- Use the wrong wick in a kerosene lamp or heater and the equipment will produce some obvious side effects. Odor and dramatic flickering can be an indication of the wrong thickness or width of a wick. Make sure the right type of wick is being used before lighting the lamp. Check the manufacturer's specifications or contact them directly for the proper information. Wicks are often made in conjunction with a heater or lamp or are manufactured separately for use with a particular brand. Read the labels of generic products to verify their use with a specific kerosene product. Wicks generally need to fill the opening from which they protrude. Gaps at any edge or side of the wick opening allow air and debris into the lamp fuel and can block the fuel from traveling up the wick.
- Adjust the wick to 1/8 inch above the the wick holder and allow the lower portion to sit in the filled fuel tank for 30 to 60 minutes. This gives the wick time to become fully saturated in the kerosene. The fuel will travel up the full length of the wick just like a liquid travels across a paper towel, but it needs time to do so. Lighting a cotton wick that is not properly soaked will burn away the exposed wick and then the flame will go out---wasting the wick and not providing light or heat. Wicks containing fiberglass are far less likely to ignite without fuel than cotton wicks.
- Trim the wick to burn efficiently. Pointed wicks burn high, fast and project less light, and flat trimmed wicks burn smoky. Cut the top of the wick straight across and clip each corner at an angle for the most efficient burning process. Use a sharp pair of scissors for a clean cut. Snip away any straggling threads or wisps of cotton. For the best flame height, place the wick at 1/8 inch above its holder before lighting. Remember, kerosene that has traveled up the wick is what is burning and providing a flame, not the wick---taller wick height is a waste of the wick. When lighting after the first burn of the wick, brush or knock-off the carbon left behind and then adjust the wick up to 1/8 inch and re-trim.
