Do I have to shovle the snow off my mainlines ?
snow on my mainlines
Do I have to shovle the snow off my mainlines ?
After a snow storm I walk my entire bush. Knocking the snow off will allow your lines to thaw earlier. You might find something wrong too.
I usually take a ride down to the bush with the snowmobile and give the mainlines a shake to knock the snow off. If it is light fluffy snow I wouldn't worry, but heavy wet snow I would be a little concerned, not sure of what though.
Depends on how deep the snow is on the lines,how much sap you want.Several years ago my wife and I shovelled off probably close to 1000 feet of mainline,some places were as deep as my shoulders,thank goodness not all of it.Another producer 1/2 hour south of us declared he wasn't shovelling out his lines,he made less than 1/3 the amount of syrup we did and he had more taps
7th generation maple producer in sugarhouse built in 1892
2x World Champion Maple Syrup Producer
1250 taps on cv adapters
Leader Vortex 3x14 with Max Flue and Revolution Syrup Pan,Enhanced Steam Away
www.leggettmaplesyrup.com
Light snow - don't bother because it'll settle or melt off. Heavy snow that buries the mainline - yes. Unless your mainline is very steep the snow will cause a dip in the mainline and when it freezes solid (and it will) you'll get no sap/vacuum past that point.
5,000 Taps on vacuum
9,400 gallons storage
3 tower CDL RO
3.5'x14' Lapierre Force 5
10" CDL Wesfab Filter Press
Twitter & Instagram: @ennismaple
www.ennismaple.com
There is one area where the my mainline is close to the ground that required shoveling, but my mainlines are black plastic are suspended above the snow so the snow falls off by the time the sap gets running.
However, I have a couple of 5/16" tubing runs that lay on the ground across a field that will run much better (and quicker) if I pull them out of the snow before a run.
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
I spent a bit of time today pulling some lines that snow had covered. I am thinking when sap may run I dont want any frozen lines stopping a tiny bit that may flow from the tap, blockage cant be good !!
Terry
2011- 35 taps, ,,,milk juggs and buckets-propane turkey fryer !!
2012 -75 taps,,,,, 40 on tubing into buckets, and 35 buckets - 3nd hand Homemade arch, brutal.
2013- Just over 115 taps and still adding more.
2014, new SS flat pan and new arch built, guessing 75-100 taps this year.
2015, 50 taps on Shurflo pump.
2016- Getting a line across my creek this year.
2017-took a year off, Jamaica was fun !
2018- 45 trees tapped, keeping it fun !
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