Does a wind shield help with keeping heat?

[zanemoseley]

I just finished my keggle and single burner stand that uses a NG fed Hurricane burner. All in all everything works well but I have a hard time getting a nice rolling boil with 12 gallons of wort. I can heat it fairly quickly but the boil doesn't really get going, its more like a simmering boil. I'm about to cut up an unused stainless pot to fit around the hurricane burner and act as a wind shield. I'm hoping this will help with wind as well as keep more heat under the burner but I'm wondering if this is just wishful thinking on my part.

 

[david_42]

It will help. I used some 14" flashing as a shield.

 

[mud390]

Speaking from (in)experience in the scale of what you are after, but in the camping world, a wind screen around your stove or alcohol burner helps the efficiency immensely in windy conditions. I would definitely recommend using one.

Kris

 

[boogyman]

Yes, a wind shield will help. I would use something cheaper like flashing though for your wind screen -- all it needs to do is direct the heat at your pot rather than being blown away by the wind.

 

[zanemoseley]

Ok I cut the bottom off an unused cheap stainless pot and notched it to fit around the Hurricane burner and it does help! I have a nice rolling boil, not quite as vigorous as some I've seen but definitely adequate. It also seemed to heat water more quickly.

 

[JOHN51277]

I used to do catering for a BBQ restaurant, we used alluminum foil for a makeshift windscreen. Worked very well.