April 24th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

When it comes to hand dryers, there are a lot of options available on the market, it may be tricky trying to narrow down what option is the best for you and your establishment. From the type of dryer (manual or automatic) to what features it offers (warm air, cool air, etc.), there are a lot of things to consider when making the decision. In this blog, we will look to outline the differences and what to consider when making your choice to hopefully make it easier when it comes to decision time.

What Are Your Needs?

Before you begin shopping for a hand dryer, it's important to ask yourself what you actually need from your hand dryer. What are your facility's needs? This will help guide your decision and ensure that you purchase the right product for your business.

For example, if cost is your most important factor then it makes sense that you would choose an inexpensive model rather than a more expensive one with additional features that may not be necessary for your setting. Conversely, if sustainability or environmental impact are key considerations then choosing a more efficient model could be beneficial over time despite its higher initial price tag. The type of facility is also important to consider for example hand dryers installed in schools or other areas with young children may want to use cold air hand dryers, while more professional environments such as offices may want to consider blade hand dryers that have sleek designs as well as very quiet function so will eliminate disturbances.

Things to Consider

If you are not entirely what your needs are or if you only have a vague idea, here are a few things that you should be taking into consideration before making your choice.

How Many People Will Be Using the Facility?

The number of people using the facility is an important thing to consider, as the frequency of use will of course affect the lifetime of your unit and its part – it will also help you consider if you need a hand dryer with quick dry functions after all you don’t want to create a queue in the bathroom for people waiting to use the hand dryers!  

If you are planning on placing your hand dryers in relatively high-traffic areas such as public restrooms in a mall, bars or restaurants then you will find that these will be used more often in which case it would be advisable to invest in more high-end products as these often use superior parts and materials so they will not deteriorate as quickly as other more inexpensive models that may break down quicker with frequent use resulting in higher costs in the long run due to frequent replacements.  

As mentioned above if you are looking for a hand dryer for high-traffic areas then it may also be worth prioritising quicker drying times – after all the faster the unit can dry hands the less likely you are to build up queues this can be especially beneficial in smaller bathrooms with less room for multiple hand dryers.

Where Will the Hand Dryer Be Placed?

Another important factor to consider when purchasing your hand dryer is where it will be placed – this can be largely influenced by how much space you have at your disposal. There are several factors to consider when determining where to put your hand dryers. First, ask yourself: how far away from the sink will my hand dryer be? If there are multiple sinks in one room or area, you may want to place them close enough that people can reach them without having to cross too much distance after washing their hands – in this case, it is important to ensure you are purchasing a unit which has an adequate IP rating. For those unfamiliar with this term this is also known as the Ingress Protection Rating and it is the rating given to show the effectiveness of electrical enclosures in blocking things such as dust, moisture and liquids. The higher the IP rating the more effective it is protected against these – so in an area where hand dryers may be subject to water or soap splashes then it would require an IP rating of at least 4 – however this is something that should be discussed in greater detail with the electrician who will be installing the unit.

Low Volume vs High Volume

Depending on what kind of facility your unit will be placed in you may also need to consider if volume will be an issue. Places such as schools, offices and restaurants may find low-volume units more desirable in order to avoid causing disruptions. However, the volume will generally impact other aspects of the hand dryers so it is important to prioritise your needs.

Low-volume machines use less air pressure than high-volume machines--this means that they're quieter but also take longer to dry hands because less heat/air is produced by these models compared with higher-pressure models like turbo blowers or turbo fans which produce very hot air blasts from their nozzles. High-volume units generally have motors with more power than lower ones so they can run faster while still maintaining effectiveness over longer periods of time without overheating themselves due to excessive wear & tear caused by constant use over extended periods of time.

Do You Want an Automatic or Manual Option?

Hand dryers can be largely organised into 2 main categories manual or automatic. Choosing between these 2 options largely comes down to a matter of choice but let’s take a look at some of the differences.

Manual hand dryers are usually cheaper and quieter than their automatic counterparts, but they aren't as hygienic because people have to touch them with their bare hands before drying--and this can lead to bacteria spreading from person to person (or even from person to object).

Automatic hand dryers on the other hand obviously have the advantage of being the more hygienic option as you are not required to touch the unit at all. They tend to have improved drying times and a sleeker look overall.

What Is Your Budget?

Now this is probably one of the most important factors to consider – the budget you have set for the hand dryer will determine the features and options that are available to you. If you are on a tight budget, then there may be certain things that are out of reach. For example, if you want a top-of-the-line hand dryer but don't have enough money in your budget for it, then this could be something to consider before making any decisions.

On the other hand, if there is no limit on what kind of hand dryer operation would like for their facility (or business), then there are many more options available to choose from as far as features go.

We hope that this blog has helped you take a step back and think about what kind of hand dryer will work best in your facility. There are so many options available on the market today, but it's important that you do your research before making a purchase. That way, you can ensure that whatever hand dryer you choose will meet all of your needs--and save money at the same time!

Shop our full range of hand dryers here.