Flue pan hood door

[devils11217]

First year with a hood. Do you see a difference in having the flue door open or closed while boiling. Wisdom tells me to keep it shut for heat but open I wonder if I get a better draft to get the steam up and out

[maple flats]

It will boil a little better with the door closed and if you have a pre-heater in the hood, the sap will get warmer with it closed. I only open mine when I want to check on things in the rear pan.