A product as culturally pervasive as the original Lava Lamp is bound to generate a great deal of conversation. Lava products are also somewhat mysterious, evoking questions about their origin, history, and of course, "how do these things work?" Below are answers to a few of the more commonly asked questions that we receive. Well, at least the questions we're comfortable responding to online. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at: infomaster@lavalite.com.

How big are the lamps in relation to each other?

Why is my globe cloudy?

First, we'll assume that you're referring to the globe of your Lava Lamp. If that is in fact correct, the only reason the globe will become cloudy is if the Lava Lamp has been shaken, stirred, moved, dropped, or caught in an earthquake while the blobs are warm. We're sorry to inform you that this is probably a permanent problem. If this unfortunate event should ever happen to you again, you may be able to save your lamp if you immediately turn it off and let the wax settle to the bottom of the globe and completely cool. Then, turn the lamp on until the wax breaks up and as soon as it begins, shut the lamp off again until it cools. Running the lamp in these short "bursts" may result in a clear lamp.

Why do the lava blobs stay as a glob at the bottom of the globe?

The base of your unit may not be getting hot enough, or, conversely, may be getting too hot. (see the Illustrations below) If it isn't moving there are two things to check:
  1. Check your bulb to be sure it isn't burned out.
  2. Be sure not to use the lamp beyond recommended time which results in over heating.

Why do my lava blobs break up into a multitude of little balls?

Each Lava Lamp has its own personality and these formations are often a normal occurrence. This can also be a symptom of the lamp overheating because it has been operating for too long.

Why are there speckles of light on my globe?

Each globe is made of glass and is likely to have manufacturer's marks and bubbles, both of which are normal.

Why does the color of my Lava Lamp change?

Remember back in school when you first learned about color science? You know, yellow and blue make green, red and blue make purple? Well, that’s what’s happening to your Lava Lamp. When you add two or more colors together, they combine and may result in a new color. Since each Lava Lamp is comprised of one or more color combinations, the possibilities are as interesting as they are endless.