Use of Paraffin Heaters and Health Issues

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spader

Native
Dec 19, 2009
1,190
52
Scotland
Hi All

Not sure if this is the right area of this posting, if not please move it to suitable area.

I got hold of a couple of old paraffin heaters - Aladdin Series heaters
I did some test run with these in the bathroom where there is a ventilation fan.

They gave a bit of paraffin smell with smoke when initially lit, but after 3-4 minutes, the flames settle nicely to blue and run quite cleanly.
But after 3 days of test run, I found out the ventilation fan on the wall in the bathroom has blackened with carbon particles - definitely from the heaters, as the fan used to be clean before.

From this phenomenon, would it be safe to use paraffin heaters in any enclosed space such as shed, tent or in the house. I think these paraffin heaters were very popular 20 - 40 years ago, and many house hold used to use them as main source of heating.

Is it because these heaters are not made for indoor use? or is it just case of all paraffin heaters are like this? What would be the health risk of using these in regular basis? I was thinking of using these paraffin heaters in the shed and workshop, but not sure if it is ok or not good idea.

Thanks in advance for your feedback in this topic.
 
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sausage100uk

Settler
May 4, 2013
538
0
United Kingdom
the dangerous stuff is CO or carbon monoxide, this comes from incomplete combustion, what you found on the fan is probably C or carbon, from the burning of organic (paraffin) fuel - think soot from a coal fire. if there is enough O2 (oxygen) when burning, the C tends to form CO2 (carbon dioxide - pretty harmless in normal circumstances) but if theres not enough O2 then it makes CO and you might end up dead. bear in mind you cant smell either CO2 or CO so best get a portable detector. the worst thing with parrafin is the smell but low sulfur is much better as long as you have a small amount of ventilation you should be ok , shed yes, house maybe, tent probably not.
 
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spader

Native
Dec 19, 2009
1,190
52
Scotland
Yup, I ensure good ventilation when using paraffin lamps or heaters i.e. always leave the shed door half open, - but when I saw the state of the ventilation fan covered with black dust, I was wondering whether they will do something similar to our lungs.
 

Midnitehound

Silver Trader
Jun 8, 2011
2,114
27
AREA 51
Yup, I ensure good ventilation when using paraffin lamps or heaters i.e. always leave the shed door half open, - but when I saw the state of the ventilation fan covered with black dust, I was wondering whether they will do something similar to our lungs.

If you want something that will burn clean, is cheap, efficient, practical, burns scrap and is fun then tinker with building a rocket stove or rocket space/mass heater:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UND159tUEF8 rocket stove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqznv5GDSWc rocket mass heater
 
Aug 31, 2013
9
0
Minnesota, USA
Pretty much anything that has a flame but no dedicated chimney to the outside is problematic in enclosed spaces. Due to unburned fuel, CO2, and CO.

Yes, your lungs will collect the same black carbon your exhaust fan collected. If you are in the room, your lungs collect the soot before the fan will.

A half-open door feeds oxygen to the fire, but does little to evacuate the exhaust unless you've got a strong breeze coming in the same door. You'd be better off with a chimney pipe connected to the burner, or the wood fueled rocket stove directly connected to a chimney pipe. That way you can keep the door closed in cold weather and not have exhaust fumes vented into your working/living space.

People have done a lot of things over the years because dying of cold was the alternative. It doesn't make it safe or smart, given a choice.

I must seriously commend the OP for recognizing the danger by looking at his exhaust fan. I've never thought of that test myself. :thumbup:
 
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Midnitehound

Silver Trader
Jun 8, 2011
2,114
27
AREA 51
I'm yet to try, but I bought a cheap hurricane lamp with the hope I can try using Olive Oil as a substitute to the paraffin.

but... I haven't tried it yet!

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45633038.tip.html

(The website says thrifty, but I doubt it is! I figured it was a more environmentally friendly alternative?)

Most people who have tried this have found that olive oil will not travel along the wick in a cheap hurricane lamp, just too far.

