Commercial Dehumidifier Rental

About this equipment

A commercial dehumidifier removes moisture from the air to support structural drying and humidity control after leaks, water damage, or other high-moisture conditions.

When to request commercial dehumidification

This equipment category may support projects involving wet building materials, elevated indoor humidity, or a drying plan already established for the property. A dehumidifier is commonly coordinated with industrial air movers and tracked with moisture meters or hygrometers.

What a commercial-grade dehumidifier dries in Florida homes

These are common jobs where a household dehumidifier is too small and a rental LGR unit fits:

• Air conditioner condensate overflows. A clogged condensate line or drip pan can soak the ceiling, the closet floor or the carpet around the air handler. UF/IFAS Extension and EPA both list clean, free-flowing condensate drains as basic moisture control, and EPA notes a neglected drain pan can harbor mold and bacteria, so check for growth first.
• Supply-line, water heater and sink leaks. Water that is clean at its source, such as a broken water line or a sink or tub overflow with no contaminants, is what the IICRC S500 standard calls Category 1 water.
• Roof and window leaks during storms. A 2026 IICRC position statement says rain that comes in from above, including wind-driven rain, is not automatically Category 3 water. The S500 standard judges water by its source and by its condition after it touches building materials, so get it assessed if you are unsure what the water ran through.
• Wet carpet and pad. EPA's water damage table says to dry carpet and backing within 24 to 48 hours: extract the water, lower the humidity with a dehumidifier and speed up drying with fans. The subfloor under it has to dry too.
• A damp house after a power outage. Without power, nothing has been pulling moisture out of the air. UF/IFAS Extension notes that humidity is typically higher after a hurricane and that Florida nights can reach 80 to 100 percent humidity.

The HBS rental dehumidifiers

HBS rents commercial low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers with a built-in condensate pump.

The units are rated to remove up to 180 pints of water per day at saturation and 85 pints per day at AHAM test conditions. LGR units keep pulling water out of the air as a room gets drier, which is why restoration crews use them instead of the small dehumidifiers sold for basements.

Those two ratings measure different things. The AHAM rating is the water removed in 24 hours at 80°F and 60 percent relative humidity, the standard test condition the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers set in 1992.

The saturation rating is taken at 90°F and 90 percent, the most a unit can pull in very wet air. Dri-Eaz maker Legend Brands explains that the AHAM figure is the one used to size a job, so plan with 85 pints a day per HBS unit.

How to size a dehumidifier for water damage

The IICRC, which publishes the ANSI/IICRC S500 standard for water damage restoration, gives a starting formula for refrigerant and LGR dehumidifiers in its initial dehumidification worksheet.

Divide the cubic feet of the drying area by the chart factor for the class of water to get the pints per day you need. Divide that by the unit's AHAM rating to get the number of dehumidifiers.

The S500 classes describe how much of the room got wet and how much water the materials soaked up. The LGR chart factors are:

• Class 1: under about 5% of the combined floor, wall and ceiling area is wet, and the wet materials are mostly low-porosity, with little or no wet carpet or drywall. Factor 100.
• Class 2: about 5% to 40% of that area is wet, for example a room of wet carpet and pad with water wicked up the base of the walls. Factor 50.
• Class 3: more than about 40% of that area is wet, often water from above soaking the ceiling, walls and floor. Factor 40.
• Class 4: water held deep in low-evaporation materials such as hardwood, plaster, concrete or stone. Factor 40.

Example: a 20 by 25 foot living room with 8-foot ceilings is 4,000 cubic feet.

• Wet carpet and wet drywall along the base of the walls (Class 2): 4,000 ÷ 50 = 80 pints a day, which one HBS unit rated at 85 pints AHAM covers.
• If the room opens onto a wet kitchen of the same size: 8,000 cubic feet needs 160 pints a day, or two units.
• If the water also soaked the ceiling and upper walls (Class 3): 4,000 ÷ 40 = 100 pints a day for the one room, so plan on two units.

