignificant that the water will actually remain fresh, and the grains will serve as a kind of initiators of crystallization.
If you have a long, thin container like a test tube (metal only), you can get ice very quickly with liquid nitrogen. Lower this container of water (using a long clamp or wire) into the Dewar vessel, of course, not completely, so that liquid nitrogen does not flood it. Take it out after a while. As soon as the walls of the container are heated, the ice can be easily removed.
Can be used to quickly freeze water property of some chemical substances dissolve by absorbing a large number of heat. For example, there is such a substance - ammonium nitrate (ammonium nitrate). It is widely used in agriculture as nitrogen fertilizer. If the ice you want to receive is not used in food purposes, add ammonium nitrate directly to the chilled water container and dissolve while stirring. Then put the container back in the freezer. Ice forms within minutes.
note
Observe all safety precautions when handling liquid nitrogen. When working with ammonium nitrate do not forget that this is a poisonous substance. Such ice should never be used to add to drinks.
Water is the source of life. The quality of water entering the human body determines the state of health, energy and general well-being. Melt water has many useful properties and is most suitable for preserving beauty, health, youth. Melt water molecules are most suitable for the cells of the human body. Melt water restores immunity, helps to reduce excess weight, increase attention, promotes the restoration of the body after prolonged illness, rejuvenates the entire body as a whole. You can list the healing properties of melt water for a long time, but in order to get truly healing water, you must first freeze it correctly. How is the water?
Instruction
Pour water into any food container. The main thing is that it should not be iron. Do not pour to the top. The hand must go into the container.
The remaining ice will be the most healing part of the water. No impurities, no harmful substances.
Defrost water gradually room temperature, far from heating appliances, frozen water in another way nothing to do with healing properties does not have.
Sources:
- frozen water in 2018
Frozen water has structural features distinguishing it from plain water. Aligning molecules in a certain order gives the product the ability to treat a wide range of diseases that even official medicine.
You will need
- - Plastic container;
- - Water filter;
- - Water;
- - Freezer.
Instruction
To prepare frozen water, stock up plastic containers sufficient volume. It is recommended to drink at least 3 glasses of thawed water daily. Frozen water must be previously cleaned of impurities: sand. Use carbon filter by passing liquid through it.
Pour the water into prepared containers and place in the freezer. The temperature should be -18 degrees. Keep water in the freezer for 8-10 hours. Therefore, it is better to send the liquid to freeze before going to bed. After removing the containers from the freezer, pour boiling water over their bottom. Then, pierce sharp object ice crust and drain any water that has not yet frozen from the inside of the container. This is necessary because the remaining unfrozen liquid contains harmful impurities.
Depending on the method of freezing food, ice may be a companion for storing food in the chamber or indicate a violation. During manual defrost, the evaporator is located in the chamber. Naturally, condensation will settle on cold surfaces in the freezer, forming ice. If No Frost is used, condensate is discharged outside the chamber.
The manual defrost chamber is a double shell cabinet with polyurethane foam. The inner chamber has structures made as supports for boxes or trays from a thin aluminum sheet. The evaporator tubes are connected to each shelf from below.
Products are placed in drawers or behind doors. During freezing, water is released, it settles on the tubes, which is why ice freezes under the drawers in the freezer. Therefore, it is dangerous to allow a large layer - it is difficult to remove products, you can accidentally damage the tube.
The formation of ice in the freezer under the shelves is a natural physical process. But ice is an insulator, impairs heat transfer. The more snow buildup in the chamber, the longer the compressor cycle, more energy is spent on freezing food.
Why does ice freeze on the door in the freezer
It happens in Emergency Signal indicates a violation of the regime in the freezer - the door is not tightly closed or the seal has come off. Ice buildup is accelerating. Now it is loose, resembles snow, wraps the lids of containers, settles on the door. Cold passes through such a fur coat with difficulty, the compressor works without stopping.
The reason for the accelerated freezing of ice in the freezer is the continuous supply of fresh air. The warm agent contains a lot of equilibrium moisture, and it precipitates on cold surfaces. But frost, frozen on the door, expands the existing gap, increasing icing. A warm refrigerant circuit runs around the door opening in the foamed part. The ice melts, leaks under the bottom drawer, ice forms on the bottom of the freezer.
