Garden Shed in Summer, Sugar Shack in Winter?

[bryankloos]

Hey All,

I build up a beauty of a 12x16 Garden/Tractor shed a couple years ago, with a nice loft, electricity, windows and believe it or not, a couple doors. She is red with white trim... Very perrrrty.
Every year when I'm out in the driveway boiling I start to thinking.... adding a smoke stack and a powered vent for steam removal would be eays.

So, I ask the question, given no cupola, would this work?

I've never used a steam hood, are they effective given they are powered?

I would love to have shelter, lights, a radio, etc.

All input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Bryan

[NhShaun]

I sort of used my sugar shack as storage on my property for a few years as it was the only shelter. I have since built another 12x16 gambrel shed and was able to move everything not related to sugaring into that.
I did not have a steam hood and a the moisture from boiling caused a few issues, especially with anything metal. A lot of my tools got rusty real quick. I found storing things sensitive to moisture down low and not on the upper shelves or loft helped a lot. With a steam hood and powered vent i don't think you would have any issues with that. Having electricity and shelter from the elements would be worth the transition steps. Just make sure you keep good clearances to the shed itself and what's inside.

One important thing i learned was to store everything not sugaring related in the fall as if you were going to start boiling the next week. There is already enough to do when getting ready to sugar, having to re-arrange and empty your hoarding shed in the middle of February isn't ideal.

[DrTimPerkins]

.... adding a smoke stack and a powered vent for steam removal would be eays.

Just be aware that not all fans will handle huge quantities of steam well.

[Super Sapper]

If you only want one hole in the roof, you should look at Smoky Lake's concentric exhaust. I have used it for about 4 years and really like it.

[johnallin]

If you're ok with a second hole in the roof, I think a steam hood and stainless stack going through the roof would be my choice.

With a tight fitting hood and stack, you'll pull most all of the steam up and out, and will also have the option to add a preheater under the hood with big gains is GPH.

A hood and preheater were the first two items I added to my Leader 2x6 and never regretted it.

[bryankloos]

Thanks all,

I’m going to take a good look at feasibility this summer. Moving the arch would be the biggest pain, but doable with some help.

I know being indoors would help a ton, as would a bigger RO and better pan.

Time to plan.

[ScottT]

I have a similar question. We converted an old mini barn shed to a sugar shack out on our hunting property. No electricity. I use propane for my evaporator.

What is a good option for venting the steam? Can I get away with a few attic / roof vents? 22967

[ecp]

The best way to get rid of steam is with hoods and a stack. nobody i have ever talked to regretted buying those items.

[berkshires]

I have a similar question. We converted an old mini barn shed to a sugar shack out on our hunting property. No electricity. I use propane for my evaporator.

What is a good option for venting the steam? Can I get away with a few attic / roof vents? 22967

No way. I went with the cheap option of flaps I can open (same footprint as the pan). That works well enough, though it's still pretty steamy.

Here's what it looks like: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wttXAauS4G8uJHzm9

GO

[Paul01036]

Hey All,

I build up a beauty of a 12x16 Garden/Tractor shed a couple years ago, with a nice loft, electricity, windows and believe it or not, a couple doors. She is red with white trim... Very perrrrty.
Every year when I'm out in the driveway boiling I start to thinking.... adding a smoke stack and a powered vent for steam removal would be eays.

So, I ask the question, given no cupola, would this work?

I've never used a steam hood, are they effective given they are powered?

I would love to have shelter, lights, a radio, etc.

All input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Bryan

Bryan, I have a 10 x 12 shed that I bought to use as a sugar shack. I also have a propane evaporator that I installed a double wall exhaust and went out the back of the shed versus the roof for the heat. I built a hood system to which I originally installed one power vent and vented it out one of the gable vents and quickly found it wasn't enough so I added another and went our the other gable vent.

One issue I have found was while it vented all of the steam with out an issue there was still condensation that dripped off of the fan motor. I built a shelf out of aluminum studs and used a water heater drain pan to catch the condensation and it runs down a hose to a bucket.

All in all it works very well and I am pleased with the air movement.

[ArnoldGilson]

A steam hood will be effective enough in a sugar hut to remove steam and prevent moisture buildup. In any case, with it, you will have much less moisture in the room than without it. In a sugar bowl, it is better to install a steam hood as low as possible above the evaporator in which the juice is boiled. And if the cap is also equipped with a powerful fan, then dryness and the absence of mold in your shed are guaranteed to you.

[bryankloos]

Picking up where I left off.

