Short laterials worth 3/16 ok?

[StephensMountainVermont]

I have a few taps right next to main line just 2-5 here and there do I use 3/16 or 5/16 ?

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

You won't get any vacuum advantage with either so if everything else is 3/16 I would keep it all the same and go with that.

[tuolumne]

We have used 3/16 in experimental situations with single taps and varying lengths of drop from 3' to 24' (tapping on a ladder). The small tubing will still fill completely with sap from that single tap and begin to draw a vacuum even it is small. In my opinion these drops stayed cleaner and open longer because they often froze up full of sap allowing less air access to the tap.