If you wish to make a simple and windproof olive oil lamp (should work with cheaper vegetable oil as well) then here is a link to a commercial version and then a youtube link to someone reproducing it cheaply and easily with 12 gauge wire and a glass jar. https://www.lehmans.com/p-4708-merry-corliss-chamber-olive-oil-lamp.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHnarA9ks7U

I also have these for the Naughty Corner at the Moot next year:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEST-MOST...9609?pt=UK_Candle_Holders&hash=item484a6c5799 Check out the second video.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/52-OIL-CA...384?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c37c92508 A Jewish version

They are cheap, use vegetable oil, work well and can be used in any jar or bowl, probably even plastic when outside. You can clean the plastic version but they get messy with the oil. Replacement wicks are cheap but ordinary string works for wicks as well:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Natural-T...denEquipment_HandTools_SM&hash=item4aca5a3e63
 
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Emdiesse

Settler
Jan 9, 2005
629
5
Surrey, UK
Most people who have tried this have found that olive oil will not travel along the wick in a cheap hurricane lamp, just too far.

If you wish to make a simple and windproof olive oil lamp (should work with cheaper vegetable oil as well) then here is a link to a commercial version and then a youtube link to someone reproducing it cheaply and easily with 12 gauge wire and a glass jar. https://www.lehmans.com/p-4708-merry-corliss-chamber-olive-oil-lamp.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHnarA9ks7U

I also have these for the Naughty Corner at the Moot next year:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEST-MOST...9609?pt=UK_Candle_Holders&hash=item484a6c5799 Check out the second video.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/52-OIL-CA...384?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c37c92508 A Jewish version

They are cheap, use vegetable oil, work well and can be used in any jar or bowl, probably even plastic when outside. You can clean the plastic version but they get messy with the oil. Replacement wicks are cheap but ordinary string works for wicks as well:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Natural-T...denEquipment_HandTools_SM&hash=item4aca5a3e63

Thanks for the info, I did worry about the thickness of the oil and wondered if a mix would help so i planned to experiment; however I want to keep the 'thinner' natural too.

However, those jar lamps on you tube, I'll certainly be making one of them; It'll be perfect for inside the lavvu. :)

ETA: A google threw this up :) A post by Keith_Beef making my own oil lamp
 
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spader

Native
Dec 19, 2009
1,190
52
Scotland
Paraffin heaters and lamps seem to have been in use for years by general households until about late 80s, and even now there seem quite a few people using them indoors. I am wondering if there had been any health scare problems relating to prolonged use of these devices in the past, as I cannot recall any. Having said that, I only started looking into, and using these heaters and lamps recently. So I am a newbie in this area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5A3VgYYlgU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKUOh8fI5hM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0HHZsOK0BE
 

presterjohn

Settler
Apr 13, 2011
727
1
United Kingdom
We used to have a paraffin heater back in the late 70's as a back up when it got really cold. I remember scare stories about people with double glazing not having enough ventilation but as we had single glazing it was not considered an issue. I also remember the extra dusting and window wiping that had to be done because of the water and carbon they cranked out when in use too.

Paraffin heaters probably make a poor choice in a modern home but are fine for drafty unmodernized ones.
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
Paraffin heaters and lamps seem to have been in use for years by general households until about late 80s, and even now there seem quite a few people using them indoors. I am wondering if there had been any health scare problems relating to prolonged use of these devices in the past......

To be honest most people in that era smoked. So the source of any health problems might have been difficult to separate. Tar is tar no matter where it comes from.
 

rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
To be honest most people in that era smoked. So the source of any health problems might have been difficult to separate. Tar is tar no matter where it comes from.

I suspect getting through a pack or two of un-filered Luck Strikes or Woodbines would do a lot more damage than heating a room with a paraffin/kerosene heater.

I sometimes use a paraffin heater at home but more for fun and the old Valor type my wife likes so I get no complaints. You really must keep the wicks clean and trimmed and light them as 'low' as you can and put the heater tube on as soon as you can which will help give a cleaner burn.