If the freezer has electronic control, the regulator will stop distributing cold to the open circuit, thawing of food will begin.
Why is there ice in the freezer below?
It happens that the food in the freezer thaws due to a lack or low voltage in the network. If the refrigerator turns on by itself after being idle, the puddle that forms may go unnoticed and freeze, creating ice under the freezer.
At the maximum freezing mode, when the door is opened, the frost thaws and flows down in drops, where it freezes. Gotta keep average temperature– less frost, economical energy consumption. By following the manufacturer's recommendations, you can ensure that ice does not accumulate at the bottom of the freezer.
Ice at the bottom of the No Frost freezer
If the freezer uses a convective method of transferring cold from the evaporator to the food, there should be no frost inside. The evaporator is located behind the panel in the cooling compartment, there is also a fan, a defrost heater and a hole for removing condensate from the circuit.
It happens that the hole becomes clogged, the drain hose freezes, sticks together, and water accumulates in the chamber with the evaporator, freezes in a lump, seeps into the working chamber, forming ice in the freezer. Soon, No Frost will become inoperative due to accumulated ice and a frozen fan. Sometimes drops from behind the panel roll down for a long time, and blocks of ice freeze in the freezer right in the trays.
If the panels are cold, No Frost will freeze on the walls of the freezer thin layer ice. Gradually, it will melt, dripping onto the tray in drops. What to do if ice freezes in the box? Turn off the refrigerator or freezer compressor, defrost the system and look for a malfunction.
Ice is forming in the freezer of a Samsung refrigerator
Many users of modern two-chamber refrigerators Samsung on the forums complain that with Nou Frost you often have to defrost the refrigerator. The evaporator freezes constantly and the fan stops. First, the water drains down, which is why ice forms at the bottom in the No Frost freezer. Then the defrost continues to work, but ice accumulates below, the evaporator is covered with a fur coat. The reason for the formation of ice in the Samsung freezer is known to specialists.
There is a complete freezing of the air labyrinths behind the panels. It is necessary to defrost the device within 2 days and restart it. It will not help, defrost again, and clean the drainage behind the panel. At the same time, you need to make sure that drainer located above the condensate tray, the hose is not stuck together. Overfreezing of the drain tube is the main reason for the appearance of ice in the freezer of the Samsung refrigerator.
Video
We offer a video lesson on the topic.
Ice in the freezer
Not far away new season winter fishing from ice. The desire of anglers to get on the ice as early as possible is understandable - it is always a sea of emotions, excitement and high activity of the fish. However, before stepping on fragile ice, you need to know and observe the elementary ones, and if trouble occurs.
Anyone who has ever experienced the happiness of laying the first trail of the season on young crisp ice, barely covered with pristine powder, awaits this event again and again with unchanging spiritual trepidation, with hidden hope tasting the brittle crust on the puddles after the autumn matinee ...
But sooner or later, the agonizing wait ends, the holiday comes, and then thousands of anglers rush to their cherished places, orienting themselves in white silence according to the signs stored in their memory. But is it always reliable road above the mysterious darkness deep water where life, not disturbed by the lapping of the waves, fell into a drowsy state?
The safety of movement on ice depends on a whole range of factors that must be taken into account by the winter angler, and they are related to the nature of the evolution of the ice cover, the type of reservoir, climatic conditions prevailing this winter.
Today we will talk about what are the global prerequisites for the formation of ice of one type or another, since it is they that determine tactics safe behavior On him.
First of all, the freezing period can be divided into three main stages: first ice, seasoned ice and last ice.
Often (even middle lane Russia, not to mention more southern regions) it happens that there are several short periods the formation of a temporary ice cover, which, having not reached sufficient strength, is then washed away by rains, weakened by damp fogs and broken by the wind.
At such moments, the most frequent tragic incidents occur with reckless anglers who do not have the endurance to endure a week or two. AT similar situation it’s better not to rush, moderate your spiritual ardor and devote the time of the outstanding off-season careful preparation winter fishing accessories or to extend the very effective late-autumn spinning hunting on large rivers, where there are still no rims.
first ice
This period can be very short (one or two frosty quiet nights), and quite long and, as mentioned above, sometimes interrupted. First ice is also conditionally divided into certain phases: first ice (thin, but no longer collapsing ice), strong ice at least in some places and reliable ice (which completely covered some water bodies and is suitable for fishing everywhere). It is clear that not only on different water bodies, but even on the same one, these phases differ in time and water area, and sometimes significantly, therefore, when planning the first ice trips, you should have a good idea of what is happening on a particular water body. Such knowledge is given only through annual observations, carefully recorded in the fishing diary.
