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Thread: sanitizing lines, pandemic edition

  1. #1
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    Default sanitizing lines, pandemic edition

    So it seems there's a shortage/limit on hydrogen peroxide, due to the pandemic. I've always used peroxide to sanitize my lines. Any suggestions for alternatives?
    Mike

    450 taps on vacuum - 2018 - 150 gal
    530 taps on vacuum - 2019 - 190 gal
    520 taps on vacuum - 2020 - 196 gal
    515 taps on vacuum - 2021 - 150 gal
    24 x 32 Pole Barn Sugar House 2018
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  2. #2
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    Chlorine (bleach, unscented and without the other additives...the cheap stuff) works well (better than H2O2). Just be sure to rinse it thoroughly afterward to reduce critter damage.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrTimPerkins View Post
    Chlorine (bleach, unscented and without the other additives...the cheap stuff) works well (better than H2O2). Just be sure to rinse it thoroughly afterward to reduce critter damage.
    Thanks Dr Tim!
    Mike

    450 taps on vacuum - 2018 - 150 gal
    530 taps on vacuum - 2019 - 190 gal
    520 taps on vacuum - 2020 - 196 gal
    515 taps on vacuum - 2021 - 150 gal
    24 x 32 Pole Barn Sugar House 2018
    Smoky Lake 2x8 Silverlake Raised Flue w/ concentric exhaust 2018
    Memprotec 350H RO
    Smoky Lake Water Jacket Bottler 2018
    Smoky Lake Filter Press 2018
    Smoky Lake Water Jacket Draw Off Tank 2018

  4. #4
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    That's a very good question... Does StarSan work as a sanitizer on lines?
    John Allin

    14x18 Hemlock Timber Frame Sugar House 2009
    Leader 2x6 w/Patriot Raised Flue Pan 2009
    Leader Steam Hood 2014 - Clear Filter Press 2015
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    CDL Hobby RO & Air Tech L25 Hi Vac Pump 2019
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    14' Ski-Doo Tundra for winter work in the woods
    Great Family 3 grown kids+spouses and 7 grand kids who like the woods
    7th Gen Born in Canada - Raised in Chardon Ohio - Maple Capital of the World..<grin>.

  5. #5
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    I've been trying to find a ratio for bleach to water, if someone could provide.
    2022 - 157 taps, 40 gallons of syrup
    2021 - 171 taps buckets and tubing, 41 gallons of syrup
    2020 - 225 taps bags and tubing, 45 gallons of syrup
    2019 - 180 taps buckets and bags, 50 gallons of syrup
    Lapierre 2x8 Vision with reverse flow, hood & preheater
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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maple River Sugar View Post
    I've been trying to find a ratio for bleach to water, if someone could provide.
    North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual, 2nd Edition.

    https://holmes.osu.edu/sites/holmes/...full%20pdf.pdf

    Page 111.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnallin View Post
    That's a very good question... Does StarSan work as a sanitizer on lines?
    Anyone have an answer to John’s question? I’m going to try some of this for our IBC totes. Curious as well if it will work for lines.
    305 taps on 2 Shurflo's, 31 taps on 3/16" and 229 taps on gravity. 565 in all
    Mountain Maple S3 controller for 145 of the vacuum taps
    2x6 Darveau Mystique Oil Fired Evaporator w/ Smoky Lake Simplicity Auto Draw
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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by mainebackswoodssyrup View Post
    Anyone have an answer to John’s question? I’m going to try some of this for our IBC totes. Curious as well if it will work for lines.
    Yeah this is a great question


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Mead Maple "It's for the kids..."
    Paul Cerminara
    2019 - First season ever
    -Goal: 3 gallons
    -Season Total: 7.5 gallons - pulled taps after running out of firewood and time
    2020
    Built 2'x8' Oil Fired with Thor drop flue pans
    -Goal: 20 gallons
    -Season Total: 55 gallons

  9. #9
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    I choose to rinse my lines with just plain water again this season. Was going to use bleach solution but was afraid i would get it on the cloth truck seats. Yesterday when I was taking down some tubing I had as many cars pass me as on a normal non lock down day! Folks seem to be out and about. The water rinse has been pretty good over the years for my take down systems. Very little indication of mold in the lines after each tap is rinsed with low pressure water.
    Regards,
    Chris
    Last edited by Sugarmaker; 03-26-2020 at 04:42 PM.
    Casbohm Maple and Honey
    625 roadside taps + Neighbors bring some sap too!
    3x10 King, WRU, AOF and AUF
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    2015 Ford F250 PSD sap hauler
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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnallin View Post
    That's a very good question... Does StarSan work as a sanitizer on lines?
    The active ingredient in Star San is phosphoric acid and the page Doc referenced mentions that phosphoric acid is not recommended for tubing:

    "Acid cleaners, such as phosphoric acid, are sold
    under a variety of brand names as cleaners to
    be used in the maple industry for the removal
    of sugar and salt deposits from evaporators and
    other similar equipment. While some producers are using these cleaners to clean tubing (at a
    greater dilution rate than that used for evaporators) acid cleaners are not recommended for
    use in cleaning tubing." (p. 111)

    Right now the research out there shows calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) are hard to beat. I'm in year two of using the calcium hypochlorite and I am seeing its benefits. I especially like that it's in powder form and easy to mix up what I need on the spot: 1/8 tsp per Liter.
    Woodville Maples
    www.woodvillemaples.com
    www.facebook.com/woodvillemaples
    Around 300 taps on tubing, 25+ on buckets if I put them out
    Mix of natural and mechanical vac, S3 Controller from Mountain Maple
    2x6 W.F. Mason with Phaneuf pans
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    Keeping the day job until I can start living the dream.

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