A kerosene heater is a convenient tool to keep around the house. You can use a dry burn kerosene heater to heat a single room or section of the house or save some energy during a power outage. To use one of these tools safely, though, you have to ensure that the wick is in good shape.
Cleaning a Kerosene Heater Wick
First, make sure that there isn’t any tar left on the wick by burning it until dry. Then, turn off the heater and allow it to cool. Remove the kerosene tank and store it somewhere safe where it will not spill or be exposed to flames or other flammable substances.
Extend the wick as far as it will go. Once you have fully extended it, light the end of the wick and let it burn until it goes out naturally. Once again, this will allow any residual tar to burn off. Once it goes out, remove the wick entirely from the tank.
Place the wick in a shallow plastic container that allows it to lay flat. Pour enough wood alcohol to cover the wick completely and let it sit for about five to 10 minutes. The alcohol will clean the wick and rid it of any water. Finally, let the wick dry entirely before putting it back in the kerosene heater. Refill the kerosene tank and use caution the next time you light it.
Aladdin Kerosene Heater Wick Replacement
Once you have the proper wick for your model of heater (see the owner’s manual), turn the burner basket, flame spreader and the wick itself until the cog disengages. Remove the wick and the fuel container from the rest of the appliance. Empty the fuel tank into a safe secondary container. You may want to wear a surgical mask to prevent breathing in the fumes.
To remove the wick from the fuel tank itself, grab it above the teeth and maneuver the wick out of the teeth of the carrier, taking care not to damage the carrier. Once you have removed the old wick, gently insert the new one in the same place. Move slowly and press gently to prevent damaging the wick on the teeth.
When you’re finished, the wick should extend outside the tank but only about half an inch. Test it by tugging gently on the wick and ensuring the teeth hold it in place. Finally, reassemble the kerosene heater and refill the tank. Use caution when you light it for the first time. After you’ve lit it again, you’ve completed the wick replacement.
There are a few things that you can do to make using your dry burn kerosene heater safer. Kerosene-Wicks.com explains that one of the most important things to do is make sure that you never store your heater with fuel in the tank, as this can lead to mold growth or other damage. Perform proper wick maintenance and replace the wick when needed.
According to the National Ag Safety Database, the first and foremost call to action should be to position the heater at least 3 feet from anything flammable or combustible, including furniture, curtains, and other items. You should keep the heater away from high-traffic areas so that no one will knock it over or bump into it and get burned. If you have to move it, make sure it is off and cooled first.
Never leave your heater unattended. Only use high-quality kerosene and never any other fuel. Make sure that the room is well ventilated by leaving a window or door at least slightly open.
Wicks are best cleaned after a dry burning. Regularly remove carbon deposits with a brush or comb. Avoid using anything stiff or hard, as this could damage the wick. Cotton wicks can be slightly trimmed (1/8 inch) for increased longevity.
For your heater to burn to its maximum efficiency, you should regularly dry burn the wick as it accumulates deposits. Many people dry burn the wick as much as once a week. The first dry burn should take place within a week of using the heater or after burning 3.5 tanks of kerosene.
If this problem develops after the first tank of fuel has been burned, the problem may be fuel-related. Low quality fuel or water-contaminated fuel clogs the wick fibers and impedes the flow of kerosene. The best solution would be to replace both wick and fuel.
Clean the outside of a kerosene heater with a mixture of ammonia and water or use common non-flammable household cleaners. For really dirty kerosene heaters, a mixture of oven cleaner and elbow grease will do the trick. The glass mantle or panel on radiant heaters should be removed and cleaned with soapy water.
A space heater that is not installed right or not working properly can release carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes into the room and use up much of the oxygen in the room. Most space heaters use kerosene or natural gas for fuel.
Light the wick, then pour off the wax once it melts.
Try to let your new wick burn long enough for the wax to melt all the way across the surface of the candle. Then, pour the melted wax into the same container you used to melt your wax earlier. Keep doing that until the old wick is long enough to use again!
If the wick does light but isn't burning the candle properly, you can allow the weak flame to burn for a short time, just long enough to melt some of the surrounding wax. Then, blow the candle out and remove the melted wax from the candle. This will free up some room for the wick to expose itself.
For optimal burn, keep your wood wick trimmed to about ⅛”, and clean off any burnt wood from previous use. Other than the tunneling problem, if your wood wick candle won't stay lit it's probably because the wick is too long, or it needs to be trimmed clean of charred material.
If you are sure of your kerosene and your heater is giving off sooty black smoke it is a sign that the fuel/air mix is off. Make sure your heater is not in a draft. Too much air can create a very high flame condition. Avoid placing the heater in drafty areas or under a ceiling fan.
Flush the area with cool water to dilute the kerosene oil and rinse away as much of it as possible.Wash the area thoroughly with warm water and soap or grease-cutting detergent (dishwashing liquid soap often works well for this). Take care if the surface is delicate or water sensitive.
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Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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