Replies

1. 
   walker910 | Dec 28, 2005 05:39pm | #1

   Your flame is WAY too high!  Turn it down to about 1/2 inch all around the spreader, and then let it burn the high points off the wick.  If it still smokes, get your instruction manual out and read about 'dry-burning' the wick to clean it off and start over.

   Bob

1. 
   Jeffnv | Dec 30, 2005 03:59pm | #6

   In the book it says to turn the wick all the way up when lighting. If I do that it only will go down so far. Last night I tried turning the wick up until it just hit the igniter and that seemed to keep the flame down. That part still burns high and smokes some. Do you think that has to do with the wick being higher on that side? The fuel I got from hd so if it's old it's because they have been storing it.

1. 
   Dave45 | Dec 30, 2005 04:42pm | #7

   Are you sure you're using the right grade of kerosene?  Heaters need a better grade (K1, I think) than things like kerosene lamps.  I get mine in 5 gal. cans from the local ACE hardware and the can labels say it's for kerosene heaters.

2. 
   walker910 | Dec 30, 2005 05:29pm | #8

   Yes, the wick is raised all the way so that the igniter can slide out and contact the side of the wick, but once the wick has ignited you should be able to--once the flame has 'caught' and is fairly even--to adjust the flame down by lowering the wick slowly.  Possibly the high spot on the wick is a result of trying to burn it with the wick fully extended.  I guess I would just 'let it burn', and see if the flame (and the smoke) settles down.

   As I said earlier, try dry burning the wick per the instruction manual to see if that eradicates the problem.  It couldn't hurt, and the manufacturer recommends you do it once a month as part of regular maintenance, anyway.  And follow the advice you've already been given by forestgirl: make sure you are using a good grade of kerosene.  Good luck . . .

   Bob

2. 
   forestgirl | Dec 28, 2005 07:01pm | #2

   Sounds like you got the advice you need to solve the problem.  Now, a tip for the future:  be sure you get high-quality kerosene, and do not let moisture get into it!  I can't tell you how frustrating it is to ruin a wick using poor quality or moisture-laden kerosene.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   douglas2cats | Dec 29, 2005 05:07am | #3

   If that heater is the type with a glass housing that drops back down over the burner after lighting, check to see if the housing is dropping all the way back down. I've had smoke problems in the past when one side of the housing lifter got hung up and didn't let the housing seat all the way back down.

   If you build it he will come.

4. 
   Dan F | Dec 30, 2005 07:49am | #4

   I also agree with Forest Girl.  I have had a kerosene heater for 3 years and the first year it worked great.  The second year, not so well, and it turned out that since I used the kerosene from the previous year and stored it in my work shed that it picked up moisture and boy did it smell up the house and it even burned our eyes.  My wife is real sensitive to anything unusual like it. 

1. 
   maddog3 | Dec 30, 2005 02:36pm | #5

   moisture problems have been solved by adding denatured alchohol ... about 8oz. to 5 gal. seems to help a great deal, at least with the fumes...and keeping the wick clean longer too...your results will varyI also throw ####about an oz.in the truck windshield washer fluid during the winter

1. 
   Dan F | Dec 31, 2005 08:39am | #9

   Thanks.  I will try the denatured alcohol. 

1. 
   maddog3 | Dec 31, 2005 05:28pm | #10

   we tried replacing the wick every year, as part of the problem stemmed from forgetting to fop it off for the night....wake up and the flame would be just a flicker, which fouled the wick and meant taking it outside and dry burning right away . l also learned to not shut it off when that happened as the wick would be slightly scorched trying to relight it...I would add a bit of fuel and then raise the wick !