My Lighter Hisses, But Will Not Light

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.

When the igniter of the lighter is pressed down, no flame appears. The lighter does, however, emit a hissing sound, as of fuel escaping. What could be going on? Whats wrong with your lighter? Actually, this situation can be remedied quite easily, though youll need to troubleshoot your lighter a bit first.

Before doing anything else, make sure that your lighter is not blocked with lint, dirt or debris. Even a small obstruction can keep your lighter from working properly. While checking this, keep your fingers well away from the igniter, in order to avoid potential harm. If you locate debris, remove it carefully and then attempt to ignite your lighter. If it still fails to light, youll need to dig a bit further.

The most common problem that causes a hissing sound with a failure to ignite, is the flame height selector being set too high. Check your flame adjuster to determine just how high you have that flame set. On disposable lighters, this will be a simple plastic slide set on the back of the lighter, just below the base of the metal lighter cap. On more expensive jet lighters, the flame adjuster will most likely be located on the bottom of the lighter, usually near (or surrounding) the refill port.

The flame height can be adjusted quite easily. For a jet lighter, youll need a small flathead screwdriver or a similar tool. Insert the head into the slot of the adjuster and rotate it toward the minus symbol a small amount. Check the lighter to determine if you have lowered the flame height/fuel flow sufficiently. If it still does not light, continue to turn it toward the minus symbol, checking the lighter periodically to determine if it lights. If you adjust the flame height all the way to the minimum with no luck, you might have a defective lighter.