Kerosene questions...

Traci Ann · #1 12/02/11, 01:47 AM

I hope that this is the right place to post this. It has been awhile since I have been here and I am hoping I can get some good help on this.

We have a barrel of red Kero that was given to us. It is maybe 7 years old. A) Is it still good? B) I know any water would have/should have settled by now, but how do we make sure we are not getting water in our fuel oil.

I cannot pay what I did last year for propane as this old house is SO drafty (HAVE TO LOVE HOUSES BUILT BEFORE INSULATION!) We are slowly working on getting things set up for our wood stove, but until then I have the Kero heaters. This house cannot even have the dryer or dishwasher or oven and a space heater on as it kicks the outside (shotgun looking) fuse.

Any help I could get would be appreciated!

Traci Ann

Bearfootfarm · #2 12/02/11, 01:58 AM

It should be fiine to use.

Any water will be on the bottom of the barrel.
You could siphon it into a bucket to check for water or trash before putting it into the heater tanks

Traci Ann · #3 12/02/11, 02:25 AM

Now if it is red vs clear are there any special tips to keep the wick from getting sticky or smoking as bad?

Bearfootfarm · #4 12/02/11, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Now if it is red vs clear are there any special tips to keep the wick from getting sticky or smoking as bad?

The only difference in red and clear is the dye itself.
They dye just shows that highway taxes haven't been paid

Vickie44 · #5 12/02/11, 02:30 PM

Keeping the wick clean helps.

jwal10 · #6 12/02/11, 03:59 PM

Is the barrel laying own with the outlet on the bottom? If it is drain some off in a bucket and let it settle, check if there is water. If it is an upright barrel and you are transfering it to a storage barrel, don't pump or siphon all the way from the bottom. Leave some at the bottom, then drain it out and let settle to seperate, then you can use the top off that. Could put a good filter on the system to collect the water....James

wvstuck · #7 12/02/11, 04:31 PM

Get a Mr. Funnel, it filters out water and other fine debris. You can find them at Lowes, Home Depot and other places like that. Sometimes under other names (as long as it looks the same, it should work)

http://www.mrfunnel.com/Mr._Funnel/Home.html

davel745 · #8 12/02/11, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvstuck

Get a Mr. Funnel, it filters out water and other fine debris. You can find them at Lowes, Home Depot and other places like that. Sometimes under other names (as long as it looks the same, it should work)

http://www.mrfunnel.com/Mr._Funnel/Home.html

I have one and it works great.

Traci Ann · #9 12/02/11, 11:32 PM

I had just read about a Mr Funnel! It is upright and hasn't been moved or disturbed for over a year. I sent the son out tonight and he brought a full metal jug in! I am so excited NOT to be paying out the gazzoo for this heat!!

jlrbhjmnc · #10 12/03/11, 10:28 AM

I think the kerosene would be fine, too and that Mr. Funnel sounds like a good idea just in case there is water in your fuel. We are supplementing with kerosene heaters again this year and we burned fuel last year that was at least ten years old. Learn how to do a "dry burn" with your heater and do it about once a week - you will find a schedule that will work for your situation. Do the dry burn OUTdoors! It really stinks when the carbon burns off the wick.

Harry Chickpea · #11 12/03/11, 10:40 AM

One other tip that I discovered by accident. If your kero stinks or smokes, put a couple quarts in a soda bottle, and stick it in the deep freeze for a couple of days. The water in it will freeze, and you can strain out the ice with a funnel and cloth when you pour it into another container. What is left should be much cleaner burning.