Check-Valve Spouts

We are currently installing check valve spouts into approximately 1/3 of our sugarbush.  Manufactured by Leader Evaporator Company and created by Proctor Maple Research Center, the check valve spouts are touted to increase sap yield by preventing microbial contamination into the spout holes as sap is drawn back into the trees from the sap lines as they freeze.  Microbial contamination is credited as being a major factor as to why tap holes reduce yield as the season passes and ultimately stops the flow of sap. The stubby is installed into the drop lines and plug onto the spouts after they are hammered into the trees at tapping time.

C.V. Spout (Leader Photo)

Stubby Spout Adapter (Leader Photo)

We are installing these new spouts into 1/3 of our sugarbush to compare sap yields from these spouts to our own proprietary stainless steel spouts.  While the average syrup produced per tap in the state of Vermont is approximately 2.75 lbs we have produced over 7.3 lbs per tap for the last three years.  We believe that the trees are easily capable of producing 11 lbs (1 gallon) maple syrup per tap but that current industry collection techniques are imperfect and that this is the real limiting production factor.

Implementing check valves may give us a better understanding of the inefficiencies of the sap collection precess and allow for further improvement to increase this yield.