Kerosene Heater Question

[TwoBallScrewBall]

I've got an old SEARS model 40305 kerosene heater. The wice looks to be pretty clean, about 3/8 to 1/2" tall out of the base. <br /><br />When I light it, it burns really hot for about 2 minutes, then goes out. Will do this over and over again forever. I get a good 8-10" flame initially (I've got it all apart now) but then just goes out.<br /><br />Time for a new wick or is there anything else I can check?<br /><br />Thanks!!

 

[one more cast]

Re: Kerosene Heater Question

Sounds like the wick no longer wicks. If the top of the wick is hard you can try trimming a little off but I would replace it with a new wick and see if that fixes the problem.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Kerosene Heater Question

or is there anything else I can check?<br />

Ayuh,...............<br />Is there Any Fuel in it,..???...... <br /><br />Does the wick extend far enough to be Into the fuel supply,..???...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Kerosene Heater Question

sounds like time for a new wick, probably not enough wich left in the kero, to bring it up. grew up with kero, thank god i grew out of it, smelling like kero fumes all winter. enev in No.FLA.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Kerosene Heater Question

Yeah bondo, there's fuel in it, but apparently not enough.... <br /><br />It was about 1/4 full on the guage. I filled it to max with new kerosene and it seems to have lighted now. Smoky but it's burning. <br /><br />Thanks. The wick is a whopping $13 so I'll probably replace it anyway and claen the whole thing up while I'm at it. No idea how old it is but it's gotten it's use... <br /><br />Thanks.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Kerosene Heater Question

OK it stopped working again. So I dropped the $13 on a new wick. Installed, and it lit right up, but smoked like crazy. Poking around I realized that the glass and metal element that goes on the wick (catalyst?) was the wrong one for this heater. <br /><br />So the craftsman is not going to work.<br /><br />So now having a good knowledge of how these things work, I took aim at the Kerosun Director I have (second of three). I pulled out the wick, and snipped off the top 1/4" of wick that was all black and charred. Reinstalled, and this thing is working like a champ. Gets red hot and puts out so much heat that even at 20 deegrees outside and an uninsulated tin garage door, I still had to turn it down because it was too hot. <br /><br />Did the same thing to heater number there (kerosun radiant 10) and it too is now working great. <br /><br />Thanks for the tips guys. Nice to be able to hide in the garage again now.

 

[Marc J.]

Re: Kerosene Heater Question

I've got a old Kerosun radiant 36 myself. My dad bought it in the 80's back when they were pricey. It makes my wife a little nervous, but it heats the center of the house pretty well. I trimmed the wick last year and cleaned it out. It got some use earlier this week when the power was out. I've been considering purchasing a propane wall heater and tank, but haven't gotten around to it.