Everything that has been said at the first reading may seem like overinsurance to you, but the author of these lines has repeatedly witnessed the transformation of overly self-confident fishermen into a kind of icebreakers, breaking ice with their hands to the very shore, and it was impossible to help them, because they could get out on thin ice, and even in heavy wet clothes, almost impossible.
And a good knowledge of the reservoir chosen for fishing on the first ice is necessary at least in order to remember where on it the depth is not higher than a person’s height or where deep place an applicant for the title of “walrus” can quickly go to the shallows that go to the shore ...
Ice formation
How does such a wonderful phenomenon of nature arise - the formation of ice on the surface of water? In short, due to the convective heat exchange between the two media, water and air, occurring at the interface. And in more detail it looks something like this: water, being a very capacious heat accumulator, by the end summer season turns out to be much hotter than the atmosphere near the earth's surface. The air, as less dense, and therefore not as energy-intensive, quickly cools down due to the long nights and the removal of the planet from the star with a change in intensity and inclination sun rays to the surface. And the lower the air temperature drops, the faster the heat exchange with water occurs.
When surface layer water cools to a temperature of + 4 °, at which this liquid abruptly becomes as dense as possible, it, practically without mixing, sinks down, displacing warm and lighter water upwards. Thus there is a vertical circulation and very slow mixing of the entire water column.
This convection process gradually fades as the temperature approaches 4°C, but it never stops at all - the bottom layers constantly receive heat from the reservoir bed, which in winter is always somewhat warmer than water (otherwise the reservoirs would freeze to the bottom, and ice would grow from above, and from below, which usually occurs in areas with permafrost).
When the bulk of the water reaches a temperature of 4 °, it begins to further cool down to 0 ° - this is the point of transition of distilled water to a crystalline state, that is, the freezing point. Subcooling below 0° leads to the formation of ice.
In reality, in different reservoirs, water is a kind of solution of salts and micro-suspensions, which differs in composition, which usually reduces the temperature of ice formation, and this temperature is not the same for different reservoirs.
Again, there is no perfect picture of water freezing in nature, and ice rises differently every year - it depends on the weather that accompanies this process, as well as on the type of reservoir: large or small, deep or shallow, flowing or stagnant .
The nature of ice formation is also affected by fluctuations in the water level during this period and the continuing navigation in some places.
If freeze-up occurs in calm frosty weather, then ice almost evenly covers the entire reservoir, growing from the coast, and especially in places of shallow water.
When the process of ice formation is accompanied strong wind, then the formation of an ice cover in the open spaces of large reservoirs lingers for a long time - steep waves break and carry away a fragile, thin first ice and knock it down to the leeward shore, where at enough severe frost grasping this fragile construction material, a very thick, but less durable than solid ice, wide rim can form.
Another edge from monolithic ice will grow from the windward shore, and the steeper, higher this shore, the wider the transparent blind area will lie on the water.
When the wind subsides, unless there is a sudden thaw, these two rims will quickly join, as the well-mixed and cooled water will be ready to freeze. However, the angler should remember for a long time: where the ice stood up first, it is thicker and stronger there.
It is clear that over great depths, where the mass of water is large, it will cool longer, and the formation of ice will come later than in shallow places. The same pattern exists during freeze-up on large or small water bodies.
The rivers have their own characteristics of ice formation: due to the current, the water is constantly mixed throughout the volume, and hypothermia occurs for the entire moving mass, which takes additional time, so the ice on the river rises a little later than on reservoirs with stagnant water. However, water in rivers under ice is generally colder than in lakes and reservoirs, and paradoxically, the further growth of ice on the river is faster.
