cleaning lines

[PATheron]

What is a cleaning agent that is ok to use in the us for sap lines? Ive wondered before if just white vinegar would work good. Im not necessarily wondering about it to improve sap yield but wondered if it would help the quality of the sap on the older lines. Theron

[Russell Lampron]

I don't clean my lines anymore. When I was cleaning them with water I would get a lot of algae growth in the off season. Now I just let the sap sit there and ferment. There is some sludge in them but no where near as bad as when I washed them. I dump the first sap that comes in at the start of the season and save and boil the rest once it comes in clear. I use seasonal spouts and the sap yield hasn't suffered from the unwashed lines.

[whity]

We started using 70% isopropyl Alcohol mixed with water. About 2 gallons of alcohol to 80 gallons of water. Works great. Only problem is getting the alcohol. Seems you can't get in the US. You have to get it in Canada for now.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

We started using 70% isopropyl Alcohol mixed with water. About 2 gallons of alcohol to 80 gallons of water. Works great. Only problem is getting the alcohol. Seems you can't get in the US. You have to get it in Canada for now.

Illegal for use in the US.

[Cedar Eater]

I think the US FDA limits you to bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or water. You can also air dry the lines by applying vacuum to one end.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

By leaving top tap open for a couple of months helps to air dry out lines too.

[BreezyHill]

2 seasons ago I started using peroxide after decades of using Clorox solution. Switched due to influx of squirrels. Upon pulling the tap run a bit thru the spout under vac to flush the line brush the spout flush again and plug...next spout. In the fall filled each drop with solution and plugged and let hang. The following season was perfectly clean lines.

This past season same thing but we didn't have time in fall to fill the drops. Major mistake. This season several spider ladders plugged and the sap filter needed changing several times the first run.

End of this season we will be flushing as usual and buying two back pack sprayers to fill the drops so it is a fast job in the fall.

We will be using our atv 35 gallon tank to flush the mains end of this season to clear any contaminates that are in the lines still.

This season after the first run we had the lightest syrup since the first two weeks last season. Prior to that we had not made the lightest grade for some time. This was not a concern since the mid and darker grades are what our clients want. So this season we will blend the light and dark.

[maplestudent]

2 seasons ago I started using peroxide after decades of using Clorox solution. Switched due to influx of squirrels. Upon pulling the tap run a bit thru the spout under vac to flush the line brush the spout flush again and plug...next spout. In the fall filled each drop with solution and plugged and let hang. The following season was perfectly clean lines.

BreezyHill, a couple questions for you: at what point did the solution in the drops get removed/flushed? or did you dump the first run?

also, what do you specifically mean by "brushed the spout"..... inside or outside of it?

Thanks

[rjoly]

Breezyhill what is the mixing ratio you use, How much water to peroxide

[GV2]

BreezyHill,

I tried to use my backpack sprayer to clean 3/16 tubing runs but had a hard time because the nozzle was oversized for 3/16 tubing so I gave up. I would like to try it again. I am thinking I could sleeve the 3/15 with some 5/16, but I would like to ask you and the forum if there is a trick to making this chore easier.
thanks

[eustis22]

I should think a 3/16 barb with a female NPT fitting could be adapted to do this but I have read elsethread to just stick your last tap in a bucket of whatever you're using to clean the lines and the vacuum will take care of getting it inside the lines.

[BreezyHill]

I tap under vac so the solution is mostly sucked out of the lines as we tap and when done we let the lines flush for a few hours. This year it was a poor run the first day so it was not much of a lose.
Brushing is using a modified spout brush dipped into the large mouth bottle of solution. This removes any crude from the spout to aid the cleaning. Next season we will be clipping of the seasonal clear spout and using new spouts on all drops. Should be another 250 drops that are on year 3 to be changed out.

I use the mix ratio on the peroxide from CDL. Do not get it on your hands or they will be supper white.

To get the sprayer to fit on the line a cut the wand off half way from the nozzle end so I can still use the nozzle end for collection tank washing. Onto the wand stub I force on a length of 5/16 tubing to stick the spout end into and squeeze the valve.

I still have several spider ladders and crud in the lines is a real hassle and I don't like the looks of the stuff in the lines. Really hard to explain floating crap in a glass releaser.
13857

Ice looks cool but my nephew was not eating any more syrup when he saw a wood chip in the releaser...then I should him the filter that catches it and he was all good. lol

[Paddymountain]

Here is what I used tonight to flush my 3/16 lines. I bought a $30 12v diaphragm pump and rigged it up on a 55 gallon
drum. I used a piece of 3/8 steel brake line for my suction line and a piece of 5/16 to hook up to the line to be flushed.
I use a 3/16 to 5/16 hooked connector to end my line. It worked really well pumping up the hill. I wasn't sure it would,
but thought for $30 Its worth a try. After I flushed the line with a mild clorox solution I left all the drop lines hanging as
I am going to take the lines down after they dry out.
13859

[maplestudent]

Thanks! I very much appreciate the advice on this.