OfflineHello everyone,
As our 2 sheet club in CT winds down another season we are already looking to the future and that includes putting in a Low E ceiling that has become the standard it seems at most clubs. I'm looking for input from others as to the problems it solved, problems it created and if it helped to lower energy bills for your club. Also, do you have moisture problems above or below the ceiling and if so what do you use for dehumidification?
Thanks in advance for any info
When Mark Shurek rolled into my club for the Cactus Pheasant Classic he looked up at my Low E ceiling and just shook his head.
He just hates them. He says you can't make decent curling ice under them. I proved him wrong.
I have had that ceiling in for 15 years and just love it. Keeps the heat in and reflects light like crazy. I have a 22 foot ceiling in my six sheeter though.
My ice is always good. No problems at all.
Roy
Check us out at:
www.pheasantclassic.com
Low-E ceilings are designed to prevent heat radiation, as infrared, from ceilings. If you study the data of manufacturers 9and don't believe all they tell you!) you'll find that the ceilings work well if the roof is warm, but less well if the roof is cold. Therefore, if there is no serious amount of heat in the roof space, there will be little radiation and little need for a low-E ceiling. Here in Scotland many ceilings have been installed and are said to pay for themselves in savings, but I have no real data. What I do know is that the temperature in the roof space can be as high as 25C (needs one) or as low as 10C (no need), you'll simply have to measure what you have and decide from there.
If the ceiling creates a pocket of trapped air between itself and the roof, this will help insulate the roof and also prevent radiation. The ceiling can also trap drips from/through the roof before these reach the ice. It will also trap dirt -- give it a thump and dirty ice will be the result. Little things, but they all come into the equation.
We put the low E ceiling in 6 years ago. Our dehumidifier was too small and couldn't keep up. We had clouds in the ice shed until the new one came. The moisture was trapped in the ice shed. We believe we saved in our energy costs. It certainly brightened up the place compared to our old brown ceiling. We had mold growing on the old ceiling - it wasn't the best choice in hind site. Noone has wanted to look up and see the mold has taken over the whole ceiling!