An illustrative example of the fact that the water in the river is colder in winter than in a stagnant reservoir will be the following simple experiment: after dipping a sinker into the water several times and freezing an ice “shirt” on it, lower it then, say, to a depth of 5 meters in the lake - ice grows in a minute or two. On the river, the same experiment will show that the sinker will remain frozen for up to an hour or more - this indicates that the temperature of the entire water column along the course is close to 0 °.
Of course, in a strong current, the ice rises later than in a weak one. In addition, at the beginning of winter, there are tangible and rather sharp fluctuations in the water level on the rivers. Usually, its fall is observed, associated with a decrease in the flow of tributaries due to the freezing of surface groundwater.
For example, on the Oka, this leads to the fact that thin ice breaks off along the banks and the current carries away the entire mass of the first ice. Moving ice floes accumulate in places with a reverse flow behind the capes and on the arrows of jet failure, as well as at the border, where a fast flow merges into a slowly flowing reach.
In all such characteristic places, then hummocks are formed, sometimes reaching a thickness of up to 3 meters - they serve as a good guide for anglers throughout the winter when searching for fish camps, since underwater inhabitants accumulate near such “features” of the behavior of the river flow.
Ice strength
The most important characteristic of ice is its strength, which in real conditions cannot be considered a constant, since this indicator strongly depends on the type and structure of ice, its temperature and thickness.
It happens that the beginning of winter is accompanied by frequent passage of cyclones, precipitation falls in the form of rain or sleet, and ice freezes in several stages into short frosty gaps between weather fronts. At the same time, its thickness increases both from below and from above due to freezing of the fallen snow or water located on its surface.
Such ice turns out to be cloudy, multi-layered, and it should be borne in mind that it is about two times weaker than glass-clear ice, so you need to go out on it when it reaches double safe thickness i.e. about 10 cm.
This is important to know because anglers tend to go to areas with similar ice cover, as fish usually accumulate here and bite much better in such places.
As already noted, pure transparent ice, formed from freezing of the surface layer of water, is the most durable, but it makes sense to fish from it only at great depths, where light is low and the fish are not shy. Therefore, it will be safe when it reaches a thickness of at least 5 cm - then it can reliably withstand one person.
The strength of the ice cover increases linearly with an increase in ice thickness and with a decrease in its temperature, however, the temperature of the ice is different in thickness: at the top it is equal to atmospheric, and at the bottom it corresponds to the freezing point of water, that is, about 0 °. And since the temperature coefficient of linear expansion of ice is huge (for example, five times greater than that of iron) and everyone knows how strong vessels with frozen water burst, it becomes clear that similar processes accompany the ice cover as its thickness grows: having different temperature, the layers experience expanding loads in both transverse and longitudinal directions.
That is why, during significant frosts, the ice bursts with a deafening, “cannon” roar, and long cracks that have an intricate shape scatter along it (Fig. 1).
However, the randomness of cracks on the ice surface is only apparent, if we keep in mind the mechanism of ice formation: first of all, at the beginning of winter, when the ice is not yet the same thickness everywhere, stresses appear along the boundaries of the junction of thick and thin ice cover, that is, where shallow water abruptly turns into depth. Experienced winter fishermen have long known that the edges where the fish are kept should be searched for along old and wide cracks that usually run parallel to the main channel (Fig. 2).
In this case, the deep side of the reservoir will be determined by the crack located close to the usually steep bank, and vice versa.
It seems that the approximate daily course of ice growth depending on the air temperature and its existing thickness will be of practical interest to anglers.
Such data are summarized in a table, they allow you to predict the state of the ice on the eve of going fishing. This is, of course, an ideal picture, not taking into account the snow cover on the ice surface.
It is known that the thermal conductivity (in this case, cold conductivity) of snow is up to 30 times less than that of ice (it all depends on the friability of the snow), therefore, during snowfalls, an appropriate correction must be made in the calculations.
| Temperature air, °С |
Thickness ice, cm |
||
| <10 | 10-20 | 20-40 | |
| Growth ice per day, cm |
|||
| -5° | 4 | 1,5 | 0,5 |
| -10° | 6 | 3 | 1,5 |
| -15° | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| -20° | 9 | 6 | 3 |
It is important to learn to understand by the appearance of the first, still fragile ice, how it reacts to the load. Knowledgeable anglers say that the first ice will not deceive, will not betray, but will tell you about the danger in time with the sound and pattern of cracks, you just need to be able to see and hear.
