Brooke Martin
There are many reasons why a candle might keep going out. One of the most common causes is a phenomenon known as candle tunneling, where a hole forms down the centre of the candle, leaving unused wax at the edges. This can be caused by a variety of factors, such as an uneven distribution of heat, an overly long or short wick, or a draft. To prevent tunneling, it is recommended to burn a candle long enough for the entire surface of the wax to melt before blowing it out. This usually takes around one to two hours, depending on the size of the candle. Other solutions to a candle that keeps going out include trimming the wick to the correct length, removing excess wax with a spoon or paper towel, and ensuring the candle is in a draught-free location.
Characteristics and Values Table
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wick Length | The ideal wick length is 3-5mm or 1/4" or 6mm above the wax surface. |
| Wick Trimming | Trim the wick before each lighting. Remove charred wood and trim just above the char line. |
| Wax Removal | Remove excess wax with a spoon, chopstick, or paper towel. Avoid digging out the inner wax circle. |
| Melt Top Layer | Ensure the top layer of wax is completely melted, especially during the first use. |
| Draft Avoidance | Keep the candle away from drafts or air movement, such as windows, to prevent flame destabilization. |
| Fragrance Optimization | Use fragrances optimized for candles to avoid issues with non-combustible ingredients or "cooking" the wick. |
| Wick Type | Choose the right type of wick for your wax and fragrance combination to prevent bridging. |
| Wick Size | Try a larger wick if the current one is too small and unable to efficiently burn the fuel. |
| Wick Contamination | Avoid contaminants in the candle material that can damage the wick and cause leaks or extinguishing. |
| Fragrance Amount | Reduce the fragrance amount if it's too high to prevent heavy smoke and wick clogging. |
| Candle Tunneling | Prevent tunneling by burning the candle long enough for the entire top surface to melt. |
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What You'll Learn
Remove excess wax with a spoon, Q-tip, or wick dipper
If your candle keeps going out, it could be due to excess wax flooding the wick. This is known as "candle tunneling". Tunneling occurs when a hole forms down the centre of the candle, leaving unused wax at the edges. This happens when only a small portion of the wax surrounding the wick melts while the candle is lit.
To fix this issue, you can use a spoon, Q-tip, or wick dipper to carefully remove the excess wax. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Use a spoon, Q-tip, or wick dipper: Carefully remove the outer rings of wax with a spoon or wick dipper, being careful not to scratch the glass or walls of the candle container. Alternatively, use a Q-tip to absorb and remove the excess liquid wax.
- Trim the wick: Use nail clippers or wick trimmers to trim the wick to the recommended length of about 3-5 mm or 1/4" (6 mm) above the surface of the wax.
- Relight the candle: After removing the excess wax and trimming the wick, relight the candle and let it burn until an even wax pool forms all the way to the edge of the jar.
- Address draughts: If your candle is in a draught, move it to a place free of air movement, such as away from a window, as draughts can destabilize the flame and cause it to extinguish.
- Prevent future tunneling: To prevent tunneling from occurring again, ensure that you burn your candle long enough each time so that the entire top surface of the wax melts. This is especially important the first time you burn your candle. The recommended time is about one hour per inch of the candle's diameter.
By following these steps, you can address the issue of excess wax and help your candle stay lit, while also preventing future tunneling.
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Trim the wick to the ideal length of 3-5mm
If your candle keeps going out, it could be due to a number of reasons. One of the most common causes is that the wick is too short, which can result in the candle going out before it melts the wax. This can be fixed by trimming the wick to the ideal length.
The ideal wick length is 3-5mm, or about 1/4" (6mm) above the surface of the wax. If your wick is too long, it may melt before the wax has a chance to burn. Conversely, if it's too short, it may not be able to generate enough heat to melt the wax, causing the candle to go out. Trimming the wick to the correct length will ensure that it burns evenly and efficiently.
You can use a variety of tools to trim your wick, such as nail clippers, scissors, or a dedicated wick trimmer. It is recommended to trim the wick before each lighting to ensure it is the correct length. By taking the time to trim your wick, you can help your candle burn more effectively and avoid issues such as tunneling, where a hole forms down the center of the candle, leaving unused wax at the edges.