So this is happening. I'm converting the garden shed to a sugar shack.
Once the new Evap arrives I should be able to figure out a stack fairly easily.

I am still thinking about power venting the steam hood out through the gable or sidewall of the shed through I'm guessing 8" or 12" vent pipe. While I understand this fan will see a lot of moisture, what have people used with success?
I've use squirrel cage inline fans in other applications with good success. I'm guessing this fan will need to be fairly powerful the ensure the maximum amount of steam leaves through the hood.

I will also add a fan on the gable vents to keep any steam that escapes the hood vented out.

Any suggestions of experiences to share?

Bryan

[SeanD]

Congratulations! Not a day goes by when I don't appreciate being inside for boils or any other sugaring work. The way you describe the the shack sounds fantastic.

Now, I have to give you some straight advice. Listen to the input you've already gotten from others. You will regret all the planning, work, resources, and power you are going to put into power venting the steam out. I strongly recommend you punch a second hole in your roof and let convection do all your work for you. Adding a steam hood and roof jack is about the simplest and most effective solution for your steam. The second best option is building a cupola - way more work, but also effective.

[bryankloos]

Very good advice. Thanks.

My personal issue is a loft that does not let me go straight up.
I may be able to use a couple 45's to clear the floor of the loft and then straight up. I'll have to see once I have the evaporator and look at formally mocking up the pipe.

On that note, what is a good pipe for the steam hood, and what is a good pipe for the smoke stack? Single or double wall, stainless, black? Pros/Cons other than price? Source?

Thanks,

Bryan

[Pdiamond]

The steam pipe can be single wall pipe, but if you are dealing with a wood building double wall pipe at least for the chimney and follow all local laws for installation. It is better to go straight up thru the roof for the chimney as you will get a better draft. You will need to be at least above the roof by x the length of the evaporator.

[bryankloos]

Picked up the evaporator this weekend. I hope to have it in the shed the week after next, after traveling for work.

Steam hoods will vent straight up through the roof.

The chimney will go out the sidewall and up with double walled pipe. The arch is forced draft so I’m thinking it will adequate. I’ll review all fire tolerances and distances to combustibles as I don’t want to burn down the shed.

Very excited to get this started.

Any thoughts on putting the evaporator on a 4x8 of cement board as the floor is wood?

Bryan

[aamyotte]

I have mine on a wood floor. The bottom of the evaporator doesn't get very hot but I still have cement board under it. The most important place for the cement board is in front for embers coming out of the fire box when loading wood. I turn the blower off for 10-15 seconds before opening the door to let the fire calm down a bit first.

[ScottyWelden]

I built a 10x14 shed (concrete floor), and when I started sugaring (3-4 gallons/year), I cut a hole in the roof for a triple-wall stove pipe. In the off season, I remove the pipe and nail a few shingles over the hole (no illegal sugarhouse here!) I also cut little flaps at the highest point of each gable end and hold those open with a long stick. I also cut a hole in one wall with a piece of plexiglass I can slide open. My evaporator is basically red brick, cinderblocks, some high-temp insulation, a couple pieces of steel plate, etc.

[Mr. Bucketsworth]

I went down a similar path last summer and purchased a 10x16 garden shed that I now split between storage and sugaring. I went with a cupola because I wanted the look, and it's worked out great. It does, however limit placement of the evaporator to a certain extent as the rafters are 24" on center and there are required clearances for the chimney. Things luckily worked out for me and it's been great to be indoors. My setup is on a wood floor, but the evaporator is up on patio blocks and I've mounted a piece of galvanized steel plate to the floor. No issues.

[TheNamelessPoet]

Hey All,

I build up a beauty of a 12x16 Garden/Tractor shed a couple years ago, with a nice loft, electricity, windows and believe it or not, a couple doors. She is red with white trim... Very perrrrty.
Every year when I'm out in the driveway boiling I start to thinking.... adding a smoke stack and a powered vent for steam removal would be eays.

So, I ask the question, given no cupola, would this work?

I've never used a steam hood, are they effective given they are powered?

I would love to have shelter, lights, a radio, etc.

All input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

BryanI know its an older thread BUT...

I use my 12 x 16 shed (2 years old now) to boil in as well. I bought it with a garage door on 1 end, and a double door on the side along with 2 small windows. I opted for no copula because i was worried about things falling on it from the area it is in. I haven't had any issues yet (I do have 2 small 4-6" vents at each end.) I have boiled with the garage door open, and last year I left it closed to see the difference. I brought a thermometer out with me, and it got up to 70 degrees in the shed with the doors closed and 1 window open!