vent or not to vent??

[Babcock Maple]

I have about 160 taps on gravity, i have 1/2" main line with 5/16 laterals with about 10 to 15 taps per lateral. I am only getting about 60 to 70 gallons on a good run. i notice all my laterals are full, should i vent or let them be? any imfo would be appreciated. thanks

[Bucket Head]

I would'nt vent them. You'll lose any natural vacuum and the vents allow bacteria to enter the system. Mine are not going "full tilt" either. Its early yet and it takes a while for the big runs. Its been a little cool here and now I see the forecast shows its going to be too warm for optimum sap running here towards the end of the week. Mother Nature is'nt cooperating so far this year.

Steve

[PerryW]

It sounds like you should be getting more sap from 160 gravity taps than 60 gallons.

Are the laterals full all the way up the line or just a few feet near the mainline connection?

It is common to have a solid column of sap back up for 5 or 10 feet at the mainline connection, but not all the way up unless something is plugged or frozen

If you pull one of the upper taps and you can hear the sucking sound of the vacuum (or feel it on your tongue) then everything is working properly.

You can also twist the tubing with you fingers to create a small uphill section in the lateral and watch the sap build up to see if things are working properly.

Look for wet spots around the taps that might indicate a plugged tee.

[Babcock Maple]

some lines are backed up to the last tap and i am finding wet spots around the tap but when i pull the top tap i can hear and feel the vacuum on the line. i just thought i should be recieving more sap than 60 or so gallons. but maybe it is still to early for the big run. thanks for the help..

[PerryW]

some lines are backed up to the last tap

That still sounds like something is screwed up. I would never expect to see a lateral line full of sap unless there was not enough downward slope. I would try disconnecting the lateral from the mainline (during a run) and putting a pail under it and seeing if things are running. It could be that your mainline connector is plugged of the mainline is plugged (or frozen.)

Or pull the upper tap and verify that sap is actually running into the mainline and not leaking out of the lateral lower down.

[stagecoach maples]

we decided to vent our laterals this year and we are getting twice as much sap
as we usally do i dont know about anyone else but venting lats sure worked for me!!!!!

[stagecoach maples]

just make sure when u pull your top tap that you stick it back in the taphole loose and you will not lose any sap as the natural vacuum will suck the sap out of the hole!!!

[maplemaple2020]

Dont vent ull loose natural vacuum and get bacteria here in CT its reallyt warm like summer so thankfully its gunna start cooling down man im mad its soo warm:mad:

[red maples]

I vented mine last year and sap ran great for a while but the season ended quicker because of bacteria in the hole.