Problems Caused by Excess Humidity in Ice Rinks
- Condensation on ceilings
- Mold, fugus, and corrosion on building structures
- Fog over the ice surface
- Pollution from resurfacing machine pollution
- Soft ice
- Slow ice
- Poor skating conditions
Causes of Humidity, Condensation and Fog in Ice Rinks
Moisture is introduced into an ice skating facility through several sources:
- Water evaporation
- Skaters & spectators
- Code ventilation
- Infiltration
- Combustion (ice resurfacers and gas heaters)

Moisture follows a physical law of nature and migrates through the air from a higher concentration to a lower concentration due to a difference in vapor pressure. When the air is cooled it is unable to hold as much moisture. Moisture will condense on colder surfaces that have a lower temperature than the dew point temperature of the air. This moisture will be deposited on the cooler surfaces in the form of water droplets, leading to sweating, dripping and fogging above the ice surface.
This condition is intensified in indoor skating and curling rinks due to the large area of ice surface and the indoor air which has been cooled considerably below the outdoor ambient. Consequently, outdoor air will increase the inside relative humidity, and at this point, fog is formed above the ice surface. The cold ice surface at this time will in fact produce a dehumidification effect by having moisture condense and accumulate at its surface, known as “frosting.” Frosting causes “slow” ice and an additional load on the ice making system.
Desert Aire has been providing commercial dehumidifier solutions since 1978 and have installations throughout North America. We look forward to assisting with your next ice rink dehumidification project!
If you have any questions, or would like more info on our dehumidification systems, please contact us!