Wax warmers are an innovative method to enjoy scents without having to use the traditional method of burning or any open flame. However the question of how long can a wax warmer be left on remains as it is a device that uses electricity to generate heat and as we all know heat corrodes certain electronic devices after much exposure to it.
On top of that, there is the issue of electricity that is being consumed by the device, and keeping it on all the time is going to push your energy bill up.
However, there are some things that you need to know and consider before arriving at any definitive answer to the question.
Can you leave wax warmers on all the time?
Yes, you can, you definitely can but that does not mean you should. Let’s elaborate on why you should not leave a wax warmer on all the time.
Wax warmers are used to diffuse the scent of wax tarts and wax melts into the air and for this purpose the device generates heat for warming the wax. Although the heat we are talking about is minimal, it is still corrosive and should not be exposed to metal or fiber for more than a certain amount of time.
Secondly, the average lifespan of a wax melt cube weighing 3 grams is up to 10 or 12 hours depending on the quality of wax. If you keep your warmer on all the time, then the wax will melt and evaporate leaving behind an empty container that will get damaged because there is no more wax to melt.
How long can you leave a wax warmer on?
You should not be leaving your wax melts warmer for more than 9-10 hours at one go. Most newer models of wax warmers have an automatic feature that lets the device reach a certain temperature before turning off on its own. Once it has cooled down a bit, it turns on yet again and this process continues.
Now, this is a safe method of keeping your warmer on for longer durations of time but if not, then it poses some hazards however minor such as the wiring inside the device getting damaged due to the lengthy heat exposure.
In the absence of an automatic feature, you have to be vigilant about the wax warmer and attend to it from time to time. The worst thing that could happen is that the wax evaporates away and the coil of the device gets burnt due to excess heat.
Can you leave a wax warmer on overnight?
An average adult human sleeps for seven to eight hours at night if uninterrupted. And most bards of wax warmers can usually be left on for 8 to 10 hours before it becomes dangerous. That being said, it is not an ideal situation for you to continuously leave the device on for more than 8 hours at a time because it is sure to damage the device.
All wax warmers will have instruction manuals or a manufacturer’s note to inform the buyers about how long they can leave the device on. So it can safely be said that whether you can leave it on overnight depends on the wax warmer and more importantly the wax tart or wax melt in question. Because some wax melt does not have strong aromas and will dissipate within 5 or 6 hours while the wax remains.
In such a case, it is not worth it if the wax warmer is left on overnight since it is just warming the now unscented wax and also consuming your electricity.
Also, wax warmers come in different types; two of them are safer alternatives to be used overnight. Electric hot plate wax warmers are not recommended at all to be used throughout the night and left unattended but wax warmer lamps that use the light of a bulb to warm the wax is a safer option.
Tea light wax warmers can also be of overnight usage as the heat supply is the open flame of a tea light candle which extinguishes in 4 or 5 hours but the only problem over here is the open flame. So if you have pets at home, especially cats who like to roam all around the house at night, it might knock the device over starting a fire.
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Is it safe to leave a wax warmer on all night?
No, it is not. Despite the fact most wax warmers support more than 7 years of use, nobody will recommend you to leave it on overnight. If you accidentally left the wax warmer on through the night once or twice, it is still alright but to do it regularly can pose some safety hazards.
If you have pets at home, then you know that some animals like cats and some breeds of dogs mostly stay awake at night and just walk around your house. They have high mobility and can also easily jump to higher places thus if you are leaving your wax warmer on for the night, the hot parts might injure your pet or the hot wax may fall on something flammable and start a fire.
Speaking of hot wax, this is another reason why using the wax warmer overnight is not recommended. If a high level of heat is maintained for a consistently long time , the hot wax might start rupturing and spewing. If it falls on something flammable, at worst there will be a fire and at best you will be getting a chunk of solid wax both inside and outside the container which will also be difficult to remove at this point.
While it is beneficial to sleep amidst good fragrances, nothing can beat fresh air. Your brain needs a lot of oxygen when you are sleeping and inhaling chemically made fumes from wax may affect your health in the long run.
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Final Words
Hopefully, this will be a reliable guide for you if you have been considering using a wax warmer for long durations.
Remember, even before you place your comfort, you should be prioritizing your safety and thus it is extremely important to stay safe always and not leave electrical devices unattended for a long time.