The IICRC calls this an initial recommendation. Daily moisture readings show whether to add or remove equipment. The dehumidifier and air mover sizing guide works through larger setups, and HBS can check your numbers when you send a request.

How to set up a rental dehumidifier

• Stop the leak and remove standing water first. A dehumidifier dries damp materials; it is not built to pump out a flooded floor.
• Place the unit in the middle of the wet area, with space around the intake and exhaust.
• Run the drain hose to a sink, tub, floor drain, or outside so the pump can empty it continuously.
• Close windows and exterior doors. EPA notes that warm, very humid outside air slows drying, and in Florida the outside air usually holds more moisture than the room you are drying.
• Open cabinet doors and pull out drawers near the wet area so hidden surfaces can dry, as EPA's flood guidance suggests.
• Run the air conditioning only if water did not reach the air handler or ducts. EPA advises against using an HVAC system the water affected, and notes that most systems cannot dry a very humid house on their own.
• Aim air movers along the wet walls and floors, and keep everything running around the clock.
• Check the room each day with a moisture meter and hygrometer until the wet materials read the same as a dry area.

Electrical safety around water

These precautions come from the CDC, OSHA's flood cleanup fact sheet, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).

• If outlets, wiring or the electrical panel got wet, or you smell burning insulation or see sparks, turn off power at the main breaker only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot without touching anything wet.
• If the panel is wet or you would have to stand in water to reach it, stay out and call an electrician, as the CDC advises. Have a qualified electrician inspect the system before the power goes back on (OSHA).
• Use outlets protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in wet areas. OSHA's cleanup guidance says GFCIs must be used in all wet locations, and portable GFCIs are sold at hardware stores.
• Plug the dehumidifier directly into a wall outlet. ESFI advises plugging major appliances straight into a wall receptacle and never plugging two extension cords together.
• If a cord is unavoidable, check its rating tag before you use it. CPSC says extension cords should be at least 16 AWG and used only temporarily, and OSHA says cords used in wet areas must be undamaged and marked for wet locations.
• Keep every plug and cord connection off the wet floor and out of standing water (OSHA).
• Where you can, put the dehumidifier on a different circuit from the air movers. HBS tells you the power needs of the units you rent.

How to tell when the drying is done

Dry is a measurement, not a feeling. A surface can feel dry while the drywall core, the carpet pad or the subfloor is still wet.

The IICRC S500 standard works from a dry standard: a reasonable approximation of the material's moisture before the water got in, usually measured on the same kind of material in an area the water never reached.

Take that reading first, then read the same marked spots in the wet area at the same time each day. Drying is done when the wet spots match the dry standard.

EPA's flood cleanup guidance adds two checks: materials should read 15 percent or less on a moisture meter before refinishing, and nothing that got wet should be painted or sealed until it is dry on the inside.

How long that takes depends on the materials. EPA says to dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and its flood cleanup guidance notes that drying out a flooded house usually takes several days to weeks. Rent for the time the readings need rather than turning the unit off when the room feels dry; the rental rates cover 24-hour, weekly and four-week periods.

Once the job is finished, EPA recommends keeping indoor relative humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent.

When to stop and call a professional

A rental dehumidifier is for drying clean water. Stop and bring in an appropriate experienced professional if any of these apply:

• The water came from sewage, a toilet backflow, or outside floodwater or storm surge. The IICRC S500 standard classes sewage as Category 3, grossly contaminated water, and the CDC warns that floodwater may contain sewage.
• The water came from a washing machine or dishwasher overflow, which the S500 standard places in Category 2.
• You can see or smell mold. Do not run fans or dehumidifiers there; EPA recommends professional help for mold covering more than about 10 square feet.
• Materials have been wet for more than 48 hours, the point at which EPA's water damage table sends you to its mold guidelines.
• A ceiling or floor is sagging, which FEMA lists as a sign of dangerous structural damage, or wiring has been under water.

