How To Fix A Torch Lighter Flame Problem Fast!

At one point in time having a torch lighter flame problem drove me a little crazy. A weak flame, a flame that flickers, if it’s way too big or simply flashes and goes out are fairly common torch lighter issues. The good news is that these problems are incredibly easy to fix.

What I have found when it comes to flame problems on torch lighters is usually that the torch is low or out of butane.

So, make sure your torch lighter has got butane in it. 

Unless your torch has a fuel window it can be difficult to tell how much butane is in the tank. I know it sounds stupid, but happens a lot.

IS THE IS THE FLAME TOO SMALL OR TOO HIGH?

If your flame is either way too small or high, adjusting the fuel flow either up or down can fix this torch lighter flame problem.

In the picture below you’ll see a couple of different types of fuel flow adjusters. Some need a screwdriver and some are a wheel type. Almost everyone I’ve come across has arrows with a plus sign for a bigger flame and a minus sign for a smaller flame.

DOES THE FLAME FLICKER OR LOOK WEAK?

When you try to ignite your torch lighter getting a weak or flickering flame usually means that one or more burners could be clogged. This of course will depend on how many burners your lighter has.

With that being said, this assumes that you’ve got plenty of butane in the lighter.

To fix this torch lighter flame problem you can use some compressed air, like from a dust blower, to clean out the burner or burners. If you don’t have any compressed air you can simply try to clean out the burners with a deep breath.

This should go without saying, but DO NOT try to clean out the burner or burners while the torch is ignited.

DOES THE TORCH FLAME FLASH OR POP AND GO OUT?

A flame problem that involves a flash or pop, first try to ignite your lighter and hold the trigger in place. Can you hear a slight hiss of butane coming out of the burner?

If you can hear the slight hiss, try cleaning off the igniter stem with some canned air. Most igniter stems all look basically the same. See the picture below.

Now on the other hand, if you can’t hear a hiss of butane, you may have a clog somewhere in your lighter. It could be as simple as air trapped in the guts of your torch. Conversely, it could be a build-up of impurities from butane.

Assuming it’s nothing more than air trapped in your torch, the last simple option is to purge your lighter. Once your torch is purged, fill it up as normal and check the flame.

In conclusion 

I’ve put together a simple guide on how to properly fill up butane torches that only take a few minutes. If none of this helps, you can check out my in-depth torch lighter troubleshooting guide for a little more help. It’s got a bunch of info about fixing your torch lighter flame problems.

Lastly, one of the biggest problems is people using low-quality butane. Using cheap-made butane is going to gunk up your torch. I put together a post on the best butane brands as well as a post on why butane quality matters both will give you an idea of how to keep your torch lighter working better for longer.

For any questions, comments, or suggestions you can either leave a comment at the bottom of the page or send me a message on the contact page.