Parafin heater

Hi every one 0)

I have a single burner parafin heater, which I bought last year. I use it to keep the frost at bay in my greenhouse. I have recently started to use it in the sub zero temps we have been having up here in the past weeks.

My greenhouse this year is full of black soot, it also omits black smoke. I can't recall this happening last year.

So my question is what am I doing wrong?

 

Yuck. I may be able to help here.
I am assuming the wick is a circular afair?
Have you trimmed it lately? you should have a tool to do that.
It may be the wick is turned up far to high, it is a blue flame you are looking for, not a yellow flame.
Has the heater been empty all summer? could be the wick needs soaking.
And finally, Is the heater getting enough oxygen? In a sealed area the heater will not get enough oxygen and the flame will burn yellow producing black soot, not nice.
Hope that helps..
robert

 

Thanks to both of you

The wick is new, I changed it just last week, as the old wick did the same.

I have soaked the wick, I will soak it all day tommorow.

And yes it is a yellow flame

My greenhouse is bubblewrapped, but still has a whole in the frame at the top of the door and the window doesn't fit properly. (I tell you, I have had so much trouble with this greenhouse :(), but would have thought it gets enough oxygen.

I shall have a play with it in the morning, so far I have resisted attacking the greenhouse with a sledge hammer so I CAN cope with this frustration too :hehe: I think

 

Good luck..

 

I think you may have it turned up too high.

I recently saw 4 litres of parafin on sale for £5.20, how can anyone afford that, its dearer than petrol.s00k

 

Paraffin at £5.20, Pete? That`s cheap. I paid £5.99 in Homebase last week, and that was only because B & Q wanted £7.48.:flag:

 

I cant believe these prices, why should it be more expensive than diesel.

Another great British rip off.

 

To think I've still got a gerry can full of Esso Blue in the shed, it must be really good stuff by now.

Could be worth a fortune.

I've been using some of it to wash out paintbrushes.:D

 

Nathan started this,
[media]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-NRbmfLVoWo[/media]

 

My Parafin was really cheap in comparrison to the prices you are paying, maybe that is why mine is smoking, perhaps it's dud stuff :lol:

 

Visited our " local " garden centre this morning. Paraffin £9.99 a gallon.