Even very high-end lighters will need to be bled out now and again. The substance being bled is air which becomes trapped in the lighter and which prevents it from functioning correctly. To correct this, one usually simply depresses the fuel release valve far enough to allow gas to be discharged but not so far that the ignition mechanism is tripped. One can verify the flow of gas by holding the lighter close enough to their ear to hear gas escape.

Most often, a lighter that is failing to provide a sustained flame has air trapped in the reservoir, fuel supply line or both. On some lighters, one will be able to see these components. Most high-end cigar lighters, however, have opaque cases which makes this impossible. To determine if this is the problem, one can simply hold down the fuel release and listen for the hissing sound of gas escaping. It there is no hiss audible, there is likely a fuel problem.

Butane lighters require a tight connection between the seal and the can when being filled. In some cases, individuals may fail to provide this. This loose seal can result in air being forced into the lighter’s reservoir resulting in the types of problems described. On lighters which haven’t a transparent reservoir, this can become a very frustrating problem. The only way to remedy the problem is to bleed the lighter. If this problem is constant, it may indicate that there is something else going wrong with the device.

The very high-end butane lighters are sophisticated devices. Generally, the more one pays for such a device, the better the components used in its manufacture. With an expensive cigar lighter, for instance, an individual can rest assured that any flaws are not due to lacking manufacturing processes. However, there is always the chance that a lighter will be a “lemon”, as the saying goes. Those who purchase high-end lighters have a definite advantage over those who do not in these cases.

A high-quality lighter almost always comes with a warranty. Because of the quality of the devices, manufacturers are willing to stand behind their products. Aside from bleeding the lighter, one should not attempt to fix the lighter on their own. This can result in the warranty being voided altogether. A technician can look at the device to determine if there is a problem.