Kerosene Stove Maintenance

[rchris]

The onset of cooler weather has me thinking about the first fire-up of the Aladdin stove my family has had since we bought it new in 1984.

It has always started and run flawlessly, even after a period of 5 years nonuse.

I try to empty out the tank so it doesnt sit up all summer with fuel in it. Is there any further tuning up or other maintenance that will keep this great heater running trouble free for 20 years more (or 40 or 60 or...)?

The air conditioner (electric heat pump) does a capable job heating the place, but when the weather is at its coldest, nothing is cozier than kerosene heat.

 

[maytagbear]

I never used an Aladdin,

but at times in the late 70s to mid 80s, I wrestled with two Kero-sun's. I did not enjoy the experience one bit, especially if the kerosene got onto my hands.

The wick had to be replaced every year, and the batteries for the starter every two, but other than removing the carbon on the wick (when cool!) there wasn't that much to do with them.

This was when we still owned the house. Now, in a multi-family dwelling (and without a detached garage in which to store the kerosene,) I wouldn't dare!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch]

IMHO- I personally do not beleive in unvented combustion appliances. Even with an oxygen sensor, they bring the air-quality way way down.

There are many horror stories on the web of these things not only causing fires, but permanently devastating the health of the occupants.

Please be careful.

-sorry to be so preachy.

 

[agiflow]

We had one here in the mid- to late eighties. It was a Corona i believe. Only used it for a couple of years until i gave it to a friend of mine to use in his garage as he was out there all year working on his bikes and cars.

I agree wholeheartedly with Steve. You do have to be very careful in enclosed areas,..which is why they are illegal to have here in NJ now. Plus the fact if they are accidently tipped over, though they have built in safegaurds that cuts the flame in such an event.

Pat

Still accidents do happen and safeguards do fail. Plug in radiators by Delonghi and welbilt are a much better way to go.

 

[kenmore1978]

heaters

"Still accidents do happen and safeguards do fail. Plug in radiators by Delonghi and welbilt are a much better way to go."

IF one has the electrical capacity to support electric heaters. That is why those kerosene heaters are purchased in the first place, lack of or limited electrical resources. One of those kerosene heaters can put out many more BTU's than a 120 volt electric heater cn. But they definately should only be used in places like garages and workshops, never in living quarters.

 

[agiflow]

Well that wasn't why we bought a kerosene heater in the first place Kenmore78. Those kerosene heaters throw out a lot of heat in a short amount of time. Simply put, cheaper to use.

 

[toggleswitch]

cost savings?

In theory kerosene and fuel-oil are both crude oil distillates, and are around the same price.

Natural gas is near the price of fuel oil, usually. So I dont get the savings except perhaps the abilty to heat a small local area.

 

[rchris]

Thanks for the warnings, guys (air quality, fires). Dont be so optimistic - one would think you werent taking this seriously...

I try not to run it for long periods of time since, as agiflow put it, the thing is so efficient, the room gets hot really quickly, and stays warm for some time after I shut it off.

As to cleaning the wick, the one on the Aladdin *looks* easy to get to; we will soon see. After that, just need to decide whether or not to replace it since that hasnt ever been done. The batteries for the starter were replaced last year - that's all good.

The tipover safety is so sensitive that if the heater is even jostled, it's triggered.

 

[Cybrvanr]

Dry-burn the unit to remove carbon deposits

Basically, run the heater till it runs out of fuel, and then turn the wick up further. When the heater runs out of fuel, it will burn off the carbon deposits. Now, you don't want to do this in the house, because the heater will make all sorts of akrid smelling smoke! I have found this easy to do if you have on of the little square heaters with the removable fuel cell. Just lift the fuel-cell out the heater, and let it burn off what's left inside. I try to do this for ever 15-20 gallons of kero I burn in it. Some fuel is sootier than others and requires dry-burning more frequently. If you notice your wick gets hard to move, it's time to do this! I have gotten several years out of my wick by doing this without any degradation in performance.

I have found the cleanest Kerosene heaters to be the ones that do NOT have visible flames. Many of the old Kero-suns are like this. It's sometimes hard to find ones that fit this description, but the ones with the dome shaped burners are usually it. I have one, and it burns VERY clean one it is fully warmed up. Now, I know I'm not supposed to move it while it's running, but what I do is light mine out on the front porch, and then once the burner is good and hot, GENTLY carry it back into the house and sit it in the floor. Using that method, I have not had any problem with smoke or soot. Once the unit is lit, I can take the fuel cell out once it's empty, fill it outside, and then return it to the unit without having to shut it off for refueling. The heater will run for about 30 minutes on the leftover fuel in the wick.

I probably won't be using my kero heater this winter though because of the $3.00 fuel. I bought the thing when fuel was $.79 and it saved greatly on the fuel bill....not anymore. Instead, I bought a window air conditioner to supplement the central air heat pump...yep, a window unit! It's a 9000 BTU heat pump, 5000 BTU electric resistance heater, and a 10,000 BTU air conditioner unit. Found it at Lowe's on season end sale for $229...It normally sold for $399! It's a genuine Carrier with a 11.5 efficiency ratio too!

 

[gizmo]

I have a kero heater too - a Sanyo. We use it in the bathroom which is very well ventilated - a polite way of saying drafty.
Just had a bad batch of kero, the wick is ruined and have to buy new fuel. $1.70 per litre plus $18.00 for the wick. Good kero is hard to get around here, there are two grades, "household" which is for cleaning and has dark blue tint, and "lighting" which suits lamps and heaters. Household is available in a couple of towns nearby but Lighting has to be ordered in to a store 2 hours away and costs $85 for 20 litres. I have been using household and just found out the difference... we will be using LPG in the new house, no more kero, not worth the hassle anymore to me.

I love my wood fire - "firewood, the fuel that warms you twice, once when you chop it and once when you burn it."

we have planted several thousand trees on our land so I don't feel bad about burning a few of the ones that fall over...

Chris