How to Clean & Service a Kerosene Heater

Kerosene is a volatile fuel.

Kerosene heaters need annual maintenance to stay in working order. Kerosene is a volatile fuel, especially when stored in a container for long periods. Oil heaters are typically used only in the cold months, so the best time to clean and service them is immediately before they are put away for storage. This will prevent corrosion and other damage during storage. It also assures the heater will be usable immediately when it is pulled from storage, rather than discovering necessary repairs when the heater is most needed.

Things You'll Need

• Fuel container
• Paint stirrer
• Lint-free cloth
• New wick
• Wire brush
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Empty any unused kerosene into a fuel container. If you have no safe place to store the fuel, leave the heater on until the fuel is completely spent. Unplug the heater and inspect the electrical cord for fraying and damage.

2. Wipe the inside of the fuel tank with a lint-free cloth, using the paint stirrer to manipulate the cloth. Wipe the sides and bottom thoroughly.

3. Remove the fuel filter. Its location and instructions on how to remove it are in the owner's manual. Inspect the filter for damage and clean it thoroughly, using the lint-free cloth.

4. Remove the wick, wick housing and wick adjuster system. Replace the wick if necessary. Scrub the parts with the wire brush to remove any carbon. Wipe everything down with a cloth. Inspect the rubber on the bottom of the wick housing for damage.

5. Scrub the inside of the heater with the wire brush to remove carbon. Carbon is most likely to build up directly above where the fire sits and around the hole in which the wick housing rests. Wipe everything with a lint-free cloth.

6. Remove the fan covers with the screwdriver. Wipe down the fan blades and engine with a cloth to remove carbon.

7. Replace the wick housing and wick adjuster system. Plug the heater in and check the ignition system. Make sure the igniter isn't bent or broken. Clean the outside of the heater.

Tips & Warnings

• Kerosene should not be stored for longer than three months. If the heater is going into storage for longer than that, burn off the fuel with the heater or take it to a recycling center that can handle fuel oils.

References

• "End Times Report"; Kerosene Heaters; Miles Stair
• MSI Wicks and Heaters: Introduction to Kerosene Heater Service and Troubleshooting