Scented candles are lovely mood-setting devices, but candle popping can really ruin the mood. If you’ve paid for an expensive candle, you definitely don’t want this to happen.
Why is my candle popping? There are plenty of reasons why candles can pop, including impurities in the candle, long wick, moisture, or air bubbles that have been trapped in the wax. The result can be annoying popping sounds but also soot buildup and tunneling.
What can you do to fix a popping candle? In this article, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your candle might be popping and find some ways to help you tackle the issue.
Reasons For A Popping Candle
Although crackling and popping candle sounds can help you create a warm and cozy ambiance, a popping candle is definitely not normal. If you notice that your candle is making a loud and clear popping or crackling sound, then that may be a sign of a bigger issue.
You may think that it’s not a big problem, but a popping candle can lead to bigger issues, like soot buildup and wax tunneling, which can ruin your candle-burning experience.
At the first sign of a popping candle, you need to investigate the issue and address it right away to avoid further problems with your candle.
There are a few reasons that your candle might pop while burning. Knowing the reasons for a popping candle may help you address it properly. Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why your candle might pop.
Moisture
Water and fire don’t mix, so you can understand how moisture is one of the main reasons why your candle is popping. Similar to how you cannot burn a fire with soggy woods, a soaked candle may not burn at all, or it may release popping sounds when you try to burn it.
This is the most common issue that you may have if you put your candle in an outdoor environment or in a humid area in your home, such as the bathroom.
While candles can set the mood in those areas, you should never keep them in humid conditions for too long, or the moisture will ruin your candle.
One of the most common mistakes when it comes to burning candles is putting your candles in the freezer. It’s definitely a myth that can do more harm than good when it comes to storing your candle.
If your candle has a glass jar, the extreme change in temperature can even ruin the jar as well as the candle. Putting your candle in the freezer can cause the candle to collect moisture, so when it’s time to light it, the moisture will cause the candle to pop quite loudly.
For similar reasons, you should never extinguish your candle with water. Any kind of water concentration around the candle wick can definitely cause the candle to pop during the next burn.
Impurities
If you let your candles sit on your shelves for a while, they’re bound to get dusty. If you try to burn your candle without cleaning the wax first, the dust will settle into the wax and cause all kinds of trouble.
One of the most common issues that you can experience when you have a dirty wax base is soot buildup that can discolor your walls. You may also find that your candles will burn unevenly, and yes, there are going to be a lot of popping sounds as well.
Long Wick
The ideal length for a candle wick is ¼ inch from the base of the wax. If your candle wick is longer than that, the wick will start to collect carbon and become distorted. T
A long wick can also cause an uneven burn and cause the candle to pop.
Air Bubbles
Sometimes during the manufacturing process, the wax can be poured incorrectly and cause air bubbles to become trapped inside the wax.
When the wax starts burning, these bubbles will be released, and the popping sounds are actually the air bubbles releasing from the wax.
Faulty Manufacturing
In some instances, it may not be your fault. If you have a brand new candle that’s crackling or popping, it might be the manufacturer’s fault.
Candle popping can happen when the ingredients in the wax are not well-mixed or mixed incorrectly. Using the wrong ingredients can also cause the candle to pop when those ingredients meet the flame.
If this is the case, there’s really nothing that you can do to fix the candle besides exchanging your candle for a new one.
How To Fix A Popping Candle
Now that you know all the reasons why your candle is popping, let’s take a look at some simple things you can do to prevent this from happening during the next burn.
Store Your Candle In A Dry, Cool Area
Moisture and humidity is the main culprit that causes popping in candles, so you should always keep your candles away from humid areas.
That means you should never leave your candles in the backyard, in the kitchen, or in the bathroom for too long. Instead, you should keep them in a dry and cool area to keep them fresh for the next burn.
Cover The Candle
In between burns, you should always cover your candle with a lid to keep any dirt and grimes away from the wax.
A lid is also useful for keeping moisture out of the candle in case the humidity in your home changes so that the candle is not affected by excessive moisture. The lid can also keep the essential oil in the candle wax from drying out, so the candle will stay fresh for longer.
Clean The Wax Before Burning
Even if you keep a lid over the wax, sometimes small impurities and moisture can still get inside, causing problems when you burn the candle.
The good news is that these things usually settle on top of the wax, so you only need to wipe the surface of the candle with a dry, clean cloth, and your candle will be ready for burning.
Trim The Wick
Ideally, the wick of your candle should only be about ¼ inches from the candle wax. This length will ensure that the flame burns evenly and uniformly so that your candle will last longer.
If you find that the candlewick is too long, it might be helpful to trim the wick using a small pair of scissors or one of the trimmers on our list of the Best Wick Trimmers. You’ll find that the next burn will be much more seamless thanks to this simple step.
How To Prevent DIY Candles From Popping
Those who DIY their own candles may find it frustrating when your candles pop, even when you follow all the steps in the process correctly.
If you find that your DIY candles are popping, here are some of the things you can do during the pouring process to prevent this problem from happening.
Pour Slowly
When it comes to pouring your candle wax into the mold or container, it’s best to go slowly and steadily.
This is because if you pour too fast, it can cause air bubbles to become trapped inside the wax. The air bubbles will be released when you burn your candle, causing the popping sounds.
Pouring slowly will help you minimize the number of air bubbles in the wax and avoid this problem.
Don’t Stir The Wax Too Much
Adding essential oils and fragrances to your candle wax can be a really fun way to experiment with your creation.
Although you want the solution to be well-mixed, stirring the wax too much can also create air bubbles inside the solutions, which will become trapped in the candle after it’s poured and cooled.
When it comes to adding ingredients to your wax, you’ll want to do so slowly and stir at a nice, even pace. With some patience, the wax will still be well-mixed, but you can avoid the air bubbles problem.
Allow The Candle To Cool Evenly
The cooling process after pouring is just as important as every other process in the candle-making process. Allowing your candle to cool down slowly and evenly will prevent the candle from cracking, which will create a nice and even burn later on.
After pouring your candle, you should leave it in a dry, cool area to cool down. Make sure not to leave it in a humid area of your home, such as the bathroom or the kitchen, as the moisture can slow down the cooling process and even cause the candle to pop.
If needed, you can use a dehumidifier to create the ideal environment for the candle to cool down.
One of the most common mistakes that DIYers make when cooling down candles is to leave a few candles very close together to cool down. This can also cause the candles to cool down unevenly, causing the candles to crack on the side.
The best practice is to leave a bit of distance, at least a few inches, between the candles when you leave them to cool. You should also use a rack to elevate the candles so that the bottom of the candles can also cool evenly along with all of the sides.
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