3/16 tubing

[woodsplumber]

What does anyone think about using 3/16 tubing with a vacuum pump. From what I have read, it may help with inefficient sap flow in the lateral lines.

[maple flats]

If you have good slope, vacuum can help on the lower taps but if you don't have slope, you will be better off using 5/16 with vacuum. I used both, in most of the area where I had the slope to benefit from 3/16, I used it and I also had 19" vacuum on my mains (I have a Surge vacuum tank so I don't dare go higher vacuum. Most of my 3/16 had 30' drop, but even the section where I only had 15-16' drop, I had 28-29" vacuum with the vacuum pump running at 19".

[Biz]

I used a Shurflo pump on a short 3/16 line with about 22 taps and it worked great. Had about 12 ft of drop and I got 28" of vacuum at the top. Figured I doubled sap production with the pump, compared so a nearby 3/16" gravity line.

Dave