Diesel heaters

[Seastoke]

When they are serviced , do they monitor the quality of air coming out of the blowers.

 

[Momac]

I don't think so .The air that comes out is the same air that goes in except it has been warmed by passing over the hot case of the burner unit.
In any case if a heater unit is serviced it has to be done while the heater is removed.

I find the best way to avoid the need to service the heater is to run the thing on full power or not at all.

 

[Binnacle]

Heaters are designed to keep blower air completely separate from the heated parts. If you are concerned about a smell from the outlets, the first stage is to put a carbon MONoxide detector about halfway up the bulkhead.

Cost is about £12.

You can buy analytical detectors from about £60 to £300 to give you % of various gases, but you need to be able to interpret the readings. These can read and display oxygen, CO, CO2, particulate dust, volatiles from paint in sprayshops, etc. used in e.g sawmills and factories.

Do you think your system has a problem ? If so, what are the warning smells ?

 

[Seastoke]

Heaters are designed to keep blower air completely separate from the heated parts. If you are concerned about a smell from the outlets, the first stage is to put a carbon MONoxide detector about halfway up the bulkhead.

Cost is about £12.

You can buy analytical detectors from about £60 to £300 to give you % of various gases, but you need to be able to interpret the readings. These can read and display oxygen, CO, CO2, particulate dust, volatiles from paint in sprayshops, etc. used in e.g sawmills and factories.

Do you think your system has a problem ? If so, what are the warning smells ?

No I was thinking what they do on service

 

[jon and michie]

No I was thinking what they do on service

Probably Glow Plug - Maybe Exhaust & tube if needs replacing - If you're getting a smell after exhaust parts have been done that will be normal if the air intake is just open ended in the engine room as probably exhaust wrap if used gives off a smell when first applied / used. - I had ducting on the intake which led outside so no smells of exhaust or engine room
as mentioned always have a carbon monoxide alarm - However you cant smell that.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Every boat should have a Co alarm. Even if you don't have anything onboard that can produce Co, there are others around you that could.

I was once working on a boat, nothing on that could produce Co, but the alarms went off. Turned out, the boat next door was running a petrol generator on deck.

A few weeks ago, a visitor boat beside us was making some repairs to the bow (rusty old steel boat) from the tender, with the engine running, our cabin started to fill with exhaust fumes as their outboard was only a few feet from our cabin portlight. Luckily we were woken by the noise of them banging around before the alarms went off. I asked them to stop, pointing out the issue and they grumbled and stopped. Next morning, they did it again.

 

[Scubadoo]

Every boat should have a Co alarm. Even if you don't have anything onboard that can produce Co, there are others around you that could.

I was once working on a boat, nothing on that could produce Co, but the alarms went off. Turned out, the boat next door was running a petrol generator on deck.

A few weeks ago, a visitor boat beside us was making some repairs to the bow (rusty old steel boat) from the tender, with the engine running, our cabin started to fill with exhaust fumes as their outboard was only a few feet from our cabin portlight. Luckily we were woken by the noise of them banging around before the alarms went off. I asked them to stop, pointing out the issue and they grumbled and stopped. Next morning, they did it again.

Totally agree, the other week I was in Cowes berthed next to a yacht, in the early hours my smoke alarm went off in the engine bay, it appears the diesel heater in the boat next to me was smoking a bit perhaps on startup and entered my engine bay through the vents. It soon cleared, but just shows in the right wind direction what can happen from nearby boats. I was going to chat with the guy and suggest he might need to service his heater, but he left early. I have several smoke and CO alarms onboard.

 

[Momac]

Also a CO alarm will sound due to battery gassing. I have personal experience of this on two boats moored on the same marina pontoon as my boat. The batteries in both cases proved to be defective.
On the inland waterways a CO detector (at least one) is mandatory . But a good idea to have one in each sleeping area plus one in the main saloon especially if a gas hob and /or oven is fitted.

 

[Alicatt]

Also a CO alarm will sound due to battery gassing. I have personal experience of this on two boats moored on the same marina pontoon as my boat. The batteries in both cases proved to be defective.
On the inland waterways a CO detector (at least one) is mandatory . But a good idea to have one in each sleeping area plus one in the main saloon especially if a gas hob and /or oven is fitted.

That was my first clue that there was something wrong with the 2 house batteries on my boat, the carbon monoxide detector went into pre alarm, one battery was out gassing, so I replaced them both and fitted a balancer between the batteries.
The house and start batteries are under the galley floor, the gas cooker is at the far end of the galley with the gas detector mounted at the other end of the galley where it is visible from the entry to the saloon.
Diesel heater is under the seats mounted on a shelf between two stringers on the port side of the boat, it has not been used much and it smelled when we first put it on, now it is running much better and does not smell. Looking at the invoices for the boat, the heater was fitted not long before we bought it, I doubt it had been used at all.

 

[wonkywinch]

Two men found dead on boat after carbon monoxide poisoning

 

[Seastoke]

We have CO in both beds and one in Saloon, and smokes in saloon and lazaretto.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Also a CO alarm will sound due to battery gassing. I have personal experience of this on two boats moored on the same marina pontoon as my boat. The batteries in both cases proved to be defective.
On the inland waterways a CO detector (at least one) is mandatory . But a good idea to have one in each sleeping area plus one in the main saloon especially if a gas hob and /or oven is fitted.

Had a few cases of customers Co alarms going off due to batteries gassing, as well as my own when a battery failed. Handy if you're onboard as it gives an early warning and reduces the risk of a battery exploding.

 

[Plum]

On the inland waterways a CO detector (at least one) is mandatory . But a good idea to have one in each sleeping area plus one in the main saloon especially if a gas hob and /or oven is fitted.

I also have one in the locker where the Eberspacher and its exhaust is installed (I can hear it throughout the boat)

 

[Seastoke]

Ours is a webasto it’s so frustrating the control is a on off switch and a dial to control the heat which is crude it’s either to hot or to cold . Is there a better controller .

 

[PaulRainbow]

Ours is a webasto it’s so frustrating the control is a on off switch and a dial to control the heat which is crude it’s either to hot or to cold . Is there a better controller .

Pic or model number of your controller ?

My Webasto has a switch and a dial, but works nicely at controlling the temperature, yours is either a different model, or it doesn't have an external temp sensor.

 

[Seastoke]

This one paul

 

[PaulRainbow]

This one paul

Mine is one of these, but it has a separate temp sensor. Perhaps there is a sensor option for your heater, what model is it ?

 

[jon and michie]

Is there a Hole in the control unit for sensing the Temperature ? - It may have a build up of dust - a Long shot I know but maybe use a vacuum cleaner to remove any debris - it wouldnt harm and a cheap fix if it works

 

[Seastoke]

I think this is the sensor. Abut there is a hole on the unit

 

[superheat6k]

I have been running night heaters, mostly Chinaspachers, on kerosene for quite a few years and have never had to de-coke any of them. The kerosene burns cleaner than diesel, at least in my experience.