Kerosene should be stored in new, clean, sealed containers that are clearly marked for kerosene. If you store your kerosene in used drums, milk containers & other used plastic jugs, and/or gasoline cans then your kerosene can become contaminated, which will result in harm to the kerosene wickor even a fire (we recommend this company to help you select your kerosene wick) .
How long can kerosene be stored?
Three months is the longest that we've seen kerosene being recommended for being stored. When kerosene is allowed to stand for longer amounts of time the kerosene will break down and absorb water. Sludge will also develop in the fuel due to bacteria and molds that live in kerosene that feed off of fossil fuels. When fuel with sludge build up in it is used, it will clog the heater and harden the wick.
By keeping your kerosene in good shape your kerosene heater will run more efficiently and last longer.
What are the recommendations for disposing of kerosene after the three month storage time?
ReplyDeleteAs with any fuel it is a good idea to take it to a facility or place equipped with a disposal/collection for fuels that have been used.
DeleteCar repair shops usually have those.
the advantage of kerosene is its long shelf life. Depending on what kind of container in which it is stored, kerosene can be kept in storage for a year (in plastic containers) to 10 years (in metal containers in rainproof conditions). Conditions have a large effect on its shelf life. For best results, store kerosene in controlled conditions away from rain and sunlight. Kerosene or paraffin in the UK has been test burned from arctic expedition fuel dumps at up to 80 years old...x
ReplyDeletehttp://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/04/22/what-the-race-to-the-south-pole-can-teach-you-about-how-to-achieve-your-goals/ What the Race to the South Pole Can Teach You About How to Achieve Your Goals. It was the “Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration,” and the South Pole represented one of the last unexplored areas on earth. Robert Falcon Scott hoped to claim the bottom of the world for England; Roald Amundsen wished to plant the Norwegian flag there on behalf of his countrymen. The canisters of paraffin fuel that both men took on their expeditions were known to have leaking problems. Amundsen soldered the canisters shut, while Scott kept the standard leather washers. On their return from the Pole, Scott and his men were dismayed to reach their depots, only to discover that much of the paraffin had evaporated, forcing them to eat frozen food and leading to dehydration (they didn't have enough fuel to melt the snow). One of Amundsen's canisters was found in the snow years later--still 100% full.
ReplyDelete