maple flats
03-12-2019, 07:48 AM
For about 2 seasons I've had a slow drip at the bottom of my RO membrane canisters, this year it's worse. I was finally getting enough sap so I started running my first of season cleanup. The first leak was at the bottom of the re-circulation line. I pulled that tubing loose at the bottom, cut off the leaking part and reassembled it. That was fixed, then I started the initial pre-rinse, what had been a slow drip from the fittings on the bottom of the canisters was now much faster (it is just from the permeate part). I then went to get new fittings and had to go to 2 different plumbing supply stores to get what I needed. As soon as the temperature warms to near freezing I'll remove the old leakers and install the new. The leak looks to be at a seam on the fitting, while only 1 of the 2 has a leak I'm changing both.
I guess it's a good thing my trees have not yet really thawed yet. I got some sap Sunday, but after running the vacuum for over 2 hrs and only getting about 4 gal I shut the vacuum off. Yesterday I ran again but in about 8 hrs of running I only got maybe 25 gal, but it was increasing a little just before freeze up. There are over 300 taps on that system and the vacuum is running at 23-25". I'll bet this Friday will finally thaw them, looking at a forecast of about 60. In fact Thursday shows 53, then 61 on Friday, before cooling back down to good sap flow patterns.
I guess it's a good thing my trees have not yet really thawed yet. I got some sap Sunday, but after running the vacuum for over 2 hrs and only getting about 4 gal I shut the vacuum off. Yesterday I ran again but in about 8 hrs of running I only got maybe 25 gal, but it was increasing a little just before freeze up. There are over 300 taps on that system and the vacuum is running at 23-25". I'll bet this Friday will finally thaw them, looking at a forecast of about 60. In fact Thursday shows 53, then 61 on Friday, before cooling back down to good sap flow patterns.