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| 2009-2010 Home Snowmaking Season |
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| Home Snowmaking 101 |
Since home snowmakers flow much less water than ski resort snowmakers, they are scaled down to a much smaller size. Since you are flowing less
water into the snowmaker, you also need much less compressed air to nucleate the water. This means instead of using an industrial size air
compressor, you can use a normal household size air compressor. So in basic terms home snowmakers are just a smaller, scaled down version of the
snowmakers you see at ski resorts.
The Weather and Snowmaking
Snowmaking is very weather dependent. A common misconception is that you can make snow anytime the outside temperature drops below freezing
(32ºF or 0ºC). Believe it or not sometimes you cannot make snow when it is below freezing, but you can when the temperature is at or above freezing.
This is because snowmaking goes by the WET BULB temperature. This is the ambient temperature with the humidity level factored in.
Ideally for home snowmaking you can start making snow when the wetbulb temperature is 27ºF or less, especially if you are using a snowmaker that
runs off of a pressure washer or high pressure pump. A 27ºF wetbulb temperature is typically achieved once the outside air temperature reaches 29ºF
or less. If the humidity is low, you can reach a wetbulb temperature of 27ºF when the air temperature is 30ºF or 31ºF. You can find wet bulb
temperature calculators online by searching for “wet bulb calculator” on any major search engine. These calculators ask for your air temperature and
humidity and then calculate your wet bulb temperature.
The higher your wet bulb temperature, the wetter your snow quality will be. As the wet bulb temperature drops, your snow quality will increase by getting
drier. Home snowmakers that run off of a standard garden hose work better in marginal snowmaking conditions. This is because the snowmaking
process these snowmakers follow require them to use more compressed air (CFM). So even though they make much less snow compared to our
snowmakers that run off of pressure washers, they will make higher quality snow in marginal snowmaking conditions or make snow when our other
snowmakers can’t.
With a home snowmaker that runs off of a garden hose, you can start making snow once the wetbulb temperature reaches 30ºF or less. However in
order to make running the snowmaker worthwhile, we recommend only starting it up once the temperature gets to 30ºF or less. When you are making
snow with a snowmaker that runs off a garden hose and the temperature is above 30ºF, the snowmaker makes very little snow unless the humidity is
VERY LOW. Our Maverick Snowmaker and Maverick Excel Snowmaker will make snow up to 39ºF provided that the humidity level is low (10% or less).
Snowmakers that run off a garden hose can make a decent amount of snow once the temperature gets below 20ºF because you can mix more water
with the compressed air as it gets colder.
Water Temperature and Snowmaking
Ski resorts let the water they use for snowmaking sit in large retention ponds that they aerate to prevent the water from freezing until it is used. They let
the water sit in these retention ponds so that they can get the water as cold as possible without it freezing. The cooler the water temperature, the better
it is for snowmaking. Ideally ski resorts try to get the water temperature down to around 34 to 40ºF.
Since most household tap water is 50ºF+ you need to compensate for the warmer water when trying to make snow. This is done by using certain
materials in the construction of the snowmaker and by using different snowmaking nozzles. Basically all of our home snowguns are designed to operate
with normal household water temperature
Internal Mix and External Mix Snowmakers
There are two types of snowmakers, internal mix and external mix. Internal mix snowmakers mix the compressed air and water INSIDE of the snowmaker.
External mix snowmakers mix the compressed air and water on the OUTSIDE of the snowmaker. Each design has it benefits and drawbacks.
Internal mix snowmakers tend to be more efficient because they use less compressed air and tend to work better in marginal snowmaking conditions.
This is why all of our snowmakers are internal mix snowmakers. This is also why most snowmakers at ski resorts are internal mix as well.
The only down fall to internal mix snowmakers (in home snowmaking) is the chance of back flow to your compressor. This simply means that if your
compressor turns off, whether it trips the breaker or runs out of gas, there is a chance water can back flow down the airline and into the compressor.
This results in possible damage to your air compressor if you don’t notice your compressor is no longer running. The chances of back flow occurring
are VERY SLIM and we have yet to hear from a customer who had it happen. If you want to make sure back flow doesn’t occur, then we recommend
installing a check valve on the air connection of your snowmaker. This will eliminate any chance of back flow should your compressor turn off.
External mix snowmakers require more air (CFM) in order to operate. As a result they are not as compatible with smaller sized air compressors. The
nucleation nozzle set up on external mix snowmakers doesn’t work too well in windy conditions. Often times the mist from the nucleation nozzles blows
BEHIND the snowmaker if the wind is blowing against your snowmaker. This prevents you from making snow in windy conditions. External mix
snowmakers (in home snowmaking) are also highly prone to freezing on windy or very cold nights. If the nucleation nozzles freeze, your snowmaker will
not be able to make snow.
