Espar Heater Location

[fritzdfk]

I want to install an Espar forced air heater in my small diesel trawler. It is an Allweather. There is a hold area under the outside aft deck. This compartment has a lot of room but also contains batteries and is open to the engine. The manuals say the heater should not be installed in the engine room and I suppose the batteries might be a problem also. I could draw combustion and outside air from outside the compartment somehow. The only other option is to install the heater inside the living space. Should I just eliminate the aft hold area as an option?

[Paul L]

I don't think it is wise to mount the diesel heater above potentially explosive gasses from the batteries.

[CaptTom]

The ER should already have plenty of outside combustion air available, not sure why it's not recommended to locate there.

My biggest recommendation on location would be to keep the exhaust hose as short as possible. That thing gets dangerously hot. I don't mean hot like the outside of your engine block, I mean closer to cherry-red hot. It shouldn't pass through or anywhere near any combustible material.

You can always figure out a way to get combustion air in, and duct the heater intake and output from/to where you want it.