pan hood ??

[jessestrish]

Ok I am new at this. Why is there a pan hood and what is it use for?? Also does it really help?

[RileySugarbush]

A hood can be used to help guide the steam and water vapor up through a stack to the cupola or through the roof, avoiding a steam bath in the sugar house. Another benefit is it keeps the steam enclosed around a bunch of copper pipe inside to act as a very effective preheater for your incoming sap. A side benefit of that arrangement is you can ( and must) collect the condensation on those pipes and it is a nice source of clean hot water. don't let it drip back into the sap or you will need to re-evaporate it!

[northwoods_forestry]

A hood also keeps stuff you don't want in your pans out, like drippings from your ceiling.

[backyard sugaring]

Yes, it helps a lot. My hood is connected to a 8" pipe that goes through the roof. The only draw back is not being able to see the rear pan. Good luck this season. Lee