Industrial Air Mover Rental

About this equipment

Industrial air movers—sometimes called floor or carpet dryers—circulate high volumes of air across wet surfaces to support the drying process after water damage and during restoration work.

Coordinate airflow with moisture control

Air movers are commonly used with a commercial dehumidifier rental. Tell HBS which rooms and materials are affected, how long they have been wet, and what other equipment is operating.

Review the water-damage drying guide before starting a request. HBS can help confirm a practical rental request based on the affected area and job conditions, but equipment availability, quantities, rates, duration, and fulfillment are not final until HBS confirms them directly.

What air movers dry after a Florida leak

The IICRC S500 standard describes the job of an air mover as keeping drier air moving across wet materials, replacing the damp air right at the surface so the water keeps evaporating. Typical jobs:

• Wet carpet and pad after an AC condensate line, water heater or supply line overflows. EPA's water damage table says to extract the water, lower the humidity with a dehumidifier and speed drying with fans, all within 24 to 48 hours.
• The bottom of drywall that wicked up water. EPA says wallboard may be dried in place if it shows no obvious swelling and the seams are intact; if not, it should be removed and replaced.
• Concrete, tile and wood floors, and the subfloor under carpet. EPA lists dehumidifiers and fans for wet concrete and wood surfaces, and notes that the subfloor under carpet or other flooring must dry as well.
• Cabinet bases and wall cavities, with an Injecti-Dry system on a compatible air mover.

Two sizes in the HBS fleet

• Small air movers: 1/2 HP, about 2,200 CFM, two speeds. A good fit for single rooms, carpet, and wall bases.
• Large air movers: 1 HP, 4,000 CFM or more, three speeds. For bigger rooms, open floor plans, and heavier drying jobs.

Use small air movers where space is tight, such as bathrooms, closets, hallways and along wall bases, and large air movers where one unit has to push air across a long open floor. Many jobs use both sizes. Both types can be paired with an Injecti-Dry system when air needs to reach inside walls or cabinets.

How many air movers do I need?

The IICRC's air mover worksheet, based on the S500 standard, gives a starting count for each wet room:

1. One air mover for the room.
2. One more for every 50 to 70 square feet of wet floor. This count also covers the lower 2 feet of the walls.
3. One more for every 100 to 150 square feet of wet wall and ceiling above 2 feet.
4. One more for each wall inset or offset deeper than 18 inches.

Round any fraction up. In a small space under about 25 square feet, such as a pantry, one air mover may be enough. If the water mostly wet the base of the walls and spread less than 2 feet into the room, the worksheet uses a separate rule instead: one air mover for every 14 linear feet of wet wall.

Example: a 12 by 15 foot bedroom with the whole carpet wet and only the wall bases damp has 180 square feet of wet floor. That is one for the room plus three to four for the floor (180 ÷ 70 and 180 ÷ 50, rounded up), so four to five air movers.

A hallway leak that wet 28 feet of wall but reached only a foot into the rooms needs 28 ÷ 14 = 2 air movers along that wall.

Every setup also needs dehumidification. That bedroom with 8-foot ceilings holds 1,440 cubic feet, well within one HBS commercial dehumidifier using the IICRC formula on that page. The dehumidifier and air mover sizing guide covers whole-house setups.

Where to place air movers

• Point the air across the wet surface, not straight at it. Set the outlet close to the base of the wet wall and angle the air along it; the IICRC S500 standard gives a range of about 5 to 45 degrees.
• Space units around the room so the air circulates in one direction instead of the fans fighting each other.
• Move furniture or turn units so nothing blocks the air across the wet area.
• Open closet and cabinet doors in the wet area so air reaches inside.
• For wet carpet, aim the air across the surface; HBS can tell you when the pad or carpet should be pulled instead.
• Always run a commercial dehumidifier in the same space to remove the moisture the fans release.
• Leave the units on day and night. The S500 standard calls for continuous airflow across all wet surfaces.
• Keep cords out of walkways and plug units into more than one circuit.

Electrical safety with several air movers

• Use outlets protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in wet areas. OSHA's flood cleanup fact sheet says GFCIs must be used in all wet locations, and portable GFCIs are sold at hardware stores.
• Use only undamaged cords, marked for wet locations where the floor is wet, and keep every connection out of the water (OSHA).
• Do not plug two extension cords together, a warning from the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), and check a cord's rating tag before you load it, as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises.
• Spread the units across more than one household circuit. ESFI lists flickering or dimming lights, warm outlets and a burning smell as warning signs; unplug and move units if you notice them. HBS tells you the power needs of the units you rent.
• If outlets or wiring got wet, 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, stay out