Kero Sun heater.

[CTyankee]

Picked up a NIB Kero Sun heater (Omni 105) this past summer at a garage sale. I've never had or used one before.

Finally got around to lighting it off this winter. Reading the instructions it says that the flame can be adjusted down to the "wick stop position." I'm roasted out of the small area I'm heating if the heater is set to anything higher than the lowest setting.

Will the heater be able to operate efficiently at the lowest setting, without causing any problems....for me....or the heater? I have a Carbon Monoxide detector and it isn't setting that off. I'm only using it when I'm in the room. Any other precautions I need to take? Thanks.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have two of those that used to be in the race shop. We would be in t-shirts with both running at the lowest setting. Even in my bigger, uninsulated garage they keep me VERY warm. They're not the most efficient to begin with. No soot, you're doing fine.

Tommy

 

[TAMPAGT07]

You should be good at the lowest setting.. I had one years ago, when I lived in NY.. I would fire it up and let it run for a few hrs before I went into the garage... It would heat up (in the 70's ) a three car, poorly insulated garage... Just becarefull not to spray any flamable liquids anywhere near the heater... (And obviously, if your doing any fuel system work, you'll want to shut it down and vent before you crank it up again..

 

[Farmall 1066]

Wick type burners don't have a real wide range of adjustment, but as long as it isn't stinking you should be ok.
I run Jet A in mine. 1/2 price of kerosene and no dye to gunk up the wick.

 

[Norcal]

Where are you using the heater? I use one in my shop, not a Kero Sun though they filed for bankruptcy years ago, it's not that tight though & do notice the kerosene odor if I leave & return if it was more airtight could be quite unsafe.

 

[Kevin54]

Wick type burners don't have a real wide range of adjustment, but as long as it isn't stinking you should be ok.
I run Jet A in mine. 1/2 price of kerosene and no dye to gunk up the wick.[/QUOTE]

A person should only run K-1 in those type of heaters. That way they will burn clean. And when shutting them off, do it outside, and you won't have the nauseating fumes from it.

 

[JC23]

With the quality downgrading of both kerosene and wicks, today, I would make sure to install a new wick each season and never using old kero. I had one of mine go rouge and soot up the place. What a mess!

 

[Richard Cranium]

Jet A is kerosene that has been filtered one more time and no die.

 

[CTyankee]

Thanks for the advice.

The heater is being used in an unfinished upstairs room of the house. No sheetrock and only partially insulated.

Just got back from TSC with a 5 gallon can of K-1. 40 bucks. There are only a couple of places local that you can pump it, and one of them has had issues in regards it's quality.

It's not going to be run a lot, so for the quality and convenience I'm good with that.

 

[steve185]

I almost killed myself by carbon monoxide poisoning with one in my garage. The wife came out, noticed me slurring words stumbling around, I didn't even realize. She was able to determine it wasn't my usual slurring of words and stumbling around.
Be careful.
steve

 

[ratdoggy]

With the quality downgrading of both kerosene and wicks, today, I would make sure to install a new wick each season and never using old kero. I had one of mine go rouge and soot up the place. What a mess!

Yes his shop was a mess from one of those heaters

 

[Farmall 1066]

I don't get any noticeable fumes, and leave a window cracked about an inch or so. Overhead door doesn't seal up real well so got some turnover in air there too.
Picked up 5 gallon yesterday for 3.59/gallon. Not cheap, but runs about 16 hours on a gallon. It's 10 degrees out, and 60 in my well insulated shop.
I'm using an ancient Aladdin Blue Flame heater.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Was also going to add, if you try to get Jet A, make sure you have something with a wide filler, as the nozzle is pretty good sized. I use old surplus Jerry cans.

 

[Showkey]

It has been said many times on other posts........but.........be careful when using any solvents in the garage while the unit is lit. Fumes from solvents ( like brake clean and other) passing through flame are toxic. ( obviously this is not limited to kero heat)