Quote Originally Posted by Seguin Sugarbush View Post
Keep the system leak free.Sit at the extractor observe how the sap is coming in.On our sap ladder we had drilled a small hole in the bottom of the first star to let in air as it appeared that sap was not moving but sap coming in to the extractor started coming in sporaticaly.After more observation we concluded that sap flow kept coming in even when it appeared sap was not going up at the ladder.So why make a leak and reduce vac. level in front of 250 taps.
Every tubing system is different. I watched vacuum levels before and after the ladder and apparent sap flow. My short system past the ladder had higher vac and performed better with a small leak. So long as you have enough excess cfm to overcome a small leak I believe that a leak may be beneficial. Watch vac levels not just flow. To each their own. We need proctor to test this for us.