Preparing Your Kerosene Heater

Preparing Your Kerosene Heater

Most of us have our kerosene heaters for use during a crisis. It is important to know that several days are required to prepare a kerosene heater for use. We encourage all of you to prepare your heaters now so that in an emergency, it is ready to use.

Dry burn(Complete these steps before using your heater for the first time.)

After your heater is assembled, it is important to do a dry burn. (If this isn’t done, the heater will fill your house with smoke.)

Do the following steps three times (before using indoors):
• Put your heater outside on cement (driveway or patio)
• Completely fill heater with kerosene.
• Turn heater on and let burn continuously until all the kerosene is burned out. (This takes approximately 24 hours.) It is important that the heater not be turned off during this process or you have to start completely over with this step.
• Repeat this 24-hour dry burn two more times. (So that you have done three complete dry burns.)

Storing kerosene
• Immediately after purchase, add Stabil. (This is a fuel stabilizer which is available in the Fuel Additive Section of stores.) Follow the directions on the bottle for diesel fuel. Be sure to stir the Stabil in.
• Kerosene will be ruined in just 12-18 months if it is stored on the ground or cement. Please store your kerosene on wood slats or pallets.

Carbon Monoxide Monitor
• Please install and make sure that you have batteries for a carbon monoxide monitor.

Kerosene Quantities
• Two-55 gallon drums of kerosene will last a Utah winter.
• It is estimated that 10-15 gallons will last approximately two weeks.

Wicks
• Normally a wick will last quite a long time. However, in a crisis where people may be using old kerosene or kerosene that has gotten water in it, more wicks will probably be needed. It is unknown how many may be needed, but possibly as many as one a month or more. (It has been suggested that possibly 10-12 might be needed for a winter.)