A point load applied to thin ice causes its deformation in the form of a bowl, the volume of which hypothetically corresponds to the volume of water, equal in weight to the mass that caused the deflection of the load (Fig. 3).
With a small load, elastic deformation of the ice occurs and the deflection bowl expands along the perimeter. If the load is higher than the elastic limit, then plastic deformation of the ice will begin, and the “bowl” will increase faster in depth than in width - this is the beginning of destruction (discontinuity) of ice.
Deflection of ice under load: mn is the mass of the load; mw is the mass of displaced water. The following quantitative data speak of the elastic properties of ice. If we consider transparent, most durable ice, then with a central deflection of 5 cm, cracks do not form on it; a deflection of 9 cm leads to increased formation of cracks, a deflection of 12 cm causes through cracking, at 15 cm the ice falls through. Cracks under the action of loads arise of two types: radial (Fig. 4, a) and concentric (Fig. 4, b).
Types of ice cracking under load: a - radial cracks that do not lead to failure of the load; b - radial cracks, accompanied by concentric fractures, lead to a rapid failure of the load. When moving on unstable ice, it is necessary to pay special attention to this: if concentric cracks appear, accompanied by a characteristic creaking sound, you must immediately leave the dangerous area with a sliding step, in a particularly critical situation, it is better to lie down on the ice and crawl in the opposite direction.
It is also useful to recall other rules of behavior on thin ice:
- in no case should you walk on it in single file, otherwise the radial cracks on the “road” will quickly grow concentric;
- do not go out on the ice alone;
- check each step on the ice with a pointed pick, but do not hit the ice in front of you with it - it is better from the side;
- do not approach other anglers closer than 3 meters;
- do not approach those places where there are frozen snags, algae, air bubbles in the ice;
- one should not walk near a crack or on an area of ice separated from the main mass by several cracks;
- it is necessary to quickly leave a dangerous place if water begins to spurt out of a punched hole;
- do not skate on thin ice;
- be sure to have rescue equipment with you: a cord with a load at the end, a long pole, a wide board;
- in no case should you combine fishing on the first ice with libations: only a warm “knee-deep sea”, you can’t hold out for a long time in icy water.
seasoned ice
Winter takes its toll and, despite weather collisions, soon all reservoirs are covered with ice, the thickness of which in winters with little snow and frost in central Russia reaches 1 meter or more. This is the calmest (in terms of safety) period of winter fishing, although very unpleasant surprises can lie in wait for the angler here.
First of all, you need to keep your eyes open on the rivers when the ice is covered with a thick layer of snow, blocking the access of cold to the ice, and the flowing water slowly but surely begins to wear it from below. Gulleys form most quickly where the jets, swirling over obstacles, hit upwards, above the outlet of spring waters or at the confluence of warm domestic sewage.
Usually the location of such sites is the same every year and they just need to be well remembered. On an unfamiliar river, it is better to walk along the beaten paths, and to check untrodden areas by frequent drilling of test holes - although this is tiring, it is justified.
One day in the middle of winter and after a hard frost, I walked quickly along the river, approaching an area with a fast current. The ice drill was broken, but confidence in the strength of the ice prevailed over caution. In the icy water was instantly, not feeling any resistance. And the torn (through a thick mitten) skin between the thumb and forefinger and the slightly bent auger eloquently testified that the ice drill, which had stood across the manna with bubbling black water, had saved me. It turns out that the ravine was covered only by a fragile crust of snow frozen from below ...
When fishing on stagnant water bodies, especially on reservoirs where there is a constant discharge of water, it should be remembered that the ice here breaks off near the coast from time to time. If in shallow water it lies on the ground, then near steep banks there may be areas of unfrozen water, only covered with swept snow (Fig. 5), where you can quite unexpectedly get in, spoiling your fishing.
The situation is also unpleasant when you find yourself in the open spaces of a large body of water in an area with a water bath hidden by a thick layer of wet snow. Such baths are formed just in those places where the ice is thin: after prolonged snowfalls, it does not withstand the mass of snow, it bursts with the formation of through cracks, into which water enters in an amount equal to the weight of the load (Fig. 6). The ice, already thin and soaked with water, stops freezing and becomes very dangerous, especially closer to spring.
