Portable Kerosene Heater

Want to know about anything kerosene heaters, here they are may be able to help you:

Why won’t my heater light?

If this is the first time lighting the heater, then will you need to make sure the heater has been filled with good K-1 kerosene that the wick has been allowed to soak for at least 30 minutes in a full tank in the lowered position. This insures the wick is completely saturated with kerosene. Then raise the wick to the “high” position. When you push the “ignite” button you should see the igniter move into position to light the kerosene vapor above the top surface of the wick surface. The igniter should be glowing a bright orange. The igniter should come into position right to the top surface of the wick but not touching it. If the igniter goes into the side of the wick it will not light – the kerosene vapors just above the top surface of the wick is all that will light. You may have to lower the wick a bit to make sure the igniter is coming into contact correctly. If the igniter isn’t glowing check the batteries they may need replaced or the igniter filament may be broken. If the batteries need replaced use only regular duty non-alkaline replacement batteries. Alkaline Batteries deliver too strong an initial jolt and may blow the igniter. If your heater was working correctly for a while and has just developed this problem then you most likely have contaminated fuel or a badly carbonic wick. 

How can I tell if my kerosene is good?

The best way to tell if you have good fuel for heater is to siphon off a small amount of fuel from the bottom of your storage container into a small clear jar. It is important to pump from the bottom because if there is water present that’s where it will be since it has a higher specific gravity than kerosene. Allow the sample to sit for at least an hour and observe to see if there is anything floating in the fuel. Bubbles at the bottom are not good – they are water bubbles not air. You should not be able to see particles floating. If the fuel is clear it should be crystal clear with no separation. Anything cloudy or yellowed is contaminated and should not be used. Red fuel will be harder to see contamination but should be clear – much like Kool Aid , not cloudy or opaque. The fuel should also smell like kerosene and have no diesel or gasoline smell to it. If you have any doubts about the fuel get fresh. The final test is burning the heater; the flame should be bright and even. Any odor of kerosene should become very faint as the heater continues to burn.

Can we use red kerosene?

The Federal government has started dying kerosene not intended for not subject to a 24.9 tax red and road use. As long as it is advertised as K-1 kerosene it can be used in your heater. It is much easier to see contamination when clear is used. Therefore the using of clear K-1 kerosene is recommended.

How long can I store kerosene?

Three-six months is the longest we recommend storing fuel. It is best to buy kerosene in small quantities so you are assured of the freshest fuel possible. Find a supplier that you can trust to have good fuel and stick with them.

How should kerosene be stored ?

Kerosene should not be stored from one season to the next. Left sit over the summer the fuel will break down and absorb water. There are bacteria and molds that live in the kerosene and feed off fossil fuels. As this process speeds up over the warm summer months sludge develops in the fuel. If this fuel is used the following season it can clog the wick and cause odor, low burn and wick hardening.

What causes bad odor ?

Bad odor while the heater is burning is most often caused by low quality fuel. If there is high sulphur content in the fuel you are using or if it is lower grade of kerosene it cannot be burned completely at the temperatures reached in a portable kerosene heater. These unburnt hydrocarbons collect on the wick and harden causing low burn and odor problems. Also be very careful when fueling your heater to not let any fuel drip on the heater. Fuel on the outside of the heater or on the drip pan can cause a strong kerosene smell when the heater gets hot.

Why won’t my heater stay burning ?

When having trouble keeping the heater burning there are a couple of things you should check. Is this the initial use of the heater? If so, then the problem may be caused by not allowing the wick to soak long enough before lighting. Because it is the kerosene vapor that burns above the top surface of the wick, it is very important to wait at least 30 minutes with the wick in the down position in a full tank of fuel to be sure the wick is fully saturated and can support the burn. If you light the heater too quickly it may light but air bubbles develop in the capillaries of the wick and it isn’t able to keep enough kerosene wicking to the surface to keep your heater burning properly. If this is problem develops after the first tank of fuel then it is probably fuel related. Poor quality or water contaminated fuel clogs the wick fibers and make it unable to keep the fuel flowing to the wick surface quickly enough to keep a nice flame. If following the dry burn procedure in your owner’s manual doesn’t solve the problem the only other option is wick replacement. Don’t use any questionable fuel.

How often should I change my wick?

The American Lung Association, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Consumer Product Safely Commission (in a brochure titled “What you should know about combustion appliances and indoor air pollution.”) recommend you check and replace the wick yearly. You may have to change the wick more often if you use low quality fuel or burn your heater on too low of a heat setting.

Why won’t my igniter glow?

When your igniter won’t glow the first most obvious cause is dead batteries. The batteries should only be replaced with regular duty non-alkaline batteries. Although alkaline batteries perform better and last longer in some small appliances they have too strong an initial jolt and often burn out the igniter filament. Strongest isn’t best in this application. If you have fresh non-alkaline batteries and it still won’t glow, the igniter probably needs replaced. To prevent igniter burn-out do not let the igniter come in contact with the side of the wick or stay in the flame once the wick catches.

Why won’t my heater shut-off?

When you hit the shut-off knob and the wick won’t drop its most likely because of tar and carbon build-up. If the heater has been burnt to low, the dry burn procedure hasn’t been done regularly or contaminated fuel has been used a sticky tar forms on the wick and it hardens. As the wick gets harder and thicker it becomes more and more difficult to raise and lower the wick until it will no longer slide between the wick adjuster and the primary air tube. Bad water contamination in the fuel can also cause the cotton fibers in the wick to swell and not allow it to move freely in all cases. The wick should be replaced.

Why does my heater smoke?

First of all make sure that the heater is filled with K-1 kerosene. And other fuel such as gasoline is burn too hot causing the heater to burn out of control. NEVER USE GASOLINE or any other fuel described as flammable. If there is any question about the fuel in your heater it is best to drain it and replace the wick and start with fresh K-1 kerosene. If you are sure of your fuel and your heater is giving off sooty black smoke it is a sign that the fuel air mix is off. Make sure the chimney is seated correctly. If it didn’t seat into place correctly after lighting you may be getting a very high flame on one side. If it’s a high orange flame all the way around try rolling the wick adjuster knob down within the adjustment range the wick may just be too high. If these things do not fix the problem wait till the heater is cool and inspect the burner cylinder. If there are any holes plugged with soot it needs to be cleaned or if it’s dented or out of round it needs to be replaced. If there is no obvious defect it is best to take the heater to a service center to determine the cause and analyze why your good heaters run not-well and result smoke!

Source: valleypower.com