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Old 01-31-2015, 08:16 PM   #1
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Espar Hydronic Maintenance

Has anyone serviced their Espar? Mine has developed a whine and need to address before something goes wrong. I've seen several videos and it seems pretty straight forward. I could also send it out to be rebuilt, any recommendations?

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Old 02-01-2015, 02:40 PM   #2
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

Did you check the intake/exhaust tubes for kinks or debris or run it without the muffler or filter? Just a thought. I'd have to hear the sound Ron. My Hydronic sounds like a jet engine & is quite loud even with the muffler especially compared to the Airtronic. The only times I've dealt with the hydronic, the work was done by SMB and they sent it off to Greg at Lube specialists. Greg said is was quite dirty inside...wow it's behind the front driver tire, how could that happen BTW I sent it off because of owner operator problems. Nothing was wrong with it. It does seem louder these days though.
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Old 02-03-2015, 12:05 PM   #3
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

First video is cold startup. There's a little white smoke, nothing unusual.
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Old 02-03-2015, 02:18 PM   #4
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

No mine does not make the sound heard in the 2nd video but the 1st video is right on target.
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Old 02-03-2015, 04:36 PM   #5
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

Sounds more like a combustion blower. If you listen to the first video when the heater is winding up you can hear the sound of the second video for a few seconds. I also see the white smoke and it really shouldn't be doing that. That is a sign of the blower going bad or dirty. Does the unit have many hours on it? I would take it apart and give it a good cleaning then see what it sounds like.

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Old 02-03-2015, 06:35 PM   #6
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

Is this why I ordered propane stove & water heater? Apart from the price & reliability of propane.
I was told not to order the diesel system, unless you use it every day.
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Old 02-03-2015, 06:52 PM   #7
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

I would be interested in the sound of a D2 while standing three feet away from the van. The real questions for me are:

1. If you were in the campsite next to your van would I be annoyed with sound or smell of the furnace operating?
2. Is the propane heater any quieter?

I tried to find links of the D2 running and was not able to find anything representative. Also, from what i gather, the D5 is significantly louder than the D2, right?

Thanks!
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Old 02-04-2015, 12:05 PM   #8
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

When in doubt call Sportsmobile. They use a company out of Oregon. Service is about $95 plus parts. Going to remove it this weekend and send it off.

Rixen's Enterprises Inc.
800-925-6260
http://www.rixens.com
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Old 02-04-2015, 03:05 PM   #9
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheriffdoug
Is this why I ordered propane stove & water heater? Apart from the price & reliability of propane.
I was told not to order the diesel system, unless you use it every day.
Actually Doug, I haven't had any issues since I started using my units correctly. I don't run mine on a constant basis (sometimes months apart) and have been with others that have propane units who had way more problems than either of my Espar units. I need something that is not affected by altitude and mine has ran fine while I've seen some propane units struggle. Not saying others owning Espar products don't have issues, just that I've been trouble free for many years. I'm also not saying that all propane models have issues.

Not sure what would happen crossing a creek and putting it under water though.

Hey Ron, maybe that's the solution...are you willing to ford a deep creek and test it out for us
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Old 02-04-2015, 03:16 PM   #10
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Re: Espar Hydronic Maintenance

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1der
I would be interested in the sound of a D2 while standing three feet away from the van. The real questions for me are:

1. If you were in the campsite next to your van would I be annoyed with sound or smell of the furnace operating?
2. Is the propane heater any quieter?

I tried to find links of the D2 running and was not able to find anything representative. Also, from what i gather, the D5 is significantly louder than the D2, right?

Thanks!
I ran my airtronic in Yosemite when you were there Ray. The cab heater is as quiet on high as the suburban units I've heard and on low it's very difficult to tell if it's on. But if you open a door and let a rush of cold air in, the unit ramps up for a time being making a louder sound until it slows back down.

The hydronic is way louder and continues cycle on and off. When it ramps up you can hear mine several camps away. If there was a guy running a generator by me I might run the water heater because the generators are noisier IMO.

No nothing about the D5
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