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.

What can cause a lighter to hiss when the igniter is depressed, but not ignite? What can be wrong? The hissing sound is actually the sound of butane escaping, as it should during normal operation. However, why will your lighter not ignite? If this is a familiar problem, then you will need to follow the steps outlined below.

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.

To adjust the flame height, youll need a very small flathead screwdriver. Turn the flame adjuster towards the minus symbol. Be careful not to turn it too far, though. Make a small adjustment toward the minimum end of the range and then attempt to light the lighter once more. If you still hear the hissing sound, but the lighter does not ignite, then you need to continue adjusting the flame height. You should do this in increments, in order to ensure that you are able to achieve the highest flame height for your needs, while still being able to light the lighter.