Cold Sap Transfer pump

[catfisher]

Can a general use submersible pump be used to transfer cold sap from the collection barrel to the bulk tank or does it have to be food grade?

[unc23win]

Now that is a question likely to get various answers. Of course food grade would be best, but in some cases it is very pricey. I would go with a brand new pump that could be used for potable water that is either stainless or plastic not cast. Purpose it for sap only. Some people use deep well pumps with float switches.

[Burnt sap]

Use only for sap, Clean all oil or other petroleum products from manufacture shipping or testing. Clean after every use at very least rinse out pump and hose. You should be good to go.

[catfisher]

Will make sure not to get a cast impeller and it will definitely be a one purpose pump and if need be will upgrade to food grade next year.

As far as cleaning when done was planning on running 5 gal bleach/water mix through then 5 gal straight water.

[DoubleBrookMaple]

Here is a post I made on another thread...

Don't we all wish someone would publish a "standard practices", an "acceptable materials", as well as an "approved equipment" list for the Maple Industry. Maybe someone has, but is afraid to share it for the liability exposure.

Many products and materials are not specifically approved in any documentation from the manufacturer, but we know from acquired knowledge that they are. If you buy plastic jugs for syrup do you look for FDA compliance statements? Many plastics are, but they have heat limitations. If you buy something made with HDPE or polyprope it will not necessarily say "FDA Compliant", but it is. Stainless steel, we all know is. But we must beware. Stainless steel has no temperature limitation for us, but HDPE does at 230 degrees.

If you buy a pump made with any or all of these materials you can decide if in your application it is safe. You may or may not be able to use it for hot syrup. I have bought several pumps that the manufacturer has not taken the expensive route of NSF approval, never mind, even state "FDA Compliant" (NEVER to be confused with the term "FDA approved", which is a specific approval, mostly in the drug industry). I have determined by the materials, that it is FDA compliant. Trust me, a reseller stating that a product is FDA compliant may even be false.

Food Compliant Materials Table

Nylon (Tecamid®, Tecast®, Nycast®/Nyoil® FG, Nylatron®)
PET-P (Tecapet®, Ertalyte®)
Polycarbonate (Makralon®, Tecanat®, Lexan®)
ABS (Tecaran®)
Noryl® PPO (Tecanyl®)
PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate, Hydex® 4101/41010L)
Acetal (Tecaform®, Delrin®)
Polypropylene (Tecafin®, Proteus®)
Polyurethane (Instantroll®)
PEEK (Polyetheretherketone, Tecapeek®)
UHMW-PE (Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, Tivar®)
Polyetherimide (Ultem® PEI, Tecapei®, Semitron®)
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene, Tecafine®)
LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
Polystyrene High Impact
Polysulfone (Tecason® S)
PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride, Tecaflon ®, Solef®, Kynar®)

Remember, we each are the final authority, and responsible for what we use, and what application it is used for. Many products that meet FDA standards, may not be OK for hot syrup.

Now... Where did I get this list?
Is it an "approved list?

Decide for yourselves.

http://www.plasticsintl.com/food_compliant_materials.html

Now...

I have avoided cast iron. I have done my research, and the FDA does not allow cast iron, except in the case of cooking surfaces (for obvious reasons(, because it is porous and cannot be cleaned properly, even when exposed. How can we clean the inside of a pump. But.... does it matter a lot in sap handling? This is not a finished product.
Here is a resource from the University of Florida on food equipment that covers the subject very well.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs119

Now, maybe if we had a maple industry list of approved materials and equipment a cast iron pump could be on it. Let's be clear. The sap has lots of bacteria in it from the start that grows. We boil it all out, so what does it matter?

I try to use pumps made with compliant materials from an approved list. Lots of cheap plastics. I do use a Liberty #331, which is a cast aluminum, with a thermoplastic (see above list) impeller. I feel reasonably comfortable with that for sap, and in the end would not fault anyone from using a clean cast iron. But, you know what they say about opinions....

[Burnt sap]

Good to go, have fun and may Mother Nature give you a great run.

[catfisher]

DoubleBrookMaple....that is quite a list and very informative, thanks to all who replied.

Tapped this past Sun in N.E. Wi and the weather has been unseasonably warm, hope it cools soon or it'll be over before it started.... upgraded and moved everything inside this year, go figure

[Biz]

Great list, very helpful. Wonder about these materials, that may be commonly used for sap transfer plumbing:

PVC (used in common plumbing parts)
Brass (lead-free) - used for valves mostly
Nickel-plated brass (better than LF brass?)

Dave

[CampHamp]

Can a general use submersible pump be used to transfer cold sap from the collection barrel to the bulk tank or does it have to be food grade?
Almost everyone here has a pump deployed. We're all plumbers in-training... :D If you're after specific pump recommendations, then please let us know how much sap you're handling, if it needs to pump fast (do you need to sit and wait for it to finish or can you do other things while pumping), how high off the ground you need to lift it and if you have any power at the pump site (12V DC, 120V AC or gas-powered only).