Change spiles yearly???

[Shepp]

We've been told that most of the bacteria in the woods hides right in our spiles - not necessarily in the lines themselves.

So.............some family members want to switch out spiles yearly - about 4,000 taps. On the other hand, some of us are not wild about the idea - cost isn't real high but it does take time. Also, it seems wasteful.

Any thoughts???

Well how about this. I started a small operation 2 years ago. I put up two lines with new tubing and spiles on gravity. 15 taps each. The first year they ran like crazy. Last year was a bust. Maybe 40 gallons of sap. I removed and cleaned the lines with tap water each season. Last spring I managed to pick up a trailer load of used tubing and drops still assembled from a farmer that was giving it away. He said it was time to replace all his lines for new ones. I put up 2 new lines with the old tubing right next to the other lines that were only two years old. The new lines were at least four years old and some of the tubing was green in colour and stiff. The spiles and tubing looked like they had been in the bush a long time and i could see mold in some of the tubing. Well I know last spring was exceptional, but the lines with the old tubing ran like crazy while the
2 lines I put up before with brand new everything and flushed each spring with clean water ran much slower. These two lines with the old spiles and tubing produced consistently until I pulled spiles because my 300 gallon tank was over flowing and I couldn't boil it all. I plan on using more of the old tubing And spiles this coming season.