Here at Bumgarner Oil, we want to help you keep your property warm this winter, and one way to do this is with a kerosene oil heater. These portable heaters are a great way to heat spaces that aren’t attached to your central heating system, and they offer a great alternative to other types of space heaters. We at Bumgarner Oil recognize that some people may be unfamiliar with kerosene oil heaters, so in this article, we’ll be going over how they work to help you decide if they’re right for you.
Kerosene oil heaters work much like kerosene lamps, but they’re bigger. They have a large tank of kerosene, a wick of fiberglass or cotton, and a burner unit. The oil is drawn up the wick via capillary action, and the lit wick then turns the liquid kerosene into kerosene gas. The gas is then burnt, which transfers heat energy into the surrounding air via convection, or into surrounding objects via radiation. You control the flame’s height by raising or lowering the wick using an adjustment mechanism, and extinguish it by lowering it into the chamber below the burner.
Some kerosene oil heaters have electric components, such as a fan to distribute the warmed air faster or a thermostat for more precise temperature control. However, the majority of these heaters do not require any electricity to operate—even the ones with battery-powered igniters can still be started manually in a pinch. This makes them a great choice for emergency preparedness.
If you have further questions about kerosene oil heaters, just call our team at Bumgarner Oil.