Kerosene heater safety

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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Thu. Apr. 23, 2020 11:59 pm

I just had a hell of a scare.... I will never use a kerosene heater in the house again. I have had it for 3 years I only use it in the shoulder months spring and fall when not in use I burn it dry and store it empty.

Anyway I started it about a hour ago, shook the flame spredder, closed the access door, sat down on the couch and all was well. Then about 15 min ago I heard a pop and then there was a large yellow glo from the heater. I quickly got over to it to find a 2 foot tall flame larger around than the heater rising from the top of the thing. I hit the wick drop lever and 3 seconds later it was out.

I am at a loss as to what could have happened I filled it with K1 yesterday.

I do know I will buy a new fire extinguisher tomorrow I'm glad I didn't need one cause the old one in the kitchen shows discharged even though it hasent been.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Fri. Apr. 24, 2020 1:16 am

Good ya made it through all that C, I never liked kero heaters, seems like lots of talk on the dangers!!

 
NoSmoke
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Post by NoSmoke » Fri. Apr. 24, 2020 5:40 am

Sometimes the wick can go bad as it ages, and it does that.

I do not have a kerosene heater, but have seen that before in a kerosene lantern.


 
NoSmoke
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Post by NoSmoke » Fri. Apr. 24, 2020 5:43 am

The scariest thing I ever saw was mixing coal with wood pellets. I thought I would try it...

I dumped on a bunch of wood pellets on top of glowing coals. As it smoldered just before combustion I thought, "I might smoother the coal gas, I better rake an air hole in the coal bed."

Too late....

KABOOM!

Coal gas explosion.

It was just like the cartoons, I literally watched...no joke...the stovepipe expand in a bulge as the fireball went upwards. I pop rivet my stove pipe together, so it held, and all was alright, but what an explosion!

 
Hoytman
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Post by Hoytman » Tue. Apr. 28, 2020 10:49 pm

Try throwing some dry ash on top of a load of anthracite. Don’t ask me how I know. No boom, but nearly a run away stove with 65 lbs of nut coal in it. Just had got a set of log tongs and needed them to take the wood pieces outside. Won’t do that again. Lol!!

Glad you’re ok C.

 
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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Tue. May. 05, 2020 5:55 pm

So I got curious as to what the f happened so I took the heater apart to see if there was something wrong in there.

This is what I found, I guess I need to come up with a child proof closure for the door and have a discussion with the wife about lighters and child safety.......... I don't like lighting the combustioneer for 1 cool day I will if I have to though.

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Benny
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Post by Benny » Tue. May. 05, 2020 6:36 pm

That’s a little scary!

 
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David...
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Post by David... » Sun. May. 24, 2020 9:18 pm

At least now you know that there was nothing wrong with the heater. This is a good reason to keep the electric ignitor working.

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