Do you have problems managing how to replace the wick in a kerosene heater? Now that you are here, you will not worry about it. Replacing your heater can take a while, especially if you are not familiar with the heater, as well as this is your first time replacing the wick. Every one of us has our first time in everything, so keep reading and learn more about wicks.
Kerosene heaters use wicks to be delivered on the top of the heater. The kerosene passes through the wick to evaporate if the wick is lit.
Over time, wick hardens and builds up dirt with deposits. These factors significantly affect the performance of your heater, like black smoke and have bad smells. Not all wicks must be replaced immediately, but if it’s in the worst state and you want a new wick, let’s dive in!
Why Replacing The Wick Is A Must?
Maybe one of the reasons you plan to change the wick of your kerosene heater is that it’s dirty, but that shortens all the reasons, as the dirty wick emits black smoke that also smells bad. On the other hand, dirty wicks also decrease the light in your heater, which results in slower heating of the room. So, if you think you need to replace it, you should learn and follow the steps below on how to replace the wick in a kerosene heater. A kerosene heater is one of the best choices you can store for emergency purposes. Kerosene is more stable than fuels than other heaters if electricity is out. This type of heater can be the source of light inside your house or heat the room, so most homeowners prefer to have kerosene heaters ready.
Steps To Replace The Wick In A Kerosene Heater
Before lighting and filling the tank of your kerosene heater, you must check the wick first, mainly if you stored your heater for a long time. If you think you must replace the wick, read and follow the step on replacing the wick in a kerosene heater. Replacing the wick is an easy task and is usually managed by owners, so, even this is your first, you can do this job smoothly. Are you ready? Then, let’s start!
Step #1. Ready the heater
Look for a safe place to disassemble your kerosene heaters and use a container or a cloth to put the loose screws or nuts. On the other hand, some kerosene heaters are preferred to be emptied with kerosene. If kerosene remains, dry them out by lighting the heater until it’s done. If you emptied the heater by drying it out, let your heater cool down before jumping into the next step. Light your kerosene heater away from electric or gas and combustible materials for your safety.
Step #2. Disassemble heater
You might get confused about how to return the heater parts in places, especially if this is your first time. To help you with that, you can take a photo of the heater before or check your handbook manual for reference to prevent this. Let’s start removing each part. Pull the fuel tank, wick adjuster, and batteries by loosening the screws. As there are various types of heaters, you might require either Philip’s screw or a flat head. Then, remove the front grill or top protective cover and the chimney.
Step #3. Access wick holder
To access the wick holder assembly, you need to loosen the screws that connect the cabinet heater base and pull it out by lifting it vertically. Get the mica windshield out of the burner, then unscrew the wing nut to raise the whole assembly. There, you will see the wick attached to it. You can use a cardboard or unused cloth to be placed by the wick to control the remaining kerosene on the wick and avoid it spreading all over your place. Remove the wick holder by lifting the draft tube connected to the assembly.
Step #4 Replace the wick
To remove the wick, detach each wick attachment away from the sharp teeth that hold them inside and fold them to slide it out. To insert the new wick, fold the replacement wick and slide it in. Carefully press the wick on each tooth. Attach the holder back into the draft tube and spin the tube to ensure that the wick is attached firmly. There are different types of wick for heaters, so please check the correct size of wick in your manual. I guess it’s helpful to read about kerosene heater wick dry burning.
Step #5. Checking the new wick
After replacing the old wick, you need to place the adjuster knob into the wick to shaft. Switch on the adjuster to lower the wick and go to the base. Rotate the knob clockwise and hold the latch. Replace the entire wick adjuster assembly and test it out. Some kerosene heaters do not require replacing the wick adjuster assembly, so if you think a new one would be great, you can go for it and other parts of your heaters.
It’s A Wrap!
Hope reading the article helped you learn how to replace the wick in a kerosene heater at home. Replacing it isn’t that hard, right? You can overcome this task in less than 30 minutes, especially if you are unfamiliar with the device. Replacing wick is essential for owners of kerosene heaters as wick wear out. It’s best to also know how to ligth a kerosene heater and how to start a kerosene heater.