Does the Bayou Classic Stainless Steel Spigot Need A Heat Shield?

[WayFrae]

I just put these valves on my HLT and Kettle.

When having a spigot on your kettle do you need to fashion some sort of heat shield so the gaskets don't melt? I know that they are high temperature silicone but are they high enough to not use a shield?

Does everyone that has weldless spigots use heat shields?

I am brewing tomorrow with valves on the HLT and Kettle for the first time, I have just been siphoning until now.

 

[Rockn_M]

How close are the gaskets to the heat source? I've never had an issue. In fact after I added a spigot I didn't have a high temp silicone o-ring and just a regular one. It wasn't until almost a year later that I got around to adding a high temp silicone o-ring.

 

[WayFrae]

Ok, I won't worry about it too much. I don't know how hot it will get but the gaskets aren't even visible, they are recessed into the nuts. Thanks!

 

[augiedoggy]

my bayou classic kettles came with the heat shield? I dont use them because I brew with electric but I plan on finding a use for them elswhere.

 

[WayFrae]

Ok good to know. Maybe I am right in worrying about it haha.

 

[grrickar]

I bought my kettle without the valve, and bought a weldless bulkhead and 3pc valve from Bargain Fittings. I installed about 1.5" up from the floor of the kettle, and no worries on the valve assembly getting too hot, least not with my 50k BTU burner. With a 200k BTU or higher, it might be an issue... <shrug>