The golden rule of choosing the best portable heater is as follows: choose attentively and make your decisions be well grounded. The golden rule of making your kerosene heater work effectively for a very long time requires you to use it carefully.

Buying and using tips

Buy only accepted heaters
On the name plate of each heater there should be mentioning of Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) Standard 647. It means that these heaters are in accordance with standards.

Fuel
The fuel you use determines the lifespan of your kerosene heater, as the food you eat influence your health. There are two types of kerosene you can use: 1-K and 2-K. The difference between them is the amount of sulfur in the content of kerosene. 1-K contains 0.04 percent sulfur by weight, 2-K contains 0.30 percent sulfur by weight. Sulfur has a bad influence on kerosene heaters and increases the danger of a fire or explosion.

Another important fact is that it is actually forbidden to use oil, gasoline, diesel or other type of fuel.

Children must know what is heater

The surface of heater heats up to 500 F, which is hot enough to harm one’s body. The adults being quite aware of the dander, children may be careless with heaters. Try to explain them why they are not allowed to play with the heater.

Provide required maintenance

Read manufacturers instruction carefully to know how to handle and maintain your heater. Keeping a kerosene heater “in shape” means cleaning it, trimming the wick, cleaning off soot and carbon. Badly maintained kerosene heater is a real hazard to your life and health. It not only a possible source of fire, it can exhaust harmful by-products.

Keep your heater away from combustible material

36 inches is a safety distance between the heater and any combustible material. You should also take into account the use of flammable vapors near the heater, as they can ignite. Curtains and furniture should be at a distance from heater as well.

Use heaters when you control the process

You mustn’t use kerosene heater while sleeping. In such circumstances you may suffer from asphyxiation.

Ventilation is the obligation

Ventilation is important for heaters proper work and for your health. One square inch of opening stands for 1,000 BTUs of the heater rating. A 20,000 BTU kerosene heater requires 20 square inches of window opened to provide sufficient air intake.

Allow heater to cool before refueling.

Before refueling your heater make sure it is cool enough. At least fifteen minutes are needed for a heater to cool down.

Don’t overdo with fuel

When heated kerosene expands and occupies more area in the tank. That is why you should not fill in too much fuel in the tank.