How long does a tap last?

[cjf12]

I am sure it is on here somewhere but I failed to find it through the search. We tapped the last week of Jan. and have since had a decent week followed by a cold week, then warmer, cold again, since. Should we be considering redrilling the holes? Seems like the weather is going to break by the end of this week. I thought that a couple times this year already. Does the tap dry out in 4 weeks, 5 weeks, or .....

[sugarman3]

No redrilling,taps will last 4-6 weeks,longer with check valve spouts,nothing as far as bacteria goes, will seal hole with cold temps,bacteria starts with warmer temps

[cjf12]

Some are check valve, some not. Is there a good rule of thumb to go by? How about any signs. Is it worth putting new taps in a few other trees for comparison? Just checked out the calender and we are starting the 6th week since we tapped.

[psparr]

Mine have been in since Jan 3. I had my best run this week.

[PerryW]

4 to 6 weeks is typical for gravity systems, but probably longer if it's been frozen for most of the time.

[psparr]

For sh@$s and giggles I tapped one tree in November to show some family and didn't get a drop of sap. I left the tap (old aluminum bucket spout) in until I tapped most of my trees the first week of January. Hung a bucket on it and it ran! Only got about a gallon out of it before it dried up but it sure made it more than 6 weeks. Maybe the cold had a lot to do with it.

[Goggleeye]

I run gravity lines, and agree with the 4-6 weeks on an average year. However, this year I tapped Jan 5&6, and several runs are still producing well 8+ weeks out. All depends on the weather, we only had several days get into the 50s and 60s all of Jan and Feb this year.

[maplehillbros7179]

you want to tap before the best 30 days, as soon as you drill the hole the tree begins healing