The broken grate was a minor inconvenience at the beginning of the season, but may have contributed to the challenges we’ve had getting consistent rolling boils. By spacing the remaining grates farther apart, the air and heat flow could escape downward rather then across the arch to heat the flue pan. Using a makeshift support with a pipe to hold up the two broken pieces of the grate, we placed that broken grate back into the evaporator. It helped. We even got the elusive 20 gal/hour boil a few times. We’ll replace the grate for next season.
Upper-30s overnight. Cloudy with some drizzle during the day. Temperate mid-40s.
Into the woods by 5:30 AM. Back to the farmhouse by 5:00 PM. It’s exhausting and boring: add wood to the fire; wait; stir the fir; wait; get wood from the woodshed; stir the fire; wait; fire; repeat. Adding wood to the fire is exhausting because we drop to our knees then stand up after wood is added or stirred: up and down 12-15 times and hour. For 12+ hours.
We’re ready to end the season.