keeping 30 gallon barrels from freezing solid.

[Sugar Bear]

I am using some 30 gallon barrels for sap collection this year and was wondering if anybody had any suggestions for how to keep them from freezing solid and cracking on those bitter cold nights we are certain to encounter this sap season?

Thanks

[wnybassman]

I think the #1 answer to this would be to collect sap before it freezes :D

[maple flats]

Even if some sap freezes on top, pump the liquid sap out each day. Poke a hole in any ice and pump it out. Then remember to drain the pump or buy a spare to use when you forget to drain the pump.

[NhShaun]

I store my sap in 30 gallon barrels and have had it freeze about 3/4 of the contents. Which was not easy to hack through or thaw. But it never froze like that overnight. Only when I left for 3 days when it was in the single digits.