These can look nice tucked away in the corner of a room (this is the style my wife likes) and are a handy backup.
$%28KGrHqJHJEUFE2Hmwii1BRN7%299vIF!~~60_35.JPG
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
I suspect getting through a pack or two of un-filered Luck Strikes or Woodbines would do a lot more damage than heating a room with a paraffin/kerosene heater.....

As do I Rik. But I can't back that up with any research unfortunately.
 

ateallthepies

Native
Aug 11, 2011
1,558
0
hertfordshire
Could the sooting of the fan be from the start up of the heater?

With my bowl fires I try to start them outside and when running bring them into the shed or garage although it is probably unnecessary as there is plenty of ventilation.

I have never thought about the sooting of Paraffin lamps and heaters, Carbon Monoxide yes but not the particulates made. I'm pretty sure that in a reasonably ventilated room the soot will cause no harm for the infrequent times I use my lamps/heaters? The respiratory system does a pretty remarkable job of filtering particulate matter before it gets to the lungs.

I wonder how these kind of lamps and heaters affected people when they were the sole means of lighting and heating? Probably will never know as like someone said many more people smoked or were subjected to coal smoke and smog on a daily basis?

I am not particularly concerned with the sooting of Paraffin gear but the smell can be a bit off putting. Keeping wicks trimmed and at the lowest height possible keeps both smell and soot to a minimum. Keeping the appliance in good running order also helps. Also different Paraffins can have different odours, just experiment and find a clean burning one?

I have burning as I type a Duplex wick lamp, I shall have to construct some sort of filter over the chimney and see how much soot is produced? Also on my to-buy list is a CO detector as knowing the PPM in a particular room with and without ventilation would be good to know for different appliances? Also to find out what 'good ventilation' actually means?

Steve.
 

spader

Native
Dec 19, 2009
1,190
52
Scotland
It could be. I just lit the heaters in the bathroom with the door closed and fan on for 2-3 days test run. When the wick is lit, there is quite a bit of black smoke and strong smell of paraffin. Then it settles down into blue flames in 3 - 5 minutes. And it runs actually quite ok. Today I checked the wicks, and they are quite well used. Maybe it could do with new ones. So it could be combination of all these.
 
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mrcharly

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 25, 2011
3,257
44
North Yorkshire, UK
As previously mentioned, CO is the main danger.

People have died in the past. People still die when using these things with inadequate ventilation - usually on boats or in caravans. The inland waterways safety body (BSS) has very strict regulations about ventilation on boats for this very reason.
 

presterjohn

Settler
Apr 13, 2011
727
1
United Kingdom
It's really dangerous for your health i think you need to know some natural ways to keep your body warm because these heaters are not good for health, i suggest you to try some health care products which helps you to sort your problems.

Having read both of your posts I have concluded that you are either a bit strange or a troll.
 

capt.dunc

Forager
Oct 11, 2011
100
0
dundee
i'm a professional fire juggler and paraffin is the fuel of choice, so here's my input. even juggling outdoors in the wind i find that my nose is full of black snot the day after, this is purely from the soot. but like living in a tee pee, or a house with an open fire which backs soot into it, when the wind is "just" right, it's a choice between heat and pollution. on thinking about it, i'd rather run an open fire and lie beside it, than run a paraffin heater, they're both bad for you but i believe the fire may be better. paraffin has no odour or taste, they are chemically added so that you know that it's paraffin. either that, or the paraffin it's self, causes cancer, and chemical pneumonia, the jury's still out in the circus world.

ps never try to put out a paraffin fire with water. i grew up being taught this in a time when people still used heaters, but fear it's falling out of common knowledge, even my insurance company insists that i carry a water fire extinguisher. i can assure you that paraffin does float on water and will spread as far the edge of said water with incredible ease, just as your grandad warned you.

pps i use a paraffin stove for cooking while camping, if i'm not using an open fire or my honey stove.
 

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