kerosene heater

Although kerosene heaters can be categorized into one of conventional heating appliances but in fact there are still many people to choose and use them to warm up the room during the coldest months of winter season. One of factors of their popularity is their more affordable price to purchase. And we all agree one of negative issues while using them is the bad and unfriendly odor or smell from the kerosene fuel itself. This fuel is produced and made from the distillation of oil (crude oil). So it can be called as a liquid mixture of oil-chemicals. And unfortunately the natural stink of kerosene is something that cannot be easily removed. But there are some helpful ideas on how to minimize or eliminate or even remove kerosene smell or odor.

Take a few minutes to read pieces of helpful information below on how to minimize unpleasant kerosene chemical-stink:

1. If the budget permits, you can buy and use the better quality of kerosene (almost odorless), which usually has lower sulfur properties so thus it will produce less hydrocarbon. It is usually priced more expensive but will be helpful to minimize the unfriendly kerosene odor.
2. If you see or find any spilled or dripped kerosene off the outside of your heating unit then you should wipe it as soon as possible. This will also be helpful to avoid fire hazard!
3. While the heater is working, avoid it working at low setting because will create and result an unpleasant odor. Therefore, you can set your heater at high or medium setting.
4. Check the height of wicks regularly. Make sure they are not too low otherwise will create soot as well as unpleasant smell. Each model of kerosene heater has a specific height of wick in order to work properly with low odor. So check and read again manual’s owner instructions, especially on how to set the height of the wicks of your heater (to get proper wick height).

The others ideas to eliminate the kerosene odor:

1. To wipe the spilled kerosene, for better result and to make this step easier,- dampen a cloth with ammonia and try it to wipe up the spills! Naturally, ammonia will be helpful to naturalize the strong odor of kerosene. You can also use bowl and fill it with undiluted ammonia and then put it in your room, tent or garage where you put and operate your heater.
2. If the spills fall into your carpet or any absorbent materials then as soon as possible sprinkle baking soda over the carpet and give it to absorb and dry around 24-hours and then vacuum up!
3. How about for any hard materials like wood floor or concrete floor? You can try using charcoal-based cat litter and try sprinkling it on the surface of your wood floor and give it to absorb completely (around 24 hours) in order to absorb the odor as well and then you can clean your floor.
4. The other idea is by using vanilla! It is also a good natural absorber of kerosene smell! Use it with cotton balls and put them in your room where you install and use your heater.

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The other nice topic: Tankless electric water heaters (how do they work?)

Kerosene Heater: Removing Smell or Odor or Stink is a post from: More Heaters

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Portable Kerosene Heater

One of conventional home heating appliances is kerosene heaters. Like the name implies, they use kerosene as the fuel to warm up the air during winter or cold days. Today, there are two major different types of them, radiant and convection models. Radiant types usually do not involve wicks when working. On the other hand, convection types require wicks for the object of the ‘burned dry’. But in order to distribute the fuel to the catalytic converter (burner unit ‘the core of the heating system of a kerosene heater’) from the tank, both usually use a circular fiberglass. Either radiant or convection types can lead a serious risk (serious fire accident) if we ignore on how to use, maintain and refuel them properly.

The following are pieces of helpful information about safety and precautions checklists for kerosene heaters:

1. One of potential hazards is fire accident that usually could be caused by placing the unit too close to any objects that easily to burn or catch the fire, such as; draperies, wood furniture, combustible clothing, lacquers, aerosol sprays, etc. This fire accident usually begins by accidentally igniting the fuel when refueling the tank or knocking over an improper lighted heater. Even if the unit is operated in the improper area, like if there is available combustible fume, explosion could be happen.
2. According to the theory of ‘triangle of fire’, burning process involves three basic elements = air (O2), fuel, and igniter. So, the unit will consume O2 as it burns the kerosene fuel. The point is if we place or use the unit in an enclosed small room or in the room where does not have proper and adequate ventilation for air circulation then the volume of O2 in the room will decrease significantly and this situation will be so dangerous for human respiratory system. Moreover, the extremely reduction of O2 level will lead to improper combustion (incomplete condition) of fuel and on the other hand the volume of CO (carbon monoxide) will increase drastically. In addition, CO is odorless and colorless, and if breathed too over will lead to a serious poisoning ‘death’. So make sure the room is well ventilated.
3. The others pollutants that can be resulted from the combustion of kerosene are CO2, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Sulphur-Dioxide. For better safety, install CO and O2 detector in your room.
4. Other hazards of using kerosene heater that you should consider as well are ignition of stored-fumes, burns from accidentally touching a hot unit, the poisoning of the liquid kerosene, asphyxiation and even spillage of the over inflammable fuel.
5. Extinguish or turn off the unit while it is not needed!
6. Avoid using the unit to dry the wet clothes, or even to warm up the water or food!
7. Make sure you use the proper size unit. Don’t ever try using smaller unit to heat larger room or on the other hand, over size unit to heat smaller room. So consider the correct size carefully.

Safety and precautions checklists on how to refuel kerosene heater properly:

1. It is better to choose good quality of kerosene fuel (like 1-K grade type) in order to minimize fire and explosion hazards. Avoid choosing gasoline to refuel your unit!
2. Check the performance of the wicks (for convection types). Make sure they are properly set at the proper height. And once again, make sure your room is well ventilated.
3. For better safety, it is better to choose outside to refuel your unit than indoor (in your room where usually the unit is used).
4. Make sure the unit is completely turned off before refueling! Let it cool if necessary for better safety, because fuel could ignite while hitting hot surface of the heater!
5. While refueling, don’t fill the volume of the unit’s tank full completely, in order to give space for expansion of the kerosene fuel in the tank while it starts to warm. Moreover overfilling can lead to spillage.
6. Avoid using kerosene from a previous season (last winter) if necessary, because it could get spoiled! Store your kerosene fuel outdoor and don’t forget to use approved container with clearly label ‘Kerosene’ for storing!
7. For more detailed information, read the manual’s owner instructions, especially about the correct information for the duration of the refueled tank must stand at ambient temperature (room temperature) before starting to use your heater!

Image is picked from Amazon.Com

Read also on how to use propane heater safely!

Kerosene Heaters | Safety and Precautions Checklists is a post from: More Heaters

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