Lighters are a requirement for smokers; unless you choose to use matches, of course. However, lighters are far more convenient than matches and also more economical. That said, butane lighters and even jet lighters can have problems with operation. One of the most common problems associated with any type of lighter is a failure to ignite, accompanied by a hissing sound.
One of the most common problems with lighters is a hissing sound when attempting to light it. When you depress the igniter, no flame appears. Instead, your lighter makes a strange hissing sound. What are you to do about this? What could the problem be? Youll find that this problem is largely associated with jet lighters, but even disposable butane lighters can be beset with this problem. Here, youll find the steps you need to follow to rectify the situation.
First, check the top of the lighter to ensure that there is no debris blocking the fuel emission area. Be careful not to depress the igniter switch when doing this. Usually, a simple visual inspection is all that is required to ensure that nothing is blocking the fuel from escaping or the lighter from lighting. Once you have ensured that there is nothing obstructing the lighter from operating, youll need to move on to the next step.
Quite often, the cause of your lighters failure to ignite is not the flint, debris or a lack of fuel. Often, the problem is that you simply have the flame set too high. What is actually happening is that the force of the escaping fuel is too great for the spark to catch; effectively snuffing out your lighter before it even ignites. To determine if this is the case with your lighter, check the flame adjuster; it will be located on the back of butane models and on the bottom of jet models.
On a jet lighter, you will need to use a small flathead screwdriver or a similar tool. The adjustment is made toward the minus symbol. However, do not turn the adjuster fully toward the minus sign; rather, turn it a small amount and then check to see if the lighter will ignite. If it will not, then continue to adjust the height of the flame downward until it does. It may take some fine-tuning to achieve the best flame height possible, so be patient. However, if you adjust the flame height to the very minimum and your lighter still does not ignite, you should contact the manufacturer to determine your course of action.
Brian is a consultant for an online specialty butane lighter store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including refillable butane lighters.