Does everyone have one? Do I really need to build one?. I was thinking about doing a hinged drop down section on the gable ends instead. Bad idea?
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Does everyone have one? Do I really need to build one?. I was thinking about doing a hinged drop down section on the gable ends instead. Bad idea?
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I don't think it's a bad idea, but it likely won't be as effective as a cupola. Might it be effective enough for your situation? That depends on the how big your evaporator is and how big the gable opening is. I believe the general rule of thumb is that the surface areas of your evaporator and the cupola opening should be the same. If the gable is less effective, you may need additional area to achieve the same venting effectiveness.
i think your idea would work "ok". i think if you had it vented on both ends of the gables it would work much, much better! if you have a day where the wind is not blowing in the right direction, you may be blowing steam back into the shack.... for example. if you had it vented on both ends, you'd be able to get rid of the steam!
I will have about 10 square feet open on both ends, plus storm windows and a swinging service door. . My evaporator is a 3 X 4. I only batch boil 800-1000 gallons either 4 or 5 times a season. I want the shed mostly for storing Syrup equipment during the off season and in case we have wet weather during season. Also I would have a finish turkey fryer setup so I can finish the last few Brix in more controlled environment than in my garage on Sunday night after a 72 hour boil.
Picture of current setup.
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Picture of evaporator.
A cupola is not a huge necessity, and what you're about to do with a new building will be a huge improvement over what you are doing now.
But, with a cupola you are utilizing the natural draft created with the heat radiating off the arch. The hot air rises, finds an escape at the cupola and takes the steam up and out with it.
Your new plan is good as long as you can generate an upward draft. If cold air can enter the gable end(s) it will drop like a stone taking the steam with it.
With your open gables; unless they're way up near the top of the building, you may find wind blowing in - and if it's cold the steam will just sit there. It can take a while to get steam moving up and out in our sugar house, I find opening a door to let cold air in near the floor helps get things moving.
I would just build it and try it out for a season, sure beats boiling out in the snow and rain! You can always put a cupola in later...
Good luck with the new digs.
I had both gable ends open this season and I still had quite a bit of moisture dripping down. I only have a small evaporator, 18X36, in an 8X9 Shack with a very low pitched metal roof. I'm hoping to have a steam hood with a stack going out the roof for next year. When it was damp and rainy out, the "rain" inside was worse. I only had a couple boils on a nice day and it did vent better on those days.
Cupola all the way. If you're doing 72 hour boils then you're suffering enough.
Build a cupola and make that building look like the sugar house that it's going to be. You're probably going to find that the steam isn't going to vent well anyway.
Build a cupola you will like the look and it makes it look like a sugar shack and the steam will rise on most days out the cupola