Smoking Parasene 681 Paraffin Heater

[Muddy_Boots]

Hi there

I set my old greenhouse heater alight last night with some newly bought paraffin and it appeared to be going ok set low with no smoke.

When I went in this morning it was out and a thin layer of soot was over everything and I now know where all the spider webs are as they are black with soot.

Any ideas what I should do, might give it a clean see if its blocked up somewhere or do you think I should throw it out? but bit of a shame if I have to do that as its been good up to now.

Luckily there are only fushias and geraniums over wintering in there so far.

[bearded bloke]

Was the wick properly into the fuel ?

[Potstubsdustbins]

If I remember correctly the 681 is a single burner with a large paraffin reservoir.

Smoking is normally either (a) to much fuel (b) to little combustion air. If the air ports on the burner are clean I would check the wick does not need trimming. They also reckon that on first lighting after filling you should check the burner after 30 minutes, the fuel can warm up and the expansion will cause the fuel up the wick to quickly causing 'flame flare'

As always remember were this is smoke there is carbon monoxide.

[Muddy_Boots]

I know there is plenty of fuel in it, looks like the spiders have been busy inside the wick area, taking another look and there is a mass of webs inside the air ports causing a blockage.

Also looking up the chimney bit its also a mass of now black webs plus the wicks also need trimming so I'm off to sort it out with some tlc. I don't hold out much hope for the fate our my Arachnid friends though.

[Muddy_Boots]

After cleaning it all out and using a can of compressed air on it to clear all the vents, trimmed the wicks and lit it last night and that looks like its fixed it. Went in this morning and it was still alight with a small flame but NO soot so happy I can now put seedlings in without any fear of them being covered in the morning.