Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Why Is My Lighter Malfunctioning?

By Ryder Sabot

Most lighters can be counted on to fire up with incredible reliability. Occasionally, there are problems. Most of these problems are well-within the ability of the user to remedy. If not, they can always be taken to a service person. Some lighters have a lifetime guarantee and may simply be sent back to the company.

Most lighter problems will be traceable to a few specific areas. There may be debris in the fuel jet, there may be an air bubble in the fuel line or there may be something physically obstructing the igniter mechanism. All of these difficulties are easily remedied.

If there is spark and no flame then one must check to make certain that there is fuel being delivered. On a torch lighter, one can hold the lighter close to their ear, without lighting it, of course, and hit the fuel release. There should be a distinctive sound of escaping fuel. Bleed out any air that may have become trapped in the reservoir by keeping the valve open for a few seconds and try lighting the device again. Most often, this will do the trick. If the jet is obstructed, gently tap the inverted lighter on a hard surface to knock the obstruction free. A toothpick or thin piece of wire may be used for stubborn obstructions.

Butane lighters sometimes get air in the reservoir. This is very easy to fix. One simply depresses the fuel release button without tripping the igniter. It usually only takes a second to restore proper flow to the jet. There is sometimes a difference in sound when butane is being ejected from the jets, so holding it close enough to one's ear while doing this can make the process a bit easier. One can add fuel to replace any which may be depleted during this process.

Lighters which have wicks are generally very forgiving where fuel quality is concerned but, if one's lighter does ignite but not reliably, consider having better fuel added to the reservoir. Fuel of a low quality often has a good deal of impurities in it and may result in inconsistent performance. In a butane lighter, only use impurity-free fuel. Many butane lighters are very high-performance devices and they require good quality fuel to provide reliable service. If one's lighter has a cigar cutter attached or another attachment which fails to open, check for debris clogging the mechanism. Never force anything on a lighter open. If it's that stuck, bring it for servicing.


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