Garden Shed in Summer, Sugar Shack in Winter?

[bryankloos]

Hey All,

I build up a beauty of a 12x16 Garden/Tractor shed a couple years ago, with a nice loft, electricity, windows and believe it or not, a couple doors. She is red with white trim... Very perrrrty.
Every year when I'm out in the driveway boiling I start to thinking.... adding a smoke stack and a powered vent for steam removal would be eays.

So, I ask the question, given no cupola, would this work?

I've never used a steam hood, are they effective given they are powered?

I would love to have shelter, lights, a radio, etc.

All input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Bryan

[NhShaun]

I sort of used my sugar shack as storage on my property for a few years as it was the only shelter. I have since built another 12x16 gambrel shed and was able to move everything not related to sugaring into that.
I did not have a steam hood and a the moisture from boiling caused a few issues, especially with anything metal. A lot of my tools got rusty real quick. I found storing things sensitive to moisture down low and not on the upper shelves or loft helped a lot. With a steam hood and powered vent i don't think you would have any issues with that. Having electricity and shelter from the elements would be worth the transition steps. Just make sure you keep good clearances to the shed itself and what's inside.

One important thing i learned was to store everything not sugaring related in the fall as if you were going to start boiling the next week. There is already enough to do when getting ready to sugar, having to re-arrange and empty your hoarding shed in the middle of February isn't ideal.

[DrTimPerkins]

.... adding a smoke stack and a powered vent for steam removal would be eays.

Just be aware that not all fans will handle huge quantities of steam well.

[Super Sapper]

If you only want one hole in the roof, you should look at Smoky Lake's concentric exhaust. I have used it for about 4 years and really like it.

[johnallin]

If you're ok with a second hole in the roof, I think a steam hood and stainless stack going through the roof would be my choice.

With a tight fitting hood and stack, you'll pull most all of the steam up and out, and will also have the option to add a preheater under the hood with big gains is GPH.

A hood and preheater were the first two items I added to my Leader 2x6 and never regretted it.

[bryankloos]

Thanks all,

I’m going to take a good look at feasibility this summer. Moving the arch would be the biggest pain, but doable with some help.

I know being indoors would help a ton, as would a bigger RO and better pan.

Time to plan.

[ScottT]

I have a similar question. We converted an old mini barn shed to a sugar shack out on our hunting property. No electricity. I use propane for my evaporator.

What is a good option for venting the steam? Can I get away with a few attic / roof vents? shopping.jpg

[ecp]

The best way to get rid of steam is with hoods and a stack. nobody i have ever talked to regretted buying those items.

[berkshires]

I have a similar question. We converted an old mini barn shed to a sugar shack out on our hunting property. No electricity. I use propane for my evaporator.

What is a good option for venting the steam? Can I get away with a few attic / roof vents? Attachment 22967

No way. I went with the cheap option of flaps I can open (same footprint as the pan). That works well enough, though it's still pretty steamy.

Here's what it looks like: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wttXAauS4G8uJHzm9

GO

[Paul01036]

Hey All,

I build up a beauty of a 12x16 Garden/Tractor shed a couple years ago, with a nice loft, electricity, windows and believe it or not, a couple doors. She is red with white trim... Very perrrrty.
Every year when I'm out in the driveway boiling I start to thinking.... adding a smoke stack and a powered vent for steam removal would be eays.

So, I ask the question, given no cupola, would this work?

I've never used a steam hood, are they effective given they are powered?

I would love to have shelter, lights, a radio, etc.

All input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Bryan

Bryan, I have a 10 x 12 shed that I bought to use as a sugar shack. I also have a propane evaporator that I installed a double wall exhaust and went out the back of the shed versus the roof for the heat. I built a hood system to which I originally installed one power vent and vented it out one of the gable vents and quickly found it wasn't enough so I added another and went our the other gable vent.

One issue I have found was while it vented all of the steam with out an issue there was still condensation that dripped off of the fan motor. I built a shelf out of aluminum studs and used a water heater drain pan to catch the condensation and it runs down a hose to a bucket.

All in all it works very well and I am pleased with the air movement.