kettle stack in winter

[boebarnett]

Hi, all.

I have a question that might be particular to my part of the country--Alaska. My kettle stack vents directly to the outdoors, through one of the walls in our building. It is now late August, and when I arrive at the brewery in the morning, the inside of my kettle is quite chilly.

My kettle is steam jacketed, and I worry about what the combination of cold air (-30F sometimes during winter) and steam might mean for my stainless and jackets. Not to mention all that cold air filling the brewery. Any bright ideas for dampers, valves? My stack is 10" ID.

Thanks!

Boe Barnett
Denali Brewing Company
Talkeetna, Alaska

[Ted Briggs]

Id look for a boiler supplier- they often have weighted/adjustable dampers on them. Or perhaps a slide gate from a grain handeling supplier?

[alesu]

Would it help to fill the kettle up with hot water above the steam jackets and leave it that way at night?