Below zero???

[Shirefisher]

The weatherman predicts below freezing for 36 hours... to include single digits with below zero wind chill Monday morning. So I collected 25 gallons of sap and stored it in the basement. Then drained my sweet from the evaporator into coolers. I'll be moving the coolers into the basement tomorrow as I don't trust below zero weather. I didn't dare leave it all in the pan.

[maple flats]

I've had sub zero in the past with fully sweetened pans and never drained them. The most they got was a slush in the flues, none in the syrup pan. A few times when that happened I did go down and light 1 fire, let it warm the contents and the bricks then let it burn out. I don't even think that was necessary but it was a little peace of mind.