I’m curious. I hate electric light, especially with modern energy saving bulbs. As a result i often make myself comfy with a drink, vinyl on the record player, log burner on and an old paraffin lamp burning to dimly light the room. How much CO do these lamps give off? I can happily sit amd watch it burn for hours!
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slim_boy_fat
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I had an Aladdin lamp like this, but with the white shade, for years and used to light it on occasion, bright enough to be able to read by and with the bonus of giving off heat too - so....win, win 
I have no idea what the CO2 it/they give off is, but I don't mind much as 2 billion Chinese are pumping the stuff out as hard as they're fit.
Sold it when I moved house.
Kinda wish I'd kept it now ....
And @reb78 I notice the 'scale' bottle is empty, is that tonight's?
I have no idea what the CO2 it/they give off is, but I don't mind much as 2 billion Chinese are pumping the stuff out as hard as they're fit.Sold it when I moved house.
Kinda wish I'd kept it now ....
And @reb78 I notice the 'scale' bottle is empty, is that tonight's?
I had an Aladdin lamp like this, but with the white shade, for years and used to light it on occasion, bright enough to be able to read by and with the bonus of giving off heat too - so....win, win
Sold it when I mover house.
I think he is more worried about the Carbon Monoxide - CO not CO2.
I also love paraffin lamps - have several.
As long as the flame is burning clean and not yellow and sooty it is fine. I have 5 CO detectors in the house - not paranoid at all...............
slim_boy_fat
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Still have no idea about that though 
slim_boy_fat
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cumbriasteve
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It's all they had to light houses at one time so homes across the country survived without mass deaths and human extinction but at the same time houses were not as well sealed up against fresh air blowing through the gaps and around the windows and doors.
In a modern well insulated and draughtproofed house I think to be on the safe side I would want a detector as a minimum and a good one not an ebay bargain priced cheapie with false ce markings.
In a modern well insulated and draughtproofed house I think to be on the safe side I would want a detector as a minimum and a good one not an ebay bargain priced cheapie with false ce markings.
The_Yellow_Ardvark
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Invest in a Carbon Monoxide detector, just to be on the safe side.
Use a decent lamp oil in it as well, trim the wick as well.
Use a decent lamp oil in it as well, trim the wick as well.
pedrobedro
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I have a Tilley lamp and also a Vapalux. The Vapalux is much better than the Tilley in quality and light output. I wouldn't use them indoors though. These are pressure lamps though not just wick lamps.
Ive never seen a Vapalux lit up.......are they that much better....The Tilley is much better than the Camping Gaz........Is Aladdin the same as Vapalux?
CO and CO2 emissions from paraffin lamps would not be much different from those given off by candles of similar brightness. Provided the flame is not sooty, carbon monoxide production will be minimal.
A leaky log burner flue is likely to be a much greater source of CO.
A leaky log burner flue is likely to be a much greater source of CO.
I've just done a test with a miners paraffin lamp burner on a table, with the flame burning a decent size, but not sooty, and FireAngel CO-828 carbon monoxide detector. With the detector held around a foot above the flame for five minutes, to allow the gases to get into the detector, measured CO = 0ppm. To check that the detector was working, the test was repeated using a smouldering rolled up tissue paper "cigarette", wafting the detector through the smoke for 5 mins, measured CO = 15ppm. The detector is getting on now, dated 2004, but the response is similar to when it was tested new.
And @reb78 I notice the 'scale' bottle is empty, is that tonight's?
Haha - that was last nights! Other half had gone to bed so I was having a sneaky G&T at the point I posted with some Eagles on the record player! Old light and old sounds seem to be my thing!
Thats interesting. Thanks. I wasnt massively concerned, but something made me wonder.
Arc Tourist
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I like the old paraffin lamps too, and have a small collection of originals. If you are concerned about carbon monoxide, here's an option for you which we use sometimes.......... Put a piece of Blue Tack on the bottom of a T-light candle and press it over the top of your lamp burner, wick retracted of course, light and replace globe. 
Pete.
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Coal fires and paraffin lamps are the reason that old houses had such high ceilings. My house has (had) 7 fire places and the downstairs ceilings are about 9 foot, but the back bedroom right up in the eaves has a low ceiling (and a tiny fire place).
Unless you live in a broom cupboard you don't have to worry about the Co from one little lamp.
Unless you live in a broom cupboard you don't have to worry about the Co from one little lamp.
