Sounds familiar. I built a sugar house around my first evaporator, after the first year of using a tarp and boards to keep the weather out, and off me. Man what a game changer that was. So much nicer to be warm and dry and have lights to boil at night even it it was raining.
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me