If you are experiencing problems with your lighter, and it won’t spark, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we will be going through ways to fix it.
We’ve all been in that situation where our lighter just won’t work. It doesn’t matter if it’s for lighting a candle, cigarette or fire to keep yourself warm – we’ve been there. There could be several reasons as to why your lighter won’t spark, but don’t worry. In this article, we’ll go through some common reasons why fighters won’t spark and what you can do to fix the issue.
Figuring Out What Is Wrong With Your Lighter
There could be a few things wrong with your lighter, so to figure out what the issue is, you should:
- Determine if the flame is present or nonexistent
- Make sure that there is nothing there to block the lighter mechanism
- Check to see if you can rotate the metal wheel – something may be in the way
- Ensure that the lighter has not been shattered anywhere, as this will mean that there is not enough pressure inside the compartment
- See if there is fuel in the tank – it may have run out and therefore could be the reason that your lighter is not sparking
- Check if the flint is still there – without it, there can be no flame
- Make sure the adjustment isn’t too high – if it is too high then there is too much fuel coming out of the lighter and the flame will be brown out by the force
Taking Care Of A Lighter
To avoid your lighter having difficulties doing its job, you need to take care of it properly. Often, people make mistakes with lighters in thinking that they do not have to care for them in any way. This is not the case and if you do not take care of your lighter, it will not last a long time like it is supposed to.
Frequent Cleaning
You need to make sure that you clean your lighter regularly. Removing any debris and dirt will help the lighter to stay functioning normally. Torch lighters should be cleaned every day so that sand particles and dust don’t enter the lighter when it is being used.
Don’t Use Cheap Butane
Colibri premium butane is a good choice for lighter fuel. Cheap butane will linger around the tip of the lighter, while pure butane will keep the lighter clean from the inside out. If you have the chance to refill your lighter, make sure you choose to do so using good quality fuel.
Adjusting The Flame
Spinning the lighter wheel from left to right will adjust the flame you get. Often a lighter that isn’t sparking simply needs to be readjusted so that it can ignore properly.
How To Avoid Problems With Your Lighter
There are common mistakes that are made with lighters. If you follow these tips, then your lighter should never give you problems.
Make Sure The Tank Is Empty When Refilling
Lingering air in the lighter will have a negative effect on how well your lighter works. To empty the tank, simply use a small screwdriver to press on the inlet valve used for refilling. You will hear hissing until the gas chamber is clear. Once it does stop, then you can refuel the lighter.
Refill The Tank Often
This should be done if the lighter is used every day. If you do not use the lighter every day, then do not refill the tank every week. Lack of fuel is the most common reason as to why a lighter won’t work – so always be on the lookout to check if you are experiencing this issue before doing anything else.
Additionally, after refilling the tank of a lighter, do not try to make any adjustments for a few minutes. By trying to adjust the lighter straight after refueling, you are likely to make the lighter stop working.
Readjusting The Flame Shouldn’t Happen Often
Once you have adjusted the lighter flame to your preferences, try to leave it alone. If you repeatedly try to change the flame and just too much force when adjusting it, you risk breaking the lighter altogether. Lighters can only produce a certain amount at a time, so trying to force it will only cause damage.
If These Steps Didn’t Fix Your Problem
Unfortunately, there is only so much you can do when it comes to lighters. For many people, their lighters are cheap and not worth very much, so the easiest thing to do would be to throw them away and simply buy another one. Of course, this is an option if you are able to buy another lighter, but this isn’t always the case.
There is a possibility that you have a faulty lighter. This might be the case if you’ve just bought the lighter and are trying to use if for the first time. The only thing to do with a faulty lighter is to check the above steps and if nothing seems to be wrong – buy another one that hopefully works.
Your technique could also be a factor in your lighter not working. Since many lighters have different mechanisms depending on the brand, you may be using it wrong. To make sure that y’re using the lighter correctly, look online for full instructions if you are able to.
Lastly, the environment you are in may be too harsh for the lighter to work. Lighters will be put out in wet and windy conditions, so make sure to look out. By shielding your hand or another object over the lighter, you should get a flame. Make sure to ignite the lighter away from wind, blocking it with your body, ideally. This should allow the lighter to have a moment to ignite the gas.
Conclusion On How To Fix A Lighter That Won’t Spark
As we mentioned, there could be a multitude of issues you could be experiencing without knowing it. If you go through the list and take proper care of your lighter, then you shouldn’t have problems. Always bear in mind that taking care of your lighter is a priority, as you can’t expect it to do its job if you don’t take care of it.
Don’t try to use the lighter in conditions it isn’t meant for or can damage it, as this will cut its life short, and you will have to get a new lighter, which could be very expensive.
I decided to set up this site as an extension of my passion, to help others with their own camping and hiking journeys. I want Stone Moves to be the ultimate guide to all things camping and hiking. Whether it is something you have been doing for years, or whether this is a new hobby, there is information on my site to suit everyone.
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