Slow Freezing due to Latent Heat

Stumped by inability to freeze back yard ice rink. We built a 16'x16' ice sheet (2x4 framing with 3.5 mil plastic liner) on our deck (3/4" thick wood decking with about 24" of air space underneath). Water depth ranges from 2-1/2" to 3-1/2" due to the slope of the deck. Despite temperatures consistently below freezing (high of 25F, low of 11F) since we flooded it almost 72 hours ago, it will not freeze solid. What am I missing???
- Glenn (age 46)
Chester Springs, PA USA

My guess is that you'll just have to be patient. Each gram of water has to dump 80 cal of heat to freeze. That can be a slow process.

Mike W.

(published on 01/27/2014)