Do you have a candlewick problem? Many people don’t know what to do when their candle starts to smoke or has other issues. This blog post will discuss the issues that can arise with candle wicks and how to fix them. We will also talk about what candle soot is and why it forms. Keep reading for more information!
We will now review the common issues you can find with your candle wicks and how you can resolve the problems when they present themselves.
Why is my candle flame so small?
A small candle flame is caused by two reasons, not enough fuel or oxygen. Several reasons will cause this, including the wrong wick length, limited wax (fuel) within the candle, the wrong wax mix, and the wrong fragrance, dye, and wax ratio.
How do you fix a low flame on a candle?
If the problem is the wick length, ensure that the wick is 1/4 of an inch above the wax surface. If the wick is too short, you can check out our article on increasing the wick length of your candle. If the problem is not enough wax, you will need to add more wax to your candle. The final potential issue is that your fragrance oil, dye, and wax are not mixed correctly. This can be fixed by ensuring that you do not exceed 10% of the mix with fragrance oil when making candles. You will also want to ensure that you are sparing with dyes – just enough to get the desired colour.
Why is my candle flame so big?
A giant flame can be just as much of a problem as a small one. This indicates that your flame is drawing too much fuel from the candle. In general, this is caused by the wick being too long. A wick that is too long will draw more fuel from the candle and allow a larger flame to be created over the wick surface area.
How do you fix a high flame on a candle?
A big flame can cause the wax to melt too quickly, resulting in tunneling (when the wax melts down the side of the candle instead of evenly across the top). It can also cause soot on the candle jar’s glass. If you have an enormous flame, try blowing it out and trimming the wick to 1/4 inch above wax level before relighting.
Why is my candle flickering?
A flickering candle is usually the result of a draft. If there’s too much air movement, it can cause the flame to flicker or go out entirely. Other causes for a flickering candle are impurities in the wax and the wick length being too tall.
How to stop a candle from flickering?
Try moving the candle to a different location and see if that makes a difference. If you’re still having trouble, try using a hurricane lantern or candle holder that encloses the flame. We have written an article about keeping your flame from flickering and extinguishing outside; we encourage you to read it if you have this problem.
Make sure that your wick is 1/4 of an inch in length. You also want to ensure that you use a high-quality wax with few impurities. If you still have flickering issues, try a different brand of candle wax.
Why is there soot on my candle jar?
Several things can cause soot, but a big flame is the most common culprit. As we mentioned before, a giant flame can cause the wax to melt too quickly and produce soot.
How to reduce the soot in my candles?
If you see soot on the glass of your candle jar, try trimming the wick and reducing the size of the flame. You can also try switching to a soy or beeswax candle, as these tend to produce less soot than paraffin candles.
Why is my wick mushrooming?
Mushrooming occurs when the wick starts to produce a small ball of carbon at the end. As we all know, candles are made of wax. The wick allows the flame’s heat to melt the wax, vaporising and creating that lovely candlelight.
We’ve all seen what happens when a wick gets too long – it starts to “mushrooming.” Mushrooming is when the wick begins to curl over at the end and create a small ball of soot. Not only is this unsightly, but it can also be a fire hazard.
How to fix a mushrooming wick?
Mushrooming wicks are caused by a build-up of carbon on the wick. This can happen for several reasons, but the most common cause is improper wick trimming. When you light a candle, the heat from the flame melts the wax near the wick. This liquid wax is then drawn up the wick by capillary action. As the wax is drawn up, it cools and starts to solidify. This process repeats itself repeatedly, and a small amount of carbon is left on the wick with each cycle.
If the wick is not trimmed correctly, this carbon build-up will eventually cause the wick to mushroom. Mushrooming wicks can also be caused by using a candle in a drafty area or a low-quality candle.
If you happen to be someone that is facing this issue, hold up for just a minute. We wrote an article about how to prevent this from happening that we encourage you to read!
Why has my candlewick lost?