The Purpose of Compressed Air
The main purpose of compressed air in snowmaking is to supercool the water. The compressed air is used at the nucleation nozzle on the snowmaker.
The air mixes with the water in a specific ratio in order to form a “seed” that is later used to form snow. As the compressed air meets the water, the
compressed air shatters the water particles. As this happens the compressed air removes the heat from the water particles in turn “supercooling” the
water. This is known as the “heat exchange process” and this happens as the compressed air expands.
Home Snowmaking without Compressed Air
We get a lot of questions from people each winter about making snow without an air compressor. While ski resorts are able to make snow without
compressed air, it cannot be done on the home scale…. yet. It can be done at ski areas but not at home for several reasons.
Ski resorts use an additive in their water for airless snowmakers and due to environmental laws this additive is not available for sale to the general
public. Airless snowmakers at ski resorts use special nozzles that are very expensive. As mentioned before, ski areas pre cool their water to get it as
cold as possible. This combined with the additive helps the water freeze extremely quickly. The major drawback to airless snowmakers is that they can
only operate in really cold temperatures. Airless snowmakers at ski resorts are known to make VERY POOR quality snow.
No matter how fine of a mist you get from a certain nozzle or how powerful your pressure washer is, you just cannot make snow at home without
compressed air. You need the compressed air to supercool the water in order to create the “seed” used to form snow.
water into the snowmaker, you also need much less compressed air to nucleate the water. This means instead of using an industrial size air
compressor, you can use a normal household size air compressor. So in basic terms home snowmakers are just a smaller, scaled down version of the
snowmakers you see at ski resorts.
The Weather and Snowmaking
Snowmaking is very weather dependent. A common misconception is that you can make snow anytime the outside temperature drops below freezing
(32ºF or 0ºC). Believe it or not sometimes you cannot make snow when it is below freezing, but you can when the temperature is at or above freezing.
This is because snowmaking goes by the WET BULB temperature. This is the ambient temperature with the humidity level factored in.
Ideally for home snowmaking you can start making snow when the wetbulb temperature is 27ºF or less, especially if you are using a snowmaker that
runs off of a pressure washer or high pressure pump. A 27ºF wetbulb temperature is typically achieved once the outside air temperature reaches 29ºF
or less. If the humidity is low, you can reach a wetbulb temperature of 27ºF when the air temperature is 30ºF or 31ºF. You can find wet bulb
temperature calculators online by searching for “wet bulb calculator” on any major search engine. These calculators ask for your air temperature and
humidity and then calculate your wet bulb temperature.
The higher your wet bulb temperature, the wetter your snow quality will be. As the wet bulb temperature drops, your snow quality will increase by getting
drier. Home snowmakers that run off of a standard garden hose work better in marginal snowmaking conditions. This is because the snowmaking
process these snowmakers follow require them to use more compressed air (CFM). So even though they make much less snow compared to our
snowmakers that run off of pressure washers, they will make higher quality snow in marginal snowmaking conditions or make snow when our other
snowmakers can’t.
With a home snowmaker that runs off of a garden hose, you can start making snow once the wetbulb temperature reaches 30ºF or less. However in
order to make running the snowmaker worthwhile, we recommend only starting it up once the temperature gets to 30ºF or less. When you are making
snow with a snowmaker that runs off a garden hose and the temperature is above 30ºF, the snowmaker makes very little snow unless the humidity is
VERY LOW. Our Maverick Snowmaker and Maverick Excel Snowmaker will make snow up to 39ºF provided that the humidity level is low (10% or less).
Snowmakers that run off a garden hose can make a decent amount of snow once the temperature gets below 20ºF because you can mix more water
with the compressed air as it gets colder.
Water Temperature and Snowmaking
Ski resorts let the water they use for snowmaking sit in large retention ponds that they aerate to prevent the water from freezing until it is used. They let
the water sit in these retention ponds so that they can get the water as cold as possible without it freezing. The cooler the water temperature, the better
it is for snowmaking. Ideally ski resorts try to get the water temperature down to around 34 to 40ºF.
Since most household tap water is 50ºF+ you need to compensate for the warmer water when trying to make snow. This is done by using certain
materials in the construction of the snowmaker and by using different snowmaking nozzles. Basically all of our home snowguns are designed to operate
with normal household water temperature
Internal Mix and External Mix Snowmakers
There are two types of snowmakers, internal mix and external mix. Internal mix snowmakers mix the compressed air and water INSIDE of the snowmaker.
