How To Determine and Remove Excessive Carbon Build up in Espar Heaters.
One way to identify if the burner in your Espar Heaters may have excessive carbon build up is to look into the exhaust outlet of the heater with the flexible exhaust pipe removed.
This may be difficult while the heater is installed due to its location but with the assistance of a mirror and a flashlight it can be accomplished.
Another way to find out if the burner has excessive carbon build up, is to inspect the glow pin screen chamber and look into the burner as much as possible.
If the bottom of the glow pin screen chamber is blocked or partially restricted it may be an indication that the burner could have carbon build up.
When Espar heaters have failed to start due to excessive carbon build‐up in the burner, the heater may produce a Fault Code 52 which is Safety Time Exceeded.
This indicates that the heater was not able to start within its allowed start up time. This may also be accompanied by excessive white smoke.
CAUTION:
During the cleaning process of the heater it is likely that hot pieces of carbon will come out of the exhaust pipe of the heater. Make sure that there is nothing on or around the exhaust that could be ignited by these particles. For example, oily rags, fuel spills, the kerosene container or any other flammable material or substance.
Do not look into exhaust pipe or expose unprotected part of your body to the exhaust outlet.
It is the responsibility of the technician who is performing this method of carbon removal to ensure all safety regulations for working with fuel, are met during the procedure.
Below is a picture of a burner that was cleaned using Kerosene.
Alternate method of cleaning Espar Heaters
- Remove the glow pin using the glow pin removal tool, Espar part number 25 2069 01 03 03 and replace the glow pin screen, Espar part number 25 2069 01 03 00. Make sure the ventilation hole on the side of glow pin chamber is completely clear and not restricted or plugged. Clean the glow pin screen chamber with a brush before inserting the new glow pin screen.
- Reassemble the heater back to operating condition.
- Make sure all sources of ignition are kept a safe distance away from the fuel lines and the container of kerosene.
- Remove fuel line from inlet side of fuel pump.
- Replace this fuel line with another section of fuel line which is an appropriate length and secure one end to inlet side of fuel pump and other end into a flammable safe container of Kerosene. Espar plastic fuel tank or another approved container may be used.
- Make sure that the fuel lines and fuel container are not near any sources of heat. Make sure the fuel lines do not touch the exhaust systems of the vehicle, or the Heater.
- Ensure end of fuel line is securely fastened to fuel pump as to not allow any air to enter fuel system during operation.
- Ensure Kerosene container is not placed near the air intake or exhaust of heater; this will prevent any fumes to enter combustion chamber and also prevent any sparks or hot particles from igniting the Kerosene.
- Turn on the heater. This may take several attempts to prime fuel lines.
- Adjust Thermostat or Mini Controller to the highest temperature set point. If necessary, open vehicle doors allowing cool air in. This will ensure that the heater runs in boost.
- Some heaters with excessive carbon build up may not start using kerosene and will give a Fault Code 52: Safety Time Exceeded. These heaters may require that they be disassembled and cleaned manually.
- Allow heater to run in boost for approximately 25‐30 minutes.
- Turn heater off
- After the heater has completed its cool down cycle, the fuel line can be removed from fuel pump and container. Container can be removed from the area and safely stored away.
- Reinstall original fuel line back to inlet side of fuel pump.
- The heater can now be operated as usual.
