Painting PVC black to make it thaw faster

[red maples]

Thinking about PVC freezing up in past years, does anyone else paint PVC fittings black? I had a PVC coupler freeze solid and had to open it up to get the ICE out. now that I am putting in a dry line in and using PVC fittings (sorry Stainless just TOOOOO expensive) I just wanna make sure they thaw fast enough and I don't loose any sap.

any thoughts???

[archerybs]

Freezing up shouldn't be an issue in a dry line because there shouldn't be any sap in that line. In the case where sap starts flowing before the mainline thaws it should be warm enough not to freeze.

[TunbridgeDave]

Wow, I usually have the opposite problem. I paint all of our black mainline white where it's in the sun. Especially the bigger lines closer to the sugarhouse.

Is your plumbing set up so it will drain? I leave the Vac on until the sap stops running.

[DrTimPerkins]

I had a PVC coupler freeze solid and had to open it up to get the ICE out.

Was this under vacuum? If so, it was probably due to a very small leak. Leaks cause localized freezing. Fixing the leak will stop the freezing.

[morningstarfarm]

I understand how most of us want the lines to NOT absorb any heat...unfortunately red like me has his taps in a low, pretty much flat, swampy area...We need all the thawing we can get as the cold settles in on us and can be a challenge to thaw...I will happily deal with the 3-4 degree warmer sap if I can actually get it out of my lines...that being said, I wouldnt paint anything black...I dont think it will acutally make much difference as they are already gray...just my .02

[red maples]

yes it is under vacuum and PVC is white. Its possible there was a small leak there letting in a small amount of air to freeze it up. It only happened once!!! not sure what I am gonna do. we'll see!

[morningstarfarm]

My bad...misread it...was thinking of the gray plastic fittings...