Insurance Information Institute

Kerosene Heater Safety

If you use a kerosene heater in your home or place of business, you

should take precautions against a number of serious hazards.



These dangers include:



Fire or explosion.  Fire could be caused by operating the heater

too close to furniture, draperies or other combustibles, by

knocking over a lighted heater, or by accidentally igniting fuel

when filling the tank.  Explosions could be caused by use of the

wrong kind of fuel, or by operating the heater in an area where

there are combustible fumes.



Burns.  Burns could be caused by direct contact with a heater, or

by ignition of combustible clothing.  Children especially should be

kept at a safe distance from operating heaters.  Even pets could be

injured.



Asphyxiation.  Kerosene heaters consume oxygen as they burn.  If

they are operated in a small room or in an inadequately ventilated

area, oxygen in the air could be reduced to a dangerous level. 

Reduced oxygen supply could lead to incomplete combustion of fuel

and the production of carbon monoxide.  Carbon monoxide is a

colorless, odorless gas which in sufficient concentrations, or if

breathed over a period of time, can kill without warning.



Indoor air pollution.  In addition to carbon monoxide, kerosene

heaters can emit such pollutants as carbon dioxide, nitrogen

dioxide and sulphur dioxide.  Breathing these substances can create

a risk, especially to such people as pregnant women, asthmatics,

individuals with cardiovascular disease, elderly persons and young

children.



These hazards can be minimized or averted by carefully following

manufacturers' instructions for use of kerosene heaters, and by

adopting other common-sense safety measures.



You also should be aware that kerosene heaters still are illegal in

some areas.  Before you buy one, check your local fire department

or fire marshal for any restrictions on use in your area.



Picking the Model



There are two types of portable kerosene heaters - convective and

radiant.



The convective heater usually is circular in shape.  Its fuel tank

is located below the wick and combustion chamber.  The wick absorbs

and delivers fuel to the combustion chamber.



Convective heaters circulate warm air upward and outward in all

directions.  They're designed for large areas or even several

rooms, but never for a small, closed area such as a bedroom.  Some

owners report that one or two of these units can adequately heat an

entire house when the temperature stays above freezing.



Convective heaters must be moved for refueling because they don't

have a removable fuel tank.  Generally, refueling is done with a

siphon pump.  Be sure a convective heater has a fuel gauge.



Radiant heaters - usually rectangular in shape - are designed for

smaller areas.  They also feature a wick and combustion chamber and

have, in addition, a reflector which directs heat at people or

objects.  Some radiant heaters have electric fans to increase the

flow of warm air.



Many - but not all - radiant models have a removable fuel tank,

which means that the heater can stay in place.  Only the fuel tank

needs to be carried to where the fuel is stored.



A radiant heater without a removable fuel tank must be moved for

each refueling - just like a convective model.



Be sure your heater has a recognized seal of approval such as the

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label.  The UL label means the

heater has performed well under test conditions and meets

acceptable fire safety standards.



Also be sure your heater has a battery-operated lighting device -

it eliminates the need for matches.



Heaters should have a safety shutoff device, which extinguishes the

flame if the unit is jarred or tipped over.



Dealing with Hazards



A well-designed kerosene heater emits no smoke or strong odor

during normal operation.  But you might notice a faint kerosene

odor when you enter the house.



There's also a strong odor from kerosene heaters for several

minutes when they're turned on or off and when they run out of

fuel.  Thus, it's a good idea to check the fuel gauge regularly.



But the real danger is that misuse of kerosene heaters could

replace room oxygen with carbon monoxide and lead to death by

asphyxiation.



Therefore, it's important to have adequate ventilation to other

rooms, and a source of fresh, outside air such as a window or door

open at least one inch whenever you're using a kerosene heater.



Emission of other major pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon

dioxide and sulphur dioxide is an extra reason why you need

adequate ventilation and fresh, outside air.



Kerosene heaters could be especially hazardous in bedrooms,

particularly when units designed to heat large spaces are used in

small rooms.



"You need to keep an eye on a kerosene heater and if you're

sleeping, you're not going to be able to do that," warns a fire

protection engineer.



The Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal government

agency, has recommended strengthening of voluntary safety standards

by manufacturers and continued public education regarding proper

use of kerosene heaters.



Using it Safely



If you purchase a portable kerosene heater, you'll have to allow

time for buying fuel, fueling the heater and taking care of

maintenance.



You'll need to check the wick every week or two during the heating

season.  If it's dirty, clean it according to the manufacturer's

instructions.



It's also essential to wipe up any kerosene spill-age at once -

it's a fire hazard - and to remove dust and dirt regularly.



Kerosene heaters require 1-K grade kerosene.  When colored or

cloudy kerosene is burned, it will give off an odor, smoke and

cause increased indoor pollution levels because the fuel's higher

sulphur content sharply boosts sulphur dioxide emissions.  And

kerosene other than 1-K grade can gum up the wick.  Never use a

substitute such as gasoline or camp stove fuel.  In a kerosene

heater, such fuels could start a fire or explode.



To avoid the risk of fire even in normal operation you should place

kerosene heaters several feet away from all furniture, curtains,

papers, clothes, bedding and other combustible materials.



Remember that kerosene heaters have a constant open flame and

should not be used in a room where there are flammable solvents,

aerosol sprays, lacquers, gasoline, kerosene containers or any type

of oil.



Parents of babies, toddlers and young children, as well as pet

owners, should be aware that touching any part of an operating

kerosene heater above the open flame could result in a serious

burn.



This is why safety cages - designed to keep small children and pets

at a distance - have become popular.



Never attempt to move a lighted kerosene heater.  Even a carrying

handle could cause a burn.  Extinguish the flame and allow the

heater to cool before moving it.



And never refuel a kerosene heater in living quarters or when the

heater is still hot.  Wait for it to cool.



Fire officials strongly urge that kerosene heaters be turned off

before you go to sleep.  It's better to use your central heating

system while the family is sleeping.



Remember that you can lessen the fire, serious burn, pollution and

asphyxiation dangers from kerosene heaters by:



1.  Following safety tips.



2.  Maintaining a constant source of fresh air.



3.  Keeping doors to other rooms open.



It's important, too, to have a smoke detector and a fire

extinguisher nearby.



Handling Fuel



With a portable kerosene heater, you'll be making frequent trips to

a kerosene fuel dealer, unless you're on a delivery route.



One large convective heater operating 15 hours a day needs up to 14

gallons of fuel a week - an amount that would require three five-

gallon kerosene containers.  Be sure the containers are clearly

marked "Kerosene."



It's dangerous to mix gasoline and kerosene - or their containers. 

Never use a gasoline can as a substitute for a kerosene container.



Once you get the containers back home, you'll need a place to keep

the kerosene cans and to refuel the heater.



In both cases, a garage is preferable to the house.  If there's no

garage, a basement location distant from the central heating system

or an outside storage shed are possibilities.



Resist the temptation to refuel a hot kerosene heater in a warm

house - it's like playing with dynamite!  And never smoke during

refueling.



Follow the siphon pump instructions and fill only about 90 percent

of the tank.  Cold kerosene expands in a heater tank as it warms to

room temperature and could overflow if there isn't enough room.



Return the heater to the spot where it will be turned on.  Open at

least one window slightly and ignite the heater according to the

manufacturer's instructions.



Summer-Fall Maintenance



Here's what to do before a portable kerosene heater is stored for

the summer:



  Remove all fuel from the tank and discard.  Kerosene can change

chemically and spoil over the summer.



  Clean the wick if it's dirty.  If it's worn out, replace

according to the manufacturer's instructions.



  Clean the heater and discard weak batteries.  Store good

batteries in a dry place, taping the ends.



  Place the unit and accessories in a dust-free and moisture-free

containers - possibly the box the heater came in.



Here's what to do when taking your heater out of storage in the

fall"



  Install batteries and inspect shut-off mechanism and wick for

proper operation.



  Fill the tank with fresh kerosene.  Never use kerosene from a

previous heating season - it could have spoiled.



  Go through the owner's manual to make sure you remember all the

operating and safety features.