Problem with new paraffin heater

[kentvegplot]

One of my Xmas presents was a new Parawarm 10 heater. It's bigger than I really need, but with the temp down to -10 the other night, this is the only one that pumps out enough heat.

Problem is that I can't get it to burn properly. I am using brand new, certified paraffin but it still flares and gutters, doesn't get that nice blue flame, and when I turn the wick down before blowing it out this evening, the flames leapt clean out of the top of the device.

I'm wondering it it's to do with ventilation, but there doesn't seem to be anything to adjust.

Can anyone suggest anything, before I send it back??

Thanks

[SarzWix]

Is it too full? Does the wick need trimming? (Sometimes if the wick is frayed at the top it can be a bit temperamental?) Other than that, I have no idea, sorry! I couldn't get along with mine either, and swapped to gas about 18 months ago.

[Snadger]

Never had any problems with any paraffin heaters I've used up til now. Does it have a flat wick or a round wick? Flat wicks usually burn yellow whwereas round wicks burn blue.

Reminds me.....I must get some paraffin tomorrow...desperately, but not at Dobbies price £9.99 for a gallon!!!!!!!!

Usually get mine at the local allotment association but they play holy hell if you don't bring your own container!

[wykesmallholder]

i have an aladdin 37 3" blue flame it might be ancient but it doesn't half kick the heat out but it has just started to flare it could do with a trim becuse the top edge has become a bit frayed and when i moved the wick up in the adjuster sleeve the inner liner has started to come away really it could do with a new wick but you shouldn't be having problems with a new heater although if it is too full the wick wont vapourize the parrafin properly as i found out with mine because i brimmed it if you adjust the wick the flame flared then went out and just bellowed parrafin fumes out

As for the price of parrafin i was quite chuffed today as a trade car spares and consumables had a 1 day 20% off everything sale so i got 2 x gallon bottles for £3.41 + vat at 5% which amounted to a grand 34p so i got 8ltrs for 7.16 even at full price its only £4.95 only snag you have to have an account an be connected to the motor trade in some way

Its Premium parrafin certified for greenhouse and domestic heaters as well

[kentvegplot]

Never had any problems with any paraffin heaters I've used up til now. Does it have a flat wick or a round wick? Flat wicks usually burn yellow whwereas round wicks burn blue.

Snadger, this is the first one I've had trouble with too! This one has two sections of wick held in a ring. It is supposed to burn blue, and I nearly had it at one point yesterday.

Very frustrating, having to use the old one (on which 3 wicks are still working, but it can't pump out enough heat when the garden dips to -10)

[SarzWix]

I'd try emptying a bit of the paraffin back out, and see if it works better half full.

[Snadger]

Snadger, this is the first one I've had trouble with too! This one has two sections of wick held in a ring. It is supposed to burn blue, and I nearly had it at one point yesterday.

Very frustrating, having to use the old one (on which 3 wicks are still working, but it can't pump out enough heat when the garden dips to -10)

Just wondered when you get it as close as you can, do you leave it for a while to settle down then re-ajust?
Also a new wick needs to be in the paraffin for a while to allow it to get thoroughly soaked...........but you knew that already didn't you!

[kentvegplot]

Thanks for all your ideas. I've tried all your suggestions, but the heater is now either smoking badly or flaring in a rather alarming fashion - I thought I'd lost my eyebrows yesterday!

My guess is there is something wrong with the wicks - they were soaked for several hours before lighting, and I dried them out/soaked them again before refilling with new paraffin, in case it was contaminated. But they still burn yellow, giving off lots of smoke.

I've emailed parasene (they're closed this week) to see if they can suggest anything else - otherwise, it is just going to have to go back.

Thanks again guys.

[hitchman]

This is easy to fix

I realise this is an old thread, however it appears to be a common problem with these heaters and as this forum is coming up at the top of Google, I thought I'd offer up the solution for others to see.

Whenever paraffin heaters flare up or soot, it's due to air starvation - remember the old thing we used to do with bunson burners at school? Close the hole and the flame goes from blue to orange and flares up. The soot is because the flame is then not burning efficiently and half burnt parasffin turns to tar.

If you remove the chimney from the paraffin heater you'll notice that the flame will be fine, easy to control, and it doesn't soot. This is because it now has enough air.

Now blow the flame out, and remove the slotted dome-shaped bit of metal that goes around the wick(s). It's a bit stiff but just pull it up sharply and it will come out. Underneath (around where the wick comes up) there's a fine mesh/grille. Clean it with an old toothbrush or paintbrush.

Basically, what's happening is that any debris (including rust and soot and probably dust from transportation) falls down the chimney and clogs up the grille. Then air can't rise up and feed the flame. Clean it and it works fine. This will probably need doing every month or so - I do it every few times I fill it up. It only takes a couple of seconds.

It has to be a fine mesh to prevent the flame from being able to go downwards towards the tank - again, remember the bunson burner thing with a fine mesh held above it, gas going through it and the flame sitting on top of it? It's basically a way of drawing air through without the possibility of flames going down towards the fuel tank.

It's well worth fixing the problem rather than sending the heater back as these are great heaters when properly maintained - they are efficient and economical to run.

By the way - most of the Superwarm heaters are designed to burn with an orange flame rather than blue, so don't worry about that.

Hope that helps someone!

P.

[Lilmo]

Aladdin blue flame heater.

I wonder can anyone here help. I have the above heater series 25 all it needed was a replacement wick was i ever sorry I undertook this task because I cannot get the new one in. I have had it right down where it should be but the rack that the cog wheel is supposed to turn it up and down wont..the small pins on either side of the wick will not stay in the slots they're supposed to i get one in and on other side its cone out and visa versa. I have spent hours wick in wick out its getting on my wick. I have ordered a new wick cylinder plus a new turning handle that has that wheel on end. It's all I can think of doing. I really miss it keeping me warm in my wee cabin i sew in. If anyone has any info I'd be ecstatic to hear it. My husband has given up on it so it's diwn to me to resurrect it. I have watched it in YouTube so I've been doing everything correctly.
Thank you all.
Maureen

[bravo2zero]

Sounds like you have too much wick exposed. Adjust the wick so the tips are just proud of the cowling and light them, they may smoke and place the chimneys back on immediately. Now wind the wicks down till they are barely lit and leave them for 5 mins to settle in. If they are smoking wind the wick in till it stops. You need to find the wick height at which they stop smoking then wind them down a bit. Regards the flame colour a round ring burns blue, a ribbon wick burns orange. do not not overfill the tank this is asking for a fire. Hope this helps.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Just read this thread from the start and then saw Sarz adding a comment. Is she still on the go?

[Dalrimple]

Hitchmans coment may be of use to me ,my wife bought me a new heater ,and I bought a secondhand one ,the new one works perfect ,but the old one keeps going out !so when I go up the lottie i'll try and clean as he explained how to .atb Dal