Formation of water lenses on ice in snowy winters: mc is the mass of snow; mb is the mass of water released onto the ice. It should also be remembered that in the reservoirs, especially the Volga cascade, already by the middle of winter, due to the discharge of water, the current intensifies so much that huge gullies appear, at first covered by thin, not yet eroded ice. The pick in this situation should complement the ice drill, and the way back should be checked several times a day.
Last ice
This period in the evolution of ice begins when in spring the average daily air temperature becomes close to 0 °, that is, snow begins to melt and melt water appears. At first, the ice becomes dangerous near the coast, where the snow melts faster than on ice. Streams of melt water, flowing into the reservoir, wash away the edge of the ice, and the heat emanating from the heated earth further contributes to the process of destruction of the ice edge.
The apparent strength of the coastal ice after the morning frost is deceptive - with solar heating, it may not let the anglers go back, so you need to prepare the exit to the shore in advance, taking long poles or boards onto the ice. It is desirable that the exit be in shallow water, and it is better on the side where the ice in the afternoon will be in the shade of a forest or a high bank. Some more time will pass, and wide waters will form near the shore, the cause of which will be the destruction of fast ice and the increase in water in the reservoir. Although the main ice will still be quite reliable, it is unwise to get onto it without a boat.
The main mass of ice is destroyed in stages: when the average daily air temperature exceeds the plus mark, snow will begin to melt intensively on the surface of the ice cover, and this process will be accelerated by winds, damp fogs and rains. Surface water soaks into the ice, breaking its monolithic structure, causing the ice to disintegrate into separate vertically standing crystals (acicular structure), and the bond between these elements gradually weakens. At the same time, the ice melts from below. For these reasons, spring ice is insidious: having lost the elastic properties of a monolith, it will not crackle warningly, as in first ice, but with a treacherous hissing sound it will suddenly suddenly disintegrate under the feet of a careless fisherman.
Ice is especially dangerous where water has been standing under the snow all winter - these puddles are also visible on the last, snowless ice, and such places should be avoided. It is better to move along the last ice along the old winter trails (they stand out on its surface) and fish in “habitable” places - here the ice is thicker and better frozen over the winter.
In no case should one gather in large groups, in heaps, “chopping off” a lucky fellow - collective fonts, as a rule, end tragically.
It is necessary to save someone who has fallen on the spring ice sensibly, in no case coming close to the formed lane: you should crawl to it, pushing a long pole or board in front of you, or throw the end of a thick rope with a wide loop to the drowning man from a safe distance, which he will throw over myself. However, it all depends on the state of the “bathing”, freezing, he can fall into a state of shock, but still stay afloat. Then you need to act extremely quickly, and you can’t do without an inflatable boat.
A physically strong person who finds himself in an unpleasant situation will be helped by special “rescuers” - devices that look like a thick awl and hang on cords on fishing clothes. By sticking them into the edge of the ice, you can pull yourself up and get out of the water. However, these good means of rescue are of little use on too loose spring and on young thin ice.
To prevent trouble, you must always soberly evaluate when it is better to leave ice fishing until the next season and switch to fishing in wiring on small rivers.
On rivers that are still bound by an ice shell, one should not go out on the ice when a noticeable increase in water has appeared, and it is better to continue fishing on stagnant reservoirs, moreover, large ones that slowly respond to a rise in level. Here, the arrival of lapwings and gulls, and sometimes wagtails, will signal the final departure to the shore.
People say: “The wagtail breaks ice with its tail.” After the arrival of this nimble bird, busily running across the ice and collecting the first spring insects, it can be said with confidence that no more than a week is left before the ice breaks up.
I would like to believe that readers will not consider this article just a warning that ice can be dangerous at all stages of its formation. I hope that she added to their knowledge about this wonderful phenomenon and helped the ice platform become a reliable friend for all those who are keen on fishing.
