Why Is My Candle Flame So High
A candle flame is a reflection of the heat and light generated by the burning process. The height of a candle flame can indicate how well it is burning and how much energy it has. If your candle flame is too high, you may need to trim the wick or change out the wax for a less viscous variety.
On average, there should be at least one inch between the top of your candle’s flames and its wax pool. Read below to know more about why your candle flame is so high and what steps you can take to prevent it.
Reasons Why Is Your Candle Flame So High:
1. The Wick Is Too Long:
If you’re having trouble lighting a candle, it might be because the wick is too tall. A taller wick allows more oxygen to reach the flame, which makes the candle burn brighter and higher. To fix this, cut the wick shorter after you’ve lit the candle and let it burn for a minute or two.
2. Wax Is Too Thick:
The thicker the wax on a candle, the longer it will take to light. This is because thicker wax is more viscous, or thick and sticky, and has a harder time finding its own level. If your candle isn’t starting, try using a less viscous type of candle wax.
3. Vibrations:
The reason your candle’s flame is flickering could be because of vibrations in the air. Things like air conditioners, ceiling fans, and even the ground can cause these vibrations. If you want your candle to burn more steadily, try placing it on a solid surface like stone or glass.
4. Drafts:
If you have your candles in a drafty area, the flame will have to work harder to stay lit, and as a result, the candle will burn higher. Drafts come in various forms, but in most cases, you’ll feel a cold or cool breeze blowing either directly on your candles or nearby. To prevent this, place your candle on a surface that’s not drafty, and this should help keep the flame lower.
5. Type of Wax:
The type of wax you use can make a big difference in how well your candle burns. If you notice your candle isn’t burning as well as it should be, try switching to a less viscous wax.
6. Container:
If you use a glass container to hold your candle, the sides of the glass will prevent any airflow, resulting in an unnatural higher than normal flame. Place your candle in a non-glass holder such as on a plate or shelf to lower this flame.
7. Temperature:
To ensure your candles burn optimally, place a thermometer on top of the candle holder. The ideal temperature for a candle’s wax to burn is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you notice the temperature is too high, move your candles away from extreme heat sources.
8. Age:
If you’ve had your candles for a long time, they may be burning at an unnatural height. As a candle burns, it will shrink, and the wax pool will rise. If placed in a holder with less depth (such as on top of a flat plate).
9. Wind:
If it’s windy outside or there’s an open window nearby, the wind can blow out your candles. This can make the candle flames smaller than normal or even make the wax blow onto furniture or other surfaces. To fix this problem, try keeping your windows closed while you’re burning candles, and also place them on a stable surface.
10.Not Enough Oxygen:
Sometimes a flame that is higher than normal is caused by not enough oxygen reaching the wax. If you notice lots of carbon black pieces and soot surrounding your candle, this may mean that too much carbon dioxide was created. To resolve this problem, blow out your candles periodically to release any buildup of CO2.
You Can Check It Out to Make Grubby Candle
12 Ways to Prevent High Flame Candle:
1. Use the Correct Candle Size
if you use a tall, skinny candle in a short holder, it will be more likely to tip over, causing excessive flame.
2. Center the Wick Properly
if you center the wick correctly, your chances of having that “high flame” will diminish by quite a bit.
3. Always Trim Your Wicks
if you have an extremely long wick, it will flare up and cause an excessive flame.
4. Avoid Excessive Heat Sources Around Your Candles
This one is simple. The more heat generated near your candle, the higher the flame will rise from your candle. Excessive heat can be caused by sitting candles too close to other heat sources, like fireplaces or air vents.
5. Allow Candles to Burn Long Enough to Melt the Entire Top Layer of Wax
If you don’t allow your candle to burn completely down before extinguishing it, the wick will be too short and unstable for a nice flame. Also, when you extinguish your candle, make sure that the wick is all the way down in the wax and not sticking up into a pool of melted wax. Again, this will cause your candle to have an unstable flame.
