How to Replace Kerosene Heater Wicks
A kerosene heater is a small, household heater that provides heat through the use of kerosene and batteries. Kerosene heaters can provide power if the electricity goes out or in case of an emergency. Kerosene heaters can also be used to keep your home-heating costs down . To use a kerosene heater, you simply fill up the heater with kerosene and light the wick. The wick should be replaced at the beginning of each yearly heating season. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Light the wick. Continue to allow the kerosene heater to burn until all of the kerosene has been used. Allow the heater to cool before proceeding.
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2
Remove the fuel tank, batteries and as many removable knobs and levers as possible from the front panel of the kerosene heater. Open the catalytic converter and remove the catalytic converter.
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3
Unscrew the retaining screws that hold the cabinet to the base of the heater from both sides and the back of the kerosene heater. Typically, plastic knurled knobs or Phillips screws are used. Remove Phillips screws by turning a Phillips head screwdriver to the left. Plastic knurled knobs can be removed by unscrewing them towards the left using your fingers. Lift the cabinet out to remove it from the base. Once the cabinet is removed, the ignition unit will be visible.
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4
Remove the ignition unit. Some may lift right up, while others may be held in place by two Phillips screws. Turn a Phillips screwdriver to the left to remove the screws.
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5
Unscrew the four wing nuts that keep the wick adjuster in place. Wing nuts can be unscrewed using your fingers, wrench or a wing-nut loosening tool. Once the wing nuts are removed, lift the wick adjuster upward to remove it.
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Use a pen to draw a line on the wick. The line should be positioned where the wick meets the rim of the wick holder. You will use this to measure your new wick so be sure to mark the wick carefully.
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Fold the wick and sleeve downward and feed it through the hole in the bottom of the wick holder for removal.
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8
Lay the new wick and replacement wick side-by-side on a flat surface. Line up the top of the wicks. Most new wicks come marked with a black universal measuring line. Compare the black lines. If the line on the new wick is lower or higher than your marked line, use a pen to make a mark on the new wick that is even with the mark on your old wick.
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9
Slide the wick and sleeve back onto the draft tube. Rotate around and press hard against the draft tube to fully insert the sharp teeth into the wick. Make sure the wick slides freely around the draft tube in the center. Make sure the gasket that fits between the wick adjuster assembly and the tank is in place on the top of the fuel tank. The wick-adjuster shaft should be toward the front.
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10
Place the wick inside the sleeve. The black line should be even with the top of the sleeve. Place the sleeve into the wick holder. Rotate the sleeve around and firmly press the sleeve and wick downward to ensure it is tightly and firmly in place.
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11
Place the wick adjuster back over the draft tube, sleeve and wick. Screw the four wing nuts back into place so they tightly hold the wick adjuster in place.
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12
Place the ignition unit over the wick adjuster. Place the screws in the hole and screw into place.
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13
Place the cabinet over the base. Screw the screw back into position on the side and back of the cabinet.
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14
Re-install the fuel tank, batteries, knobs, levers and catalytic converter.
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Tips & Warnings
These instructions are general instructions for replacing a wick in a kerosene heater. There are several different brands and models of kerosene heaters so be sure to refer to your owners manual if you have any questions about installing a wick in your specific kerosene heater.
References
- Photo Credit detail of a kerosene lamp image by Yali Shi from Fotolia.com
