Boil Off and Weather

[MEPNew2Brew]

My boil off sees to swing between about 1.2 to 1.5 gallons per hour and seems to be weather dependent. Higher humidity days - less boil off; dry, cool days, more; windy, less.

I try to control for the wind by setting up wind screens, etc. But, there still seems to be a difference between wind and no wind.

Do you adjust your boil off rate for the weather?

Just trying to get an idea of what other brewers do.

Thank you.

 

[bja]

I always brew 1 to 1-1/2 gallons extra that I use to make a starter for my next brew. The differing boil off rates only effect this extra amount so it doesn't really matter. That and I'm in my garage so wind isn't a factor.

 

[Bathtubbrewer]

I have the same issue with different boil off rates, and mine used to be as much as a 1.5 gallon difference. I've ended up just adjusting my boil off rate for the weather, and I've created 'winter' and 'summer' profiles on beersmith to help compensate. Now i'm usually within a half gallon.

I had never thought of using any excess for future starters; that's a fantastic idea.

 

[CropDR]

Boil off volumes is the biggest issue I fight every time. Since I live in the Nebraska Panhandle I fight both changes in humidity and wind. Our humidity can be as low as 30% and as high as 80% and the wind can go from 0-50 mph in the course of a few minutes. I typically brew inside my 24x24 garage so I can minimize the wind, but I find I can raise the humidity and slow my boil off if I'm not careful, even with the door open enough to ensure proper circulation so I don't suffocate! I boil for 90 min so I have more time to adjust the boil rate if something doesn't look right. After 30 minute I measure my wort volume and adjust the burners if need be.