There may be several reasons for power to go out all of a sudden. It may either be due to a storm or issues with the power company or even some other form of disaster. It really feels comforting when you have some sort of light during the evenings of a power cut. In such situations, rechargeable keychain flashlights and candles can prove to be rather helpful. However, when it comes to an oil lamp, it can provide you proper light for almost 1 or 2 hours at a stretch. The light emitted by oil lamps can easily allow you and your family play various types of games together and also read books in order to prevent you from getting bored in the dark.
Types Of Oil
You will find many people who will suggest you to use vegetable oils in an oil lamp. These vegetable oils tend to give off a strange type of smell. If you are okay with the smell, you can easily use this type of oil in an oil lamp. You may also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the vegetable oil to get rid of the strange smell. Many of you may have a tendency of storing large cans of vegetable oils. These types of oils can easily get rancid with time. Instead of consuming it, you should use it in your oil lamps. Having rancid oils can prove to be dangerous for your health just like poison.
However, do not make the mistake of using gasoline, camping fuel or alcohol in your oil lamps. These types of oils are extremely volatile and tend to burn dirty. Most of you may prefer to use those odorless lamp oils. However, it is good for you to know that these oils are not that odorless. If you have been using this type of oil in your oil lamps all these days, then you must be used to the smell by now.
Special Lamp Oil
When you talk about the lamp oil, it basically refers to a type of oil from the same family as kerosene. However, it is a purified form of oil that enables it to burn clean. As a result of this, burning of lamp oil gives rise to fewer air pollutants as compared to burning of kerosene. It is also good for you to note that burning lamp oil will not produce the unpleasant odors that are common when you burn kerosene. On the contrary, lamp oils are available in a variety of scents. Thus, choose the one that pleases you. You will find this type of oil in various types of shops and stores. However, it is more expensive than kerosene and also does not burn as brightly as kerosene.
If you intend to use your oil lamp indoors, using lamp oil will be a better option in that case. It is always a good idea to use the type of oil that is recommended for an oil lamp. Diverting from the recommendations may prove fatal for you and your family.
How To Store Lamp Oil
When you decide to store some lamp oil, it is important for you to remember that it can easily freeze at a temperature below 20 degrees. Thus, it is always better to keep your oil at room temperature for some time before you decide to fill your lamp with it. You should know that cold oil has a tendency of burning faster than oil that has been in room temperature. Normally, lamp oil burns at 0.5 ounce every hour. This means that if you have half a gallon of oil, it can last for around 140 hours to 150 hours. At the same time, vegetable oils will last for a lesser time than lamp oil.
If you ever get your lamp oil in a plastic container, make sure to transfer it to a metal or glass container to help store it for a longer time frame. Plastic containers may get brittle with time and can easily get punctured or broken.
How To Move A Hot Lamp
It is needless to say that after an oil lamp burns for a long time, the chimney will get extremely hot. Touching to trying to hold such a hot chimney with your bare hands may prove dangerous for you. If you have to move the lamp, it is always better to do so by holding the handle. The best way out is to set the lamp at the best possible place and then light it. This way, you will not have to move a hot lamp every now and then.
After you turn off the lamp, you need to allow it to sit for a few minutes in order to cool down properly. This will allow you to carry or move it anywhere you want without getting burnt.
