| Bleeding a Lighter for Consistent Performance |
| Articles - Lifestyle |
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Butane lighters offer a great deal of efficiency and reliability but there are occasions on which they will fail to light. This could be for myriad reasons but the most common is that there is air trapped in the reservoir. The air, of course, interrupts the fuel supply to the jet which results in a lighter that either fails to light altogether or which lights and then immediately goes out; this may happen over and over.
Butane lighters offer a great deal of efficiency and reliability but there are occasions on which they will fail to light. This could be for myriad reasons but the most common is that there is air trapped in the reservoir. The air, of course, interrupts the fuel supply to the jet which results in a lighter that either fails to light altogether or which lights and then immediately goes out; this may happen over and over. Most often, a torch lighter will provide very even and consistent service. The very powerful lighters, however, have low tolerances for interruptions in their fuel supply. Most often, this will manifest in the lighter sputtering. It may also manifest as short-lived flames that can result in a great deal of frustration. In many cases the culprit is just a few air bubbles trapped in the reservoir. Before engaging in the common, and ineffective, practice of shaking the lighter, consider how the problem may be remedied. Bleeding the lighter is the best solution to this. One takes advantage of the fact that the lighter begins to release fuel before it ignites to perform this task. Simply hold down the ignition button far enough to allow butane to flow but do not depress it fully. The lighter should begin emitting the characteristic hiss of escaping butane in very short order and a consistent flow of fuel will be restored. This can be done even when the lighter is working correctly to ensure that the problem doesn't manifest. After fueling a lighter, bleed it for a second or two to ensure that there is no air trapped in the tank. In the tank, butane is liquid and air is a gas. This means that the air will naturally sit on top of the butane which makes it easier to bleed it out. Most non-lighting torches have a problem such as described above. The quality of the components in high-end lighters make it unlikely that there is a mechanical failure to blame for the problem. Butane lighters are generally very reliable and having air become trapped in the fuel line or reservoir is fairly rare. If it happens persistently, one may wish to have their lighter serviced by a qualified technician. Never attempt to adjust any of the valves, aside from the flame height knob, without professional assistance. This will generally void the warranty and make the situation much worse than it was to begin with, the last thing one wants with an expensive lighter! DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Dave Sabot is the owner of specialty cigar lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including windproof lighters, Dave also authors a highly rated blog featuring tips on how to lighter repair. |