Cozy Up This Winter DIY Candle Heater
Winters call for snuggling up with a blanket in front of your heater, savoring a delicious cup of hot chocolate.
But what if your power goes out during a snowstorm and you are left with no heating system? Winter wouldn’t be so fun, right? However, even during an outage, there are certain ways you can survive the freezing weather.
A candle heater, for instance, is a simple DIY heater that you can assemble with the things you already have in your home. It can also come in handy if you are looking to cut back on heating costs.
We have created this step-by-step guide for your candle heater DIY project to stay toasty in this chilly weather.
Candle Heater or DIY Space Heater
A DIY candle heater, also known as a DIY space heater, is a great way to add warmth to your room and is effective for emergency use.
The candle heater works by trapping heat from the candles in the terracotta pots. Clay pots are porous, which means the trapped heat can easily travel outside the pot. Thus, this space heater dissipates the heat in the surrounding air, heating up your room.
If you use the right type of candle, this DIY candle heater will produce minimal soot. You should avoid using paraffin-based candles or scented ones as they have the potential to release harmful chemicals into the air. A better alternative is a beeswax candle or a soy-based candle. They produce little to no smoke, making them a perfect fit for your candle heater DIY.
There are numerous ways you can use this candle heater; you can hang it as well as place it on your table.
Photo: youtube.com user Ben Galt
How to Create a Candle Heater for Hanging
The hanging candle heater also doubles as a décor piece in your room. Another benefit is that when you suspend this heater in the air, it has fewer chances of falling and tripping over, thus reducing fire risk. It also makes changing the candles underneath much easier.
Things You Will Require
- One 6-inch terracotta pot
- One 4-inch clay pot
- 1 clay pot base
- 1 metal chain
- 1 half-inch threaded rod
- 6-8 tea light candles
- 14 half-inch nuts
- 11 half-inch washers
Assembly
- Start assembling the heater by sliding two nuts in the rod and tightening them at an inch from the end.
- Then, place the chain link over the rod, near the last nut. Put another link of the chain to create a loop.
- Add one more nut at the end to fully secure the chain.
- Now, take one washer and slide it down the rod.
- After that, insert the rod in the hole of the 6-inch clay pot.
- On the inner side of the pot, insert another washer, followed by a nut. Then another washer, followed by the small pot.
- Slide another washer on the rod and then place two nuts to secure it tightly. Repeat this process six times. All these nuts and washers are to increase the amount of captured heat from the candles.
- After this assembly, take the base of the clay pot and drill a hole in it as it doesn’t usually come with a hole.
- Slide the rod in that hole, followed by the last washer and the nut.
- You can now hang this heater on a metal stand of your choice. Just make sure that the stand is stable and won’t trip over.
- Add the candles to the base plate.
- And you are done!
How to DIY a Candle Heater for Placing It on Table
If you are looking to have a heating system nearby when working or doing some project, you can DIY your candle heater and place it on your table. It is really simple to create, and if you have all the materials, you can have the heater ready in 5 minutes.
Things Required
- One 6-inch terracotta pot
- One 4-inch terracotta pot
- 6-8 tea lights
- A large tile piece
- 6 small tile pieces or 4 bricks (Make sure they are non-inflammable)
- A coin
Assembly
- Take the large tile and place it on a table where you will be using the heater.
- Put all the tea lights in the center.
- Now, take the small tiles or bricks and place them on either side of the candles.
- Continue stacking up the tiles or bricks. This is to give support to the terracotta pots and to have enough air space for the candles to keep burning uninterrupted.
- Take the 4-inch pot and invert it over the candles, with the edges on the bricks or tiles.
- Cover the pot hole with a coin.
- Invert the large pot over the small pot. Do not cover its hole.
- Your DIY candle heater is ready to use! In about 20-30 minutes, you will feel the heat radiating from the sides and top of the terracotta pot.
DIY Heater Safety Tips
When using a DIY heater, make sure you follow all these safety guidelines to avoid any mishap.
1. Keep Children & Pets Away from DIY Heater
Children and animals should be kept at a safe distance from the open fire to avoid burns or other accidents. You should have a three feet free zone around these heaters.
2. Never Leave the Heater On Overnight
Always remember to blow off candles before going to bed. Even during the daytime, make sure you never leave the candle heater unattended.
3. Keep the Candles Wick Trimmed
If you allow the candle wick to grow, it will produce more smoke. Always trim the candle wick to ¼ inch before use.
4. Do Not Touch a Hot Candle
Do not touch the candles while they are burning. Also, do not touch the hot wax as it can also cause serious burn injury.
5. Keep the Flammable Items Away from the Heater
Keep items such as books, papers, carpet, curtains, pillows, furniture pieces, bedding, paint, electronics, and fire matches away from your heating equipment to avoid a fire hazard.
6. Do Not Place the Heater Near Windows
Cold drafts from windows can cause the candles to burn unevenly, resulting in excess wax drip. It can also increase its flame, potentially catching curtains or other flammable materials on fire.
DIYing your heater is one of the best ways to keep your home warm during a winter power outage. Plus, you can also use this heater if you are trying to save on your heating bills. When using the candle heater, make sure to take all the precautionary measures and follow all the safety guidelines. Also, check out this guide if you are looking for practical and efficient ways to heat your home.
