I'm all tapped as of last Saturday. Now when the temperature is right, I'll start the vacuum pump. All of my taps are check valve type. This is my earliest ever to tap, but my labor force went back to college today.
Last year I was tapped 2/7, and when I pulled the taps April 12-16, most holes were still running, but the buds were starting to open. If you are on buckets of any sort, however I'd wait til the forecast calls for good sap flow conditions in the next day or 2.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.