Refillable butane lighters represent one of the most durable and reliable devices on the market. Of course, any device can malfunction and every device is subject to damage from incorrect handling. These devices, despite their characteristic durability, do have fragile elements and they can sometimes become damaged to the point of leaking fuel which is most often the cause of any hissing noises that one may hear emanating from the device. Troubleshooting these issues is usually fairly straightforward.
Butane cigar lighters of the high-end variety oftentimes have powerful jets which are designed to be both windproof and to provide a hot flame and an even light. These butane lighters use gas under pressure as their fuel and a complex system of valves to provide the fuel. These valves can go bad if treated incorrectly or if contaminated with impurities. Oftentimes, the first symptom of a valve problem will be a hissing noise emitting from the lighter.
If the hissing noise is always audible, it generally means that there is a severe leak somewhere in the lighter and that there is a hazard of having the lighter explode. Lighters found in this condition should not be filled. For obvious reasons, they will lose all their fuel in short order and may prove impossible to fill from the start. Do not keep such lighters filled and in one's pocket! It's best to let them run out of fuel on their own.
If a lighter spontaneously starts making a loud hissing sound, this can mean that the fuel is escaping very rapidly. Do not attempt to light such a device. The gas may form a cloud around the user's hand and result in a small flash fire. It's best to let the pressure in the reservoir dissipate on its own and to take the lighter in for professional servicing. One should never put such a device in their pocket when the hissing noise is audible.
If the hissing occurs after the lighter has been dropped, the case may be cracked. This can result in a very fast discharge of gas, oftentimes producing more of a "puffing" noise as all of the gas is discharged as once rather than as a hiss as is characteristic of a slow leak. This may or may not be a fixable problem and replacement may be the only option.
Dave Sabot is the owner of specialty cigar lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including lotus lighters, Dave also authors a highly rated blog featuring information on how to lighter repair.
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