External mix snowmakers mix the compressed air and water on the OUTSIDE of the snowmaker. Each design has it benefits and drawbacks.
Internal mix snowmakers tend to be more efficient because they use less compressed air and tend to work better in marginal snowmaking conditions.
This is why all of our snowmakers are internal mix snowmakers. This is also why most snowmakers at ski resorts are internal mix as well.
The only down fall to internal mix snowmakers (in home snowmaking) is the chance of back flow to your compressor. This simply means that if your
compressor turns off, whether it trips the breaker or runs out of gas, there is a chance water can back flow down the airline and into the compressor.
This results in possible damage to your air compressor if you don’t notice your compressor is no longer running. The chances of back flow occurring
are VERY SLIM and we have yet to hear from a customer who had it happen. If you want to make sure back flow doesn’t occur, then we recommend
installing a check valve on the air connection of your snowmaker. This will eliminate any chance of back flow should your compressor turn off.
External mix snowmakers require more air (CFM) in order to operate. As a result they are not as compatible with smaller sized air compressors. The
nucleation nozzle set up on external mix snowmakers doesn’t work too well in windy conditions. Often times the mist from the nucleation nozzles blows
BEHIND the snowmaker if the wind is blowing against your snowmaker. This prevents you from making snow in windy conditions. External mix
snowmakers (in home snowmaking) are also highly prone to freezing on windy or very cold nights. If the nucleation nozzles freeze, your snowmaker will
not be able to make snow.
The Purpose of Compressed Air
The main purpose of compressed air in snowmaking is to supercool the water. The compressed air is used at the nucleation nozzle on the snowmaker.
The air mixes with the water in a specific ratio in order to form a “seed” that is later used to form snow. As the compressed air meets the water, the
compressed air shatters the water particles. As this happens the compressed air removes the heat from the water particles in turn “supercooling” the
water. This is known as the “heat exchange process” and this happens as the compressed air expands.
Home Snowmaking without Compressed Air
We get a lot of questions from people each winter about making snow without an air compressor. While ski resorts are able to make snow without
compressed air, it cannot be done on the home scale…. yet. It can be done at ski areas but not at home for several reasons.
Ski resorts use an additive in their water for airless snowmakers and due to environmental laws this additive is not available for sale to the general
public. Airless snowmakers at ski resorts use special nozzles that are very expensive. As mentioned before, ski areas pre cool their water to get it as
cold as possible. This combined with the additive helps the water freeze extremely quickly. The major drawback to airless snowmakers is that they can
only operate in really cold temperatures. Airless snowmakers at ski resorts are known to make VERY POOR quality snow.
No matter how fine of a mist you get from a certain nozzle or how powerful your pressure washer is, you just cannot make snow at home without
compressed air. You need the compressed air to supercool the water in order to create the “seed” used to form snow.
| SnowStorm Snowmaking PO Box 633 Orefield, PA 18069 Phone: 610-481-9696 Email: contact@snowstormsnowmaking.com WE ARE THE HOME SNOWMAKING EXPERTS! Entire Contents Copyright 2005-2010 SnowStorm Snowmaking, LLC |
The process of making snow is pretty simple, mix compressed air and water in cold weather and you will
make snow. While this seems simple, there are a lot of other factors that come in to play which can make
snowmaking very complicated. Home snowguns make snow following the same processes that ski resort
snowguns use, but there are some differences.
Ski resort caliber snowmaking equipment is designed to make a lot of snow per hour. Typically these
snowguns flow anywhere from 15-65gpm of water each. Some snowguns have the capability to flow in
excess of 200gpm based on the weather conditions. That’s a lot of water being converted into snow! Since
ski resort size snowguns make so much snow, ski resorts use industrial size air compressors and water
pumps to feed the snowmakers. These compressors and pumps cannot be used at home because they
draw too much power that your home cannot provide.
make snow. While this seems simple, there are a lot of other factors that come in to play which can make
snowmaking very complicated. Home snowguns make snow following the same processes that ski resort
snowguns use, but there are some differences.
Ski resort caliber snowmaking equipment is designed to make a lot of snow per hour. Typically these
snowguns flow anywhere from 15-65gpm of water each. Some snowguns have the capability to flow in
excess of 200gpm based on the weather conditions. That’s a lot of water being converted into snow! Since
ski resort size snowguns make so much snow, ski resorts use industrial size air compressors and water
pumps to feed the snowmakers. These compressors and pumps cannot be used at home because they
draw too much power that your home cannot provide.