6. Never Touch or Move a Lit Candle
If you blow out your candle by fanning it with your hand or try to move it while it’s still burning, you’ll reduce the amount of time that your candle will burn with a nice high flame.
7. Keep Your Wicks Trimmed
As stated above, if your wick is too long, it will throw off the stability of your flame and cause it to be taller than usual.
8. Use a Good Quality Candle Wax
If you use low-quality wax, your candle will have a higher flame because the top layer of the candle will be too thin to support the wick when it’s burned down.
9. Use Quality Glass Containers
If you use cheap plastic containers, they won’t hold up against excessive heat, and your candle may tip over.
10. Keep Candles Away From Drafts or Vents
As stated before, the more heat you generate around your candle will cause an excessively high flame.
11. Use a Candle Snuffer and Never Blow Out Candles
I know that many people use fanning or blowing out their candles to avoid creating soot on the top of the candle (or the ceiling). But, as was mentioned above, this will cause your candle to have a higher flame.
12. Never Burn Paraffin Candles in Containers
Paraffin is the most common type of wax used in candles. It can actually melt or catch fire if you place a paraffin candle into an appropriate container for another kind of wax (i.e., soy). So if you’re burning your candles in containers, make sure they are made for a paraffin candle.
Some Tips and Tricks To Flame Your Candle:
1. If you are starting, use a candle taller than 2″ high (example: 4″, 8″, 12″). This will help to get the wick burning faster.
2. When lighting your candle for the first time, place it in an area where no draft or breeze can touch the flame. The airflow will alter the flame and can cause it to go out or not burn straight.
3. Make sure your wick is centered in the container. The wick should contact the side of the candle every quarter inch around the circumference of your container. This will ensure that you have enough wick touching the wax to develop a flame.
4. Trim your wick to 1/8th of an inch before lighting and 1/16th of an inch once it has been burning for a few hours. This will give your candle the ability to deposit the best amount of fragrance without causing excess soot on the wick or container.
5. If you notice unsightly black soot forming on your candle, trimming the wick to 1/8th of an inch should eliminate this issue. Be sure that you do not burn the candle for long durations at a time. If your candle is burning 8 hours or more a day, it will not keep up with the amount of wax vaporization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Candle Flame Be Too Big?
No, a candle flame can’t be too big. However, if the flame is too small, it will not produce enough heat to properly light the candle. If the flame is too large, it could cause a fire.
What Does a Candle Flame Symbolize?
Candles have been used for centuries as a way to celebrate special occasions and to honor the dead. A candle flame is often seen as a symbol of hope, purity, and love. It is also seen as a symbol of protection and magic.
Why Does My Candle Flicker When I Look at It?
There are a few things that can cause your candle to flicker when you look at it. The most common reason is that the wick is not properly inserted into the wax. To fix this, you will need to remove the wick and re-insert it into the wax several times until it is fully inserted. Once this is done, light the candle and enjoy its beautiful flame!
Can You Smoke Candles?
Yes, you can smoke candles. However, it is important to be aware of the health risks associated with smoking candles. Specifically, smoking candles can increase your risk of lung cancer and other respiratory problems.
Why Does My Candle Spark When I Light It?
Candles can sometimes spark when you light them because the wick is too short. To fix this, make sure that the wick is at least an inch long and that the candle is in a well-ventilated area.
Conclusion:
To make sure the flame is at a safe height, you need to ensure that your wick size fits the size of your candle. If it’s too small for the candle, then there will not be enough fuel which means less heat and, as a result, no flames! To avoid this problem altogether, measure out what size of candles you want first before purchasing them, so they fit perfectly into place.
You’ll also want to pay attention to how close any flammable objects are from your lit candle; anything over 6 inches away should do fine, but if it gets closer than that (or starts getting hot), then please blow out or move it immediately. But, again, it’s better to be safe than sorry in situations like this. We hope this article has helped you to give the reasons why is your candle flame so high. Let us know your thoughts!