Contaminated water, mold growth, structural or electrical hazards go to an appropriate experienced professional. HBS does not offer mold remediation or contaminated-water cleanup, and neither a rental nor HBS's water-only drying includes restoration or repairs. For a clean-water leak, ask HBS about its separately scoped water-only drying at (772) 677-1735.

Equipment that works with the dehumidifier

• Air movers push air across wet carpet, floors and wall bases so the water evaporates; the dehumidifier then removes it from the air.
• The Injecti-Dry Direct-It IN system sends air into wet wall cavities and under cabinets through small holes.
• Moisture meters and hygrometers give you the daily readings that show when to stop.
• The FLIR E6 Pro thermal camera points to suspect wet areas, which you confirm with a moisture meter before you place equipment.
• A HEPA air scrubber filters dust if wet drywall or flooring has to be cut out. It does not remove water vapor.

Not sure whether to rent or hire? Compare the two in rent drying equipment or hire a dry-out.

What HBS needs to confirm the rental

Share the affected rooms, wet materials, project address, timing, and any equipment already operating. HBS will confirm the equipment, quantity, availability, rates, rental period, and delivery or pickup details.

For a broader project checklist, review the water-damage drying equipment guide. Rental equipment does not replace inspection, extraction, remediation, or professional advice for unsafe or contaminated water conditions.

Rental rates

Rates are per unit, before tax. Every unit is cleaned and decontaminated after each rental, and delivery and pickup at your property are available. Your written quote itemizes the rate, tax, any deposit, filters or accessories, and any delivery charge before you agree, so there are no hidden fees, and nothing is charged online.

Renting in Stuart and nearby towns

HBS Equipment Rentals is based in Stuart and serves Martin and St. Lucie County, including Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, and Port Salerno.

Pickup or delivery is confirmed for each job address. For a dehumidifier rental near Port St. Lucie, Stuart or Palm City, include the wet rooms and the job address in your request.

Common questions

What size dehumidifier do I need for water damage?

Divide the cubic feet by 50 for a typical Class 2 loss (40 for Class 3 or 4) to get AHAM pints a day, then divide by 85 per HBS commercial LGR dehumidifier and round up. One unit covers about 4,250 cubic feet at Class 2. See the sizing guide; HBS can check your numbers.

Does the rental dehumidifier need to be emptied?

No. The HBS commercial LGR units have a built-in pump, so a drain hose can run to a sink, tub, floor drain, or outside instead of a bucket you have to empty.

Should I keep windows open while the dehumidifier runs?

No. Keep windows and exterior doors closed so the dehumidifier is drying the affected area instead of the humid Florida air outside.

How much does a commercial dehumidifier rental cost?

$70 for 24 hours, $305 for one week, or $925 for four weeks per dehumidifier, before tax. Your written quote lists the units, dates, tax and any delivery charge before anything is reserved, and nothing is charged online.

What do the 85-pint and 180-pint ratings mean?

85 pints a day is the water the HBS LGR unit removes in 24 hours at the AHAM test condition, 80°F and 60 percent humidity. 180 pints is its rating at saturation, 90°F and 90 percent. Size a job with the AHAM number; the sizing guide shows how.

How long should a rental dehumidifier run after a leak?

Around the clock until moisture readings in the wet materials match the same material in a dry area. EPA says to dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, and notes that drying out a flooded house usually takes several days to weeks. A moisture meter tells you when to stop.

Can I run the air conditioning while the dehumidifier runs?

Yes, if the water did not reach the air handler or ducts. EPA advises against using an HVAC system the water affected, and notes that most systems cannot dry a very humid house on their own, so keep the dehumidifier running too.

Do I need a GFCI outlet for the dehumidifier?

In a wet area, yes. OSHA's flood cleanup guidance says GFCIs must be used in all wet locations. Plug the unit straight into the wall, keep cord connections off the wet floor, and ask HBS for the power needs of the units you rent.