In addition to trimming the wick, it is important to ensure that the entire surface of the candle melts before blowing it out. This usually takes around one to two hours, depending on the size of the candle. By allowing the candle to burn for a sufficient amount of time, you can prevent tunneling and ensure that your candle burns evenly and efficiently.
By following these simple steps and maintaining the ideal wick length, you can help ensure that your candle stays lit and burns properly, creating a warm and fragrant atmosphere in your home.
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Avoid draughts and air currents
If your candle keeps going out, it could be due to drafts and air currents. A draft can extinguish a flame by removing the heat required for combustion. This can also happen in multi-wick or deep candle vessels, where hot air currents disrupt the flames, potentially causing sooting or extinguishing the flame.
To prevent this, move your candle to a place free of air movement. For example, avoid placing your candle near a window or a fan. If you are lighting multiple candles, ensure they are spaced out enough to avoid drafts caused by the other candles.
Additionally, you can try to shield your candle from drafts by placing it in a candle holder or jar. This will create a barrier between the flame and any air currents. If you are using a candle with a wooden wick, be aware that they can be more susceptible to going out due to their natural imperfections.
Another way to prevent drafts from affecting your candle is to ensure that the wick is the correct length. If the wick is too long, it may curl and fall into the wax pool, causing the flame to go out. On the other hand, if the wick is too short, it may not be able to stay lit. The ideal wick length is about 3-5 mm, or 1/4" to 6mm above the surface of the wax.
By following these tips, you can help prevent your candle from going out due to drafts and air currents.
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Melt the wax around the wick with a lighter or matches
If your candle wick is too short to light, you can give it more space from the wax by melting the wax around the wick with a lighter or matches. First, hold the lighter or match flame over the wick to melt the surrounding wax. If your wick is buried, stop heating once the wax is soft. If your wick is too short, keep melting the wax until you have an even layer of liquid wax on the surface.
Next, remove the excess wax with a paper towel or drain it. You can also use a spoon or a chopstick to gently remove the excess liquid wax. Repeat this process if necessary. This often happens when your candle has tunnelled and the wick has burned below the surface of the wax. The wax is melting down into the wick faster than the wick can burn it, causing the flame to go out.
To prevent tunnelling, burn your candle long enough each time so that the entire top surface of wax melts. This is especially important the first time you burn your candle. A good rule of thumb is to burn your candle for one hour per inch of its diameter. For example, if your candle has a diameter of three inches, you should plan to let it burn for three hours before putting it out.
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Avoid fragrance oils and dyes that aren't optimised for candle-making
If your candle keeps going out, there are several potential causes and solutions to try. One common cause is candle tunnelling, where a hole forms down the centre of the candle, leaving unused wax at the edges. This can happen when the wick is too small, causing it to burn down into the wax and extinguishing the flame. To fix this, you can remove excess wax with a spoon or chopstick and ensure the candle burns long enough for the entire surface of the wax to melt.
Another potential cause of your candle going out could be the type of wick and fragrance or dye used. Fragrance oils and dyes that are not optimised for candle-making can cause issues. Non-combustible ingredients in fragrance oils can accumulate in the melt pool, eventually smothering the flame. Similarly, some fragrance oils can effectively 'cook' the wick, turning it into charcoal and preventing it from burning properly. Mica powder used in fragranced wax can also clog the wick over time. In addition, using the wrong type of wick for your wax and fragrance combination may cause the wick to ''bridge', bending over and immersing itself in the melt pool.
To avoid these issues, it is important to use fragrances and dyes that are optimised for candle-making. Avoid purchasing fragrance oils from general craft supply stores, as these may not be suitable for candles. Instead, opt for suppliers that specifically cater to candle-making and have tested their products for this purpose. Be wary of suppliers with a wide range of fragrance oils marketed for multiple uses, as these may not have been adequately tested for candle-making. By choosing the right fragrances and dyes, you can help ensure your candle burns efficiently and avoid issues with the wick or flame extinguishing.
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Frequently asked questions
This could be due to a number of reasons such as an uneven surface, a short wick, or a draught.
To fix an uneven surface, use a spoon or a wick dipper to carefully remove the outer rings of wax, creating a more level surface.
If your wick is too short, melt the wax around the wick and pour out the excess. Then, use a paper towel to dab and soak up any remaining wax.