There are a few reasons why your candle wick may have disappeared. The most common reason is that the wick was too short, to begin with. When the wick is too short, it can become submerged in the wax and eventually be extinguished. Another common reason for a drowned wick is that the candle was not placed in a sturdy holder. If the candle is not securely in a holder, it can tip over, and the wax can submerge the wick.
Another possible cause of a drowned wick is due to candle tunneling. This is where the candle wax does not have an even burn across the entire candle surface. This causes the candle to burrow down, causing a crater in the center of the candle with wax remaining around the edges.
If you happen to be faced with this issue, we have an article just for you. We wrote an article about what to do if you lose your candle wick that we encourage you to read!
Why is my wick giving off black smoke?
If you notice your wick giving off black smoke, it’s usually due to improper wick trimming. When you light a candle, the heat from the flame melts the wax near the wick. This liquid wax is then drawn up the wick by capillary action. As the wax is drawn up, it cools and starts to solidify. This process repeats itself repeatedly, and a small amount of carbon is left on the wick with each cycle.
If the wick is not trimmed correctly, this carbon build-up will eventually cause the wick to smoke. Smoking wicks can also be caused by using a candle in a drafty area or a low-quality candle.
How to fix black smoke from a candle?
If you’re noticing your wick smoking, try trimming the wick and reducing the size of the flame. You can also try switching to a soy or beeswax candle, as these tend to produce less soot than paraffin candles.
Why is my candle crackling?
If you notice your candle crackling, it’s usually due to a small amount of moisture in the wax. When the flame comes into contact with the moisture, it causes the wax to expand and contract, making the cracking sound.
How to fix a popping or crackling candle?
Crackling candles can also be caused by using a low-quality candle or storing the candle in a humid environment. If you’re noticing your candles crackling, try switching to a higher quality candle or holding the candle in a cool, dry place.
You may also be experiencing this due to the type of wick. Wood wicks are known for crackling when they burn. As the wood wick burns, it emits a crackling sound like a campfire. The crackling sound is caused by a mix of expanding gases and cellulose breaking down within the wick. The more water and sap within the wick – the more the crackling. This crackling sound is why people love wood wick candles.
If you have a wood wick on your candle, we have written an article all about wood wicks and common questions that you may have about your new candle.
Why is my candle smoking?
One common candle wick problem is when the wick starts to smoke. This usually happens when the flame is too high. If you see your candle smoking, blow out the flame and trim the wick. It would help if you also made sure that there is no debris on the wick before relighting.
How to stop a candle from smoking?
Another possible reason for your candle smoking is that the wick is too long. If the wick is too long, it will cause the flame to be too high, and the candle will start to smoke. Try trimming the wick down to about ¼ inch before relighting your candle.
Why is my candlewick curling?
Another issue that can occur is when the wick starts to curl. This usually happens when the candle is not burning evenly. You can fix this problem by rotating the candle, so the wick is in line with the melted wax pool.
How to stop a candle from curling?
You can also try trimming the wick. If the wick is too long, it will start to curl. Try cutting the wick down to about ¼ inch.
If you’re still having problems with your candlewick curling, try switching to a different type of wick. Wood and cotton wicks are known for curling less than other types of wicks.
Why is my candle-producing candle soot?
If your candle starts to produce a lot of soot, it means that the flame is too high. Soot is just unburned carbon particles that are released into the air. To fix this problem, blow out the candle and trim the wick. It would help if you also made sure that there is no debris on the wick before relighting.
Candle soot can be a nuisance, but it is harmless. However, it is essential to note that soot can signal poor air quality. If you notice that your candles are producing a lot of soot, you should try to improve the ventilation in your home.
Final Thoughts
We hope this blog post has helped you understand what your candle wick is telling you! If you have any problems with your candle wicks, blow out the flame and trim the wick. It would help if you also made sure that there is no debris on the wick before relighting. Thanks for reading!
P.S. Don’t forget to check out our other blog posts for more great information on candles and candle care! Thanks again for reading! 🙂
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you! 🙂 Thanks for reading!
