tank height

[adk1]

Everything is set and ready to go except for my tank. I have quite a run of pipe to get from the tank to the float box. My tank is higher than my inlet to the float box but the length of tubing I have going to the float is somewhat up and down. almost parallel once it gets to the inlet at the float box. IT is not ideal that is for sure. I am hoping that the head pressure in the tank will keep moving it forward. My outlet in the 200gal tank is in the bottom of the tank. I would venture a guess that the difference in height of outlet of sap tank is 3-4" higher than the inlet t othe float.

THe problem I have is that I cant really elevate the tank anymore since my mainline feeds directly into it. I had ato drill a hole in the upper side of the tank already..obviously the lower I put the hole the less capacity the tank has..I guess I might have to fill the tank with water via hose and see what happens I guess.

[jgrenier]

As long as it is higher it should be fine mine is only 3" higher and has worked for two years. I think that the feed line between the float box and the tank should be as flat as possible with no sags so the sap don't sit in the between boils

[adk1]

I have been trying to keep alittle grade going into the float box. I didnt think that you would want to keep it flat would you? I raised the tank up about 6" for where I tested it using water. It didnt work originally. I am hoping that the 6" increase will work. No idea when I am gonna test it and I plan on tapping on Tuesday! Urgh..

[allgreenmaple]

One option might be, to let you mainline drop into another tank, then let a submersible pump push sap up higher to a more elevated head tank , thus feeding you evaporator.......

[adk1]

yeah, I thought of that. IF I have to that is what I will do.

[wiam]

adk, you want that line steep enough so it will drain completely. This gives one less to freeze and cause a problem.

[adk1]

I would agree. I only have 6" difference between my tank outlet and the float.

[Leadft]

Last season I only had a few inches difference like yourself and I used a garden hose to feed the float box... I had to lower the hose outlet into a bucket to get the line filled with sat then I attached it to the float box and away it went without a glitch... This year I'm exploring a small transfer tank set up higher with a reverse float switch and a small transfer pump to let gravity do its thing...
It is a good idea to drain your feed hose/pipe when you let it set more than a few hours or when it gets cold enough to freeze...

[adk1]

Leadft, I agree about draining the hose, especially when you have 20' of it to drain. Wish I had installed a valve in order to shut it off from the tank!

[mellondome]

Put that valve in before you get the drill going or it will not get there until next year. Don't let all that planning turn into frustration because of one valve.

The last 2 years, my heat tank was 100 gal, and the outlet was 3" above my float inlet. No problems with flow.. even with the 3/8" line between the tank and the float. It was a braided line .. and it was not straight or tight. for a while i ran it with a loop in it just because i didn't want to cut it shorter. The sap will flow as long as the destination is down hill.

[adk1]

yeah I hear yeah. I think i have all of the parts I would need, I have plenty of plumbing parts.