Types of Hand Dryers for Bathrooms

How to Choose the Best Hand Dryer

Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Hand Dryer

• Sanitation: Each hand dryer is different in its style and construction. Automatic hand dryers offer a hands-free solution, whereas push hand dryers require the user to touch the unit for operation.

• Efficiency: High-speed, automatic hand dryers use an infrared sensor, only turning on when a person's hands are within range and running for an average of 15 seconds. Traditional hand dryers must be manually turned on and run for an average of 30 seconds. They continue to run within this time frame, even if the user has walked away.

• Power: Hand dryers are designed with both high and low power. High-power hand dryers push air at a greater speed, using more energy yet reducing the overall dry time. Low-powered hand dryers release air out at a slower speed, so users can take more time to dry their hands if needed. The main trade-off between power and speed is how environmentally-friendly the hand dryer is.

• Maintenance: Hand dryers require weekly, quarterly, and yearly maintenance for peak performance. The exterior of the unit should be wiped down once per day with a damp cloth to prevent the buildup of debris within the air holes. Depending on if the usage is light or heavy, routine maintenance on the interior of the hand dryer should be performed every 4 or 12 months by a qualified professional to ensure the hand dryer meets the proper standards of care. If your unit uses a HEPA filter, the filter should be replaced every 6 to 12 months.

• Cost: Every additional feature, such as heat supply, filters, mounting kits, and other hand dryer parts and accessories influences the cost of the hand dryer, which means they can run anywhere between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

• Noise: The decibel level is largely dependent on the speed of the hand dryer. Typically, the higher the power, the louder the sound, although different hand dryer brands allow the noise level to be adjusted, such as with Excel's decibel nozzle. It's important to consider the environment surrounding the placement of your hand dryer to determine which hand dryer will suit your business's needs.

• ADA Compliance: All hand dryers must comply with ADA standards. In order to meet these qualifications, a hand dryer must not be placed higher than 4' from the floor, and if it's wall-mounted, must be recessed using a recess kit or not have a depth greater than 4". Traditional push hand dryers must be operable using only one hand and with a force no greater than 5 lb. Hand dryers must also be easy to visually locate.

Types of Hand Dryers

• Push Button: This type of hand dryer is operated through manual force. The hand dryer turns on when the button on the front is pushed and it runs for a predetermined amount of time.

• Automatic: An automatic hand dryer is touch-free. It turns on when hands are recognized by the infrared sensor and turns off once hands are moved away.

Mounting Types

The option is available to have a recess- or surface-mounted hand dryer, depending on the flow of your bathroom.

Versatile Styles

Push button and automatic hand dryers come in 3 different styles as well.

Are Hand Dryers Sanitary?

Bacteria of Hand Dryers vs. Paper Towels

There are many sides to the hand dryer vs. paper towel debate. Paper towels are quiet yet wasteful, while hand dryers are louder yet produce zero waste. Hand dryers have a longer lifespan than paper towels, which must be frequently replenished. Here's a more in-depth breakdown: