Kerosene Heating

In other countries, kerosene heaters have waned in use due to various reasons, but they are still widely used throughout Iwate and Japan. There are many different types of kerosene heaters, and most heat a wider area of space than electric heaters. You do have to buy kerosene on a regular basis, and keep in mind a few safety tips.

Note: Kerosene heaters are usually called “oil heaters” （石油ストーブ, sekiyu sutobu）, but require kerosene （灯油、toyu）. Kerosene is a clear liquid. Do not substitute any other kind of oil.

Heater Safety

• There is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning when burning kerosene in an enclosed room. Never sleep with a kerosene heater on, and always air the room out after every few hours of use.
• Most heaters have a mechanism that shuts the unit off after it has been jostled or toppled over. It will also shut off automatically if it has been left on for too long.
• Keep the heater clean and free of dust.
• Always turn the heater off when moving it, replacing the oil, or leaving the room.
• Ensure you have a working carbon monoxide detector （警報器、keihoki, or ガス警報器, gasu keihoki）.

Kerosene fan heater （石油ファンヒーター, sekiyu fan hiitaa）

This model heats up kerosene and blows out the hot air with a fan. Requires electricity to run.

Fan Heater tips

-Remember to clean the filters by clearing dust and washing them with lukewarm water.
-Set the heater near the windows to promote good air flow and warm cold air drifting in.
-Use air-tight tape around windowsills and thick curtains to prevent warm air getting out.

Saving Energy

- Keep the temperature set to 20°C.
During 1 year you’ll save…

• 10.22 liters of kerosene：Around 1,020 yen
• 25.4 kg of CO2 output
• Equivalent of 9.68 liters of oil

（When using the heater 9 hours a day, outside temperatures are 6°C, and you have set your heater to 20°from 21°）

-Only use the heater when you need it.
During 1 year you’ll save…

• 15.91 liters of kerosene：Around 1,590 yen
• 3.89 kWh of electricity：Around 90 yen
• 41.5 kg of CO2 output
• Equivalent of 16.04 liters of oil

（When reducing usage one hour a day）

References:
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

• http://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/category/saving_and_new/saving/general/more/img/home-ecology.pdf（外部リンク）

Kerosene stove heater （石油ストーブ, sekiyu sutobu）

This is similar to the fan heater, but does not require electricity, so you can use it even when the power is out.

Vented kerosene heater （FF式石油ストーブ, efu efu shiki sekiyu sutobu）

Fan heaters and stoves heat up the room quickly, but as they release their exhaust directly into the room, you need to open the window every hour or so to vent the room. There will still be small levels of CO in the room, and if this is unacceptable to you, you can try a vented kerosene heater, which has an exhaust pump pointed outside. However, these do require professional installation and a higher up-front cost.

Visit this page for a comparison of kerosene heaters. （JPN only）

• this page（外部リンク）

Buying Kerosene

All of these heaters require kerosene （灯油、toyu）. You will need to buy red plastic tanks from the supermarket or gas station. There are two ways to purchase kerosene:

1. Take the tanks to a gas station and fill them up with kerosene.
2. Call a kerosene delivery service （灯油配達, toyu haitatsu）. This may cost a little more money.

Changing the Kerosene

It’s very easy to refill the oil canister inside the heater, but you do need to be careful. Spilled kerosene can leave a strong smell, so try to refill your canister outside and far away from any flammable sources. You’ll need a pump （ポンプ, ponpu） to transfer oil from the tank to the canister. Once you’ve refilled the canister, screw the cap back on and place it back in the heater. Keep your kerosene tanks in a cool place away from direct sunlight.