The worst place to harbor those microbes is the tap, thus change every year, second worst is thew drop, thus replace it every 2-3 seasons. The lateral line does not seem to be the issue a drop is, that should be good for the life of the tubing.
When the sap is flowing the tree can't pull any sap back, on 3/16, until lines begin to freeze. At that time, the tree still has vacuum in the tree and some sap from the line that is still liquid having just left the tree that takes far longer to freeze can and does flow back into the tap hole.
Because of these facts, I use new taps every year and replace the drops every 2-3 years.
To be the absolute safest and thus get the maximum flow from a tap, the drop would be replaced every year, however studies have shown that the cost to replace every year costs more than the loss of sap from not changing. That relationship shifts at 2-3 years.
Dave Klish, I recently bought 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.
Reply With Quote