For those of you that live in a warm climate you can skip over this tip but for those of us battling the winter weather and freezing temperatures you might want to read this. Keeping water from freezing is a real concern for many of us. Horses need their water just as much in the winter as in the summer so it is vital we keep our stock tanks from freezing over. Here are a few tips that might help in the battle of the frozen water tank.
If electricity is around try using a tank heater they simply plug in and heat the water enough to keep it from freezing, they come in several styles and are easy to use and maintain. They can get expensive to operate. Count on adding about $120.00 to your hydro bill for the season. Another electrical device you can use is an aerator. Basically it is a pump that sits in the bottom of your tank and blows water and air up to the surface the warmer water from the bottom and the movement created keeps the water from freezing , kind of like a creek that doesn't freeze over because of the constant motion. This is less expensive then a heater but can get messy if the tank water level gets too low.
Things you can do that don't require electricity are covering most of the tank with a board, only allowing a small section of the tank exposed so the horses can stick their muzzles in to get a drink.
Place a floating object in the tank. The movement of the object along the surface can stimulate the water enough to keep it from freezing.
Insulate the tank. You can do this by building an outshell around the tank with some plywood and 2x4's. Fill the gap inbetwen the shell and the tank with foam insulation then build a lid with a small hole for the horses to drink out of.
Another way to insulate is to bury the tank below the frost line. This may or may be feasible depending on where you live and the depth of the frost line.
The idea I really like is to build a solar box around the tank. You do this in the same manner as the insulating box but with a few little changes. Firstly the tank should be painted black and a clear panel of plexiglass built into one side of the box. The clear side should be facing the southern exposure. Build a lid with a small opening for the horses to drink out of. In order to retain most of the heat seal the box with a caulking sealant.
Good luck
Steve Wawryk
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