# Why Does My Candle Sink In The Middle?
Do you ever light a candle and wonder why the wax appears to be sinking in the middle? Here’s the thing – if a candle is burning properly, it should burn evenly and the flame should be steady. If it’s not burning evenly and the wax is sinking in the middle – something is amiss and it could be for any of the following reasons:
**1. Improper Wick Size**
When candles are made, the wick size must be chosen based on the type and size of wax used. If the wick is too small it will not be able to absorb enough wax to keep the flame coming and the wax will start to sink in the middle.
**2. Not Trimming the Wick**
To ensure good burning of the candle, it’s important to trim the wick to around half an inch before you light it. If you forget to do this, the flame may be too large and the wax will start to sink in the middle.
**3. Not Placing the Candle in a Ventilated Area**
If you don’t place the candle in an area where it can get adequate air, the wax won’t burn properly. This means that the wax won’t vaporize and the flame will not be able to keep up with the liquid wax, causing it to sink in the middle.
**4. Moving the Candle around Too Much**
It’s natural to want to move the candle around and enjoy its beauty from different angles, but remember that you should never move the candle when it’s lit. This can cause the flame to be off-balance and the wax to sink in the middle.
**5. Not Letting the Wax Pool**
Before you blow the candle out, you should always let the wax pool across the entire surface of the candle. This means that you have to wait until the surface of the candle is fully melted before blowing it out. If you don’t do this, the wax won’t be able to be evenly distributed and the candle will start to sink in the middle.
If you find that your candles are sinking in the middle, try re-trimming the wick, placing the candle in a better ventilated area and letting the wax pool before you blow the candle out. Doing so should help ensure that your candles are burning evenly and that the wax is not sinking in the middle.
Why Does my Candle Sink In the Middle?
You light a candle and within a matter of minutes, you notice something peculiar – your candle has sunk in the middle! What’s up with that?
Cooling Wax Contraction
The short answer is that it’s likely due to cooling wax contraction. As the wax cools and solidifies back up (it goes from a liquid to a solid), it contracts. This causes it to sink in the middle, or “tunnel”.
Preventing “Tunneling”
To prevent your candle from tunneling, you need to give it an adequate melt pool. This means you should burn your candle long enough until the wax melts all the way out to the edge of the container. This can take up to an hour, depending on how wide your candle container is. It’s also a good idea to trim your wick, as this helps the flame melt the wax more evenly.
Overburning
Ah, but you should be careful, as leaving your candle burning too long can cause it to overburn. This means, again, that the wax melts all the way down to the container and creates a liquid wax pool. However, this also can cause soot to build up on the container, or there is always a risk of a fire if you let it burn too long.
So, make sure you’re not burning your candle for too long – the optimal time for a candle to burn is until the liquid wax pool reaches the edge of the candle vessel.
Conclusion
When it comes to burning candles, it’s important to follow a few simple rules to ensure the best and safest burning experience. If you find that your candle is sinking in the middle, it’s likely due to cooling wax contraction. To prevent this, make sure you’re giving your candle an adequate melt pool, and that you’re not burning it for too long!
- Cooling Wax Contraction -The short answer is that it’s likely due to cooling wax contraction.
- Preventing “Tunneling“ -To prevent your candle from tunneling, you need to give it an adequate melt pool.
- Overburning -Leaving your candle burning too long can cause it to overburn.
The optimal time for a candle to burn should be until the liquid wax pool reaches the edge of the candle vessel. To reduce the risk of overburning, trim your candle wick and give it an adequate melt pool. By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your candle will burn safely and the wax contraction won’t be an issue!
Welcome to my candle making blog! In this blog, I will be sharing my tips and tricks for making candles. I will also be sharing some of my favorite recipes.
