Sap not moving in 3/16 tubing

[turnerburner]

This is my first year on 3/16 tubing. I tapped two days ago and today is near 40 and sunny. I went and checked the lines to see if anything was running and noticed there was a small amount of sap in the lines but it was not moving. I pulled a tap and it started flowing along. Is this normal? I have a few spots in the runs with relatively low pitch. Do I need to wait for the sap flow to pick up before i start to see it moving along better or am I missing something?

[buckeye gold]

Your trees just aren't running yet. The fact your sap was sitting still, but run when you pulled a tap and thus let air in means you have a good seal and your natural vacuum is working....patience grasshopper, patience. I hope you got that sealed back good.

[turnerburner]

Patience is not one of my better traits. Thanks for the help!

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Still pretty early for our area. I'm in Peru. I'm guessing you'll get some next week but it will take a few warm days above 40 to get the trees going.

[BSD]

good advice so far. also check the lines to see if there is sap from top to bottom. 3/16 is less forgiving than 5/16 and can get plugged by shavings at a T. i had it happen last year twice, both weeks after the season started.

[mol1jb]

Possibly sap not flowing but sap not moving in 3/16 is usually a leak. Or if your setup is realitively lower slope that could also be causing some sluggish sap

[turnerburner]

Does the amount of sap flow correlate to the amount of vacuum on that line? Low flow=lower vacuum?

[DrTimPerkins]

Does the amount of sap flow correlate to the amount of vacuum on that line? Low flow=lower vacuum?

On 3/16" yes. Flow of sap downhill is what creates the suction in the tubing uphill.

[johnpma]

Came home tonight checked my tote that is fed by 3/16" NATA! Didn't seem right no sap no bubbles walked the line back and I heard drip drip drip found a new "T" that had a hairline crack Everything that ran Today on that line went back to mother nature