A. Mailkov “Angler - Elite No. 06 - 1999”
As soon as the reservoirs are covered with a crust of ice, a whole army of connoisseurs of winter extreme sports immediately appears - fishermen, tourists, lovers of sledging off the mountainous bank of the river or those who want to turn part of the river or pond into a skating rink. Motorists are also on the alert: finally, they do not need to get to the nearest bridge or crossing, because there is an ice road! Residents of lake and river regions arrange pedestrian and automobile crossings to shorten the path to their destination. How can you tell if it's safe to walk, drive, or skate on the ice? It is not worth risking endangering yourself and your comrades: there are special rules for each of these cases. If you have children, be sure to teach them how much first ice is safe. It is easier to prevent an accident than to save someone who has fallen on fragile ice!
For a person
Experienced hunters and fishermen are able to recognize the approximate thickness of ice by its color. Blueish or "green" ice is considered strong, and the more transparent the ice cover, the stronger it is. Matte white or yellowish color indicates unreliability. If you see a section of the river under the ice, on which there are no traces of animals and humans, think about why. Most likely this is the place where the springs hit, the ice crust there is very thin, and because of the snow it is not visible.
You need to know:
- Ice at least 10 cm thick in fresh water and 15 cm thick in salt water is considered safe for humans.
- In the mouths of rivers and channels, the strength of ice is weakened.
- The ice is unstable in places of fast currents, gushing springs and runoff waters, as well as in areas where aquatic vegetation grows, near trees, bushes, and reeds.
- If the air temperature is above 0 degrees for more than three days, then the strength of the ice is reduced by 25%.
Video about the rules of being on the ice
Let's fix the material on the strength of ice:
- blue ice - strong,
- white - its strength is 2 times less,
- dull white or with a yellowish tint - unreliable.
Do not take winter walks lightly and do not prepare in advance. It is very difficult for a person who has fallen through the ice to get out, since the edges of the polynya will break off under its weight. An adult or a child can drown from hypothermia, which occurs after a quarter of an hour. Some people get cold shock.
You can download a memo about safety and rules of conduct on ice after the article
For winter crossing
We present the data in the table below.
| Safe thickness, m | Taking into account the weight, t | ||
| where there is fresh water | where the sea water | ||
| 0,10 | 0,15 | up to 0.1 | 5 |
| 0,20 | 0,25 | up to 0.8 | 10 |
| 0,25 | 0,30 | up to 3.0 | 20 |
| 0,35 | 0,45 | up to 6.5 | 25 |
| 0,40 | 0,50 | to 10 | 26 |
For technology
| Safe thickness, m | Taking into account the weight, t | Taking into account the distance to the ice edge, m | |
| where there is fresh water | where the sea water | ||
| 0,70 | 0,55 | up to 20 | 30 |
| 100 | 0,95 | up to 40 | 40 |
When organizing a crossing for equipment, the following factors are taken into account:
- the depth of the reservoir;
- flow rate;
- the distance between the banks of the river;
- traffic intensity;
- when a hydroelectric power plant is located nearby, the route calculation data is compared with the operating mode of the hydroelectric power plant.
Theory and practice
The ice track is cleared of snow on both sides of the axis (not less than 10 m) and marked with milestones (every 15-20 m). Since the traffic on the track is one-way, the road with reverse traffic should be laid at least 100 m. see. The holes are arranged according to the principle of chess cells at a distance of 5 m from the axis in the direction in both directions. For safety, they are fenced with a snow embankment around the circumference and covered with wooden shields. The emerging "hanging" of ice is brought down mechanically. Measurements are made by the local hydrometeorological service every 5 days, and more often in case of thaws.
In addition to the weight of the equipment, adjustments are made for traffic intensity according to the formula:
H tr \u003d n a P
It takes into account:
- H is the ice thickness;
- n is the coefficient of traffic intensity (with a throughput of 500 cars per day, the indicator n is equal to 1, if 1 is 500, then 400 is 0.8, etc.);
- a is an indicator of the load characteristics (wheeled, caterpillar);
- P is the mass of the load, t.
The formula can be supplemented, depending on the characteristics of local conditions.
