How often should I change my kerosene heater wick? The American Lung Association, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission state, you should check and replace wicks yearly.
How Long Does a Wick Last in a Kerosene Heater?
The average wick in a kerosene heater lasts for about 1 week. The life of the wick can vary depending on how much you use your heater and the type of fuel that is being used.
You should change your wick at least once a month or when it becomes difficult to light, whichever happens first.
What Causes a Kerosene Heater Wick to Go Bad?
A kerosene heater wick typically goes bad because it becomes dirty. When the dirt builds up on the heating element, this reduces efficiency and causes damage to the system’s components over time.
A dirty or damaged wick will need to be replaced after a few weeks of regular use.
Other factors that contribute to natural wear and tear can also cause an increase in fuel consumption. They also affect how long a kerosene heater wick lasts.
These factors include:
Using low-quality gasoline instead of clean-burning kerosene fuel.
Leaving your burner turned on when you are not using it for extended periods.
Overfilling the tank with too much liquid fuel.
Not having a properly working wick adjustment system.
Operating your heater outdoors in harsh weather conditions.
Overhauling and cleaning the burner system too frequently.
How does a Wick Work?
The wick of the kerosene heater consists of bundles of high-quality fibers. It is used to produce a large evaporation area. Wick is used as capillary tubes to draw the kerosene from the tank to the combustion area. It will ignite the heater. These wicks burn and provide heat.
FAQ
How often should you dry burn kerosene heater wick?
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.
How often should a wick be replaced?
We recommend changing your wick every 30-90 days, but your water quality will ultimately dictate your wick’s replacement frequency. Areas with very hard or very soft water will typically require more frequent wick changes, since your wick is working harder to filter your water.
How high should the wick be in a kerosene heater?
NOTE: Be sure to check wick height. It should be 3/8”. LEAVE THE HEATER UNATTENDED WHILE BURNING!
Can you clean a kerosene heater wick?
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.
