Top 10 Kerosene Heater Safety Tips - Part 1

11/20/2020 (Permalink)

Safety First!

Here is the first half of the Top 10 important safety tips to consider if you plan on using a kerosene heater this winter:

1) Wick Check the wick every week or two during the heating season. If it's dirty, clean it according to the manufacturer's instructions.

2) Spills Wipe up any kerosene spillage at once - it's a fire hazard - and to remove dust and dirt regularly.

3) Proper Fuel Never use a substitute such as gasoline or camp stove fuel. In a kerosene heater, such fuels could start a fire or explode. Kerosene heaters require 1-K grade kerosene. When colored or cloudy kerosene is burned, it will give off an odor, smoke and cause increased indoor pollution levels because the fuel's higher sulphur content sharply boosts sulphur dioxide emissions. And kerosene other than 1-K grade can gum up the wick. 

4) Keep Your Distance Place kerosene heaters several feet away from all furniture, curtains, papers, clothes, bedding and other combustible materials.

5) Free of Fumes Do not use a kerosene heater in a room where there are flammable solvents, aerosol sprays, lacquers, gasoline, kerosene containers or any type of oil.

Source: iii