How to quite your espar heater

When I first installed my Webasto heater, I was told how I could make a muffler for it. I actually made two, but decided not to use either of them. It's basically a small copper pipe with holes drilled in it, going thru a larger copper pipe with insulation stuffed in it. If anyone wants one to try, just let me know. Colby

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localboy":1wj31grr said:
My one concern with the heaters is the noise.
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Yeah, you can just imagine that you are at SeaTac and a big jet is in the process of taking off! But the warmth and comfort makes it all worthwhile!
 
After the start up process I don't notice the noise hardly at all. We run it more when we are fishing and under way then any other time so I never notice it then. I will install a muffler for when we are at the dock . It also helps to dock so the exhaust is facing out from the dock and not towards the dock. Coby if you want to send me one of those I will give it a try.

Second recommendation is for this iteminline drain. You should always have a low point in your exhaust line between the out let and the heater unit to trap any water that might enter. I have a low point but no way to remove the water. I will be using something like this but with a valve added at the end of the copper . These are made for truck installs where all the plumbing is out side. I will have to modify it a bit to work in the boat.
 
Tom, you anywhere near the Snake or Columbia Rivers? I'll bring one of the mufflers with me when I come out next week. Regarding a water drain, I believe my exhaust is the lowest point in the system, with a constant descent in the piping. I was worried about that as well when I initially installed the heater. Colby
 
Ron on Meander":215hlqgt said:
You could just get a Wallas furnace. You can hardly hear it run. Inside or out.
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I'm looking at all options right now; Espar, Webasto or Wallas.

I noticed Tom/Susan's this past weekend. Sounded just like a propane construction heater.

I love the Wallas (low noise and low power consumption along with more BTUs) but they cost almost three times as much.

I will have a Wallas 85DU with low hours for sale soon.
 
Mark,

I'm surprised you didn't notice the noise of Tosca's Webasto this last weekend at Stuart. We were across from you on the dock with our heater exhaust pointed toward the dock (on our starboard side) and therefore toward Au Kai.

It is a bit noisy, but it doesn't really bother me. I wouldn't mind quieting it down a bit. I guess a muffler will do that (I could sure hear the difference in the video clip posted above). I wonder if there is a down side, even a slight down side, to fitting a muffler on the Webasto unit?
 
Yeah the Wallas heater is the pricey option. We have had our 1800 Kerosene furnace for about 10 years now. I have not had any problems with the furnace and haven't serviced it yet. (That bit is for the Wallas naysayers out there) The selling points for me on the Wallas furnaces are: low power draw, excellent heat provided, for the fuel consumption used, the ability to duct the heat, the drying of the interior air, and it's QUIET. Price sucks!
Doing it again, and without the DU95 to add additional heat. I'd go with the bigger Wallas 30 for heating a 25 in the PNW.

Cheers
Ron
 
I start the Espar up and it's noisy (like a little jet), but then the boat heats up in about 10 minutes, and I turn the dial down. At lower settings I really can't hear any "jet" noise.
 
Tom Starcrafttom,
I had a muffler that looked just like the one in your video link. I got it with the marine kit conversion I ordered after getting my used Espar from a truck shop. The muffler is stamped stainless steel, folded over and tack welded. However, It is not air tight. Exhaust gas leaks along the seams and where the end stubs are put on. Yes, it can be used if it is out side the truck cab or out side the boat. The exhaust side of the Espar is slightly pressurized so I did not use this muffler in my installation.
What Colby has made out of copper for a muffler I think would work fine. I am still think of driving out to his place as he is only 70 miles away and picking it up but haven't yet. I guess I could make one too. Right now I use the Espar with out the muffler and at lower outputs, the sound is pretty low.

Take care,
Mike Moser
 
Hi Mike. I have two that I made. They came out nice, but I just decided I didn't need one. I always ask folks I'm around if the noise bothered them at night and everyone says no. A few don't even hear it; must be sound sleepers. lol. Don't know how hot solder has to get to melt, that would be my only concern, is if the muffler got that hot. They are pretty simple to make. I got the larger pipe, scrap, from my neighbor, a plumber. Otherwise that might be the biggest expense of it. Colby
 
I also tried the available SS muffler only to learn that it isn't for interior use. My home made muffler is quite long and does an excellent job. It is stuffed with fiberglass and then wrapped with fiberglass tape used for automobile headers.

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I can't even hear if it's running when I'm on the dock with the exhaust facing me. The little ticker pump is actually the noisiest part of the system now and I can only hear that if at anchor with nothing else on. I now equate tick, tick, tick with warm, warm, dry, so even that little noise doesn't bother me.

Mark
 
Well it good , sort of, to hear that the production mufflers are not for inside use. I did not see that in the sites I was reading but they were mostly van conversation sites so all the installs where exterior.

Colby is sending me a home made one soon. What type of fiber glass are people using to stuff them? Where do you get it?
 
I'm still wondering (as I posted a few days ago) whether or not there might be a down side, even a slight down side, to fitting a muffler on the Webasto or Espar units?

Could it make the unit less efficient, deduce longevity, or whatever? I presume it creates some sort of back pressure. Any opinions?
 
I would a call the manufacture to find out what is a acceptable flow reduction or back pressure. then figure our how to test that. At some point its to much.
 
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