As you can see, it is much easier to secure the movement of one person, but only if this person follows the rules. Ultimately, the table of permissible ice thickness (and load on it) when organizing the crossing of equipment will look like this:
| Required ice cover thickness (cm) taking into account the average daily t for the past 3 days | Distance between cars, m | |||
| – 10 ° and below | - 5 °С | With a short-term thaw to 0 ° | ||
| Tracked vehicles | ||||
| 4 | 18 | 20 | 28 | 10 |
| 6 | 22 | 24 | 31 | 15 |
| 10 | 28 | 31 | 39 | 20 |
| 16 | 36 | 40 | 50 | 25 |
| 20 | 40 | 44 | 56 | 30 |
| 30 | 49 | 54 | 68 | 35 |
| 40 | 57 | 63 | 80 | 40 |
| 50 | 63 | 70 | 88 | 55 |
| 60 | 70 | 77 | 98 | 70 |
| Wheeled vehicles | ||||
| 3,5 | 22 | 24 | 31 | 18 |
| 6 | 29 | 32 | 40 | 20 |
| 8 | 34 | 37 | 48 | 22 |
| 10 | 38 | 42 | 53 | 25 |
| 15 | 46 | 50 | 64 | 30 |
Amendments and clarifications
When using the table, it should be taken into account that the average daily temperature and “ideal” conditions for the formation of the “freshwater shelly” ice variety are taken. The porous ice thickness will have to be doubled. In the presence of salt water in the reservoir, the correction factor is reduced to 1.2. With frequent thaws, the carrying capacity of each piece of equipment is determined in a practical way.
If necessary, the ice cover is artificially thickened, clearing the space for this, pouring water on it and waiting for the layers to freeze. If it is required to transport equipment to the place of diving operations in places where ice covers sea water bodies, the conditions change as described in the first table of the article.
But let us return once again to the requirements of behavior in winter on a river or a pond, which are valid for a person, and especially for children, who are more often than adults are unreasonable. It is believed that the ice for the safe presence of a person on it must be at least 10-15 cm (depending on the water, fresh or salty). In the case of mass events on ice, the norm increases to 25 cm. You should also know how to behave if someone (or yourself) fell through the ice, because panic can lead to a sad outcome.
When the seemingly strong ice for safe movement has been replaced by porous and brittle, you can suddenly find yourself in the water, pull yourself together and follow the recommendations:
- Spread your arms to the sides so that you can lean on without breaking the edges of the “font” and not choking.
- You will have to crawl out of the hole, avoiding jerky movements. If you have "ice awls" and a rope with you, use them for pulling up.
- The main rule: do not rely on individual sections of a small area, but try to position yourself so that the largest area serves as a support.
- Roll away from the edges of the dip, and when standing on your feet, do not run, move slowly and without raising your legs above the ice surface.
- When helping a fallen one, find something that will help expand the area of \u200b\u200bsupport (sports equipment, plywood, plastic).
- Do not stand on the edge of the hole, act at the optimal distance.
- Throw the rope to the one who is in the hole and pull with uniform movements, helping to get out.
- When you get home, change the victim's clothes, give him some tea (no alcohol added!) and call an ambulance.
Rescuers operating in conditions where movement on ice is required should remember:
- When choosing a route, you need to remember about drifting ice (on the sea, lake), find out the speed and direction of the current, wind.
- It is worth stocking up on anti-slip devices.
- On water with currents, the thickness of the ice can be different everywhere.
- In swamps, unlike rivers, the ice is stronger in the center and weaker at the edges.
Rules of conduct on a frozen pond
- Do not experiment with checking the strength of the cover with your feet, take a pole with you.
- Find existing trodden paths.
- If you are one of the first to build such a hiking trail, test the strength of the ice in front of you with a stick, avoid places that do not inspire confidence.
- Remember the signs of a fragile coating: crackling, mobility, the appearance of water above the surface. If this happens, move from this place with your legs apart, slowly or even crawling.
- You can not move in a company (between travelers or skiers you need gaps of at least 5 meters), with skis fastened to your legs, with ski poles attached to your hands.
- Anglers need to count the number of holes in a certain area and drill them at a considerable distance from each other.
- If you have a load (satchel, backpack), it is better to secure it with a rope and drag it at a distance.
- If it becomes necessary to overcome an area of unstable ice, go there with a belayer. Even moving at a distance of 5 meters, he will help in case of an accident.
- If you have the opportunity, it is best to drill a hole and measure the thickness of the ice before your winter hike.
- It is not recommended to fish near melted or damaged areas of ice.
- Stock up on a twelve meter (or longer) rope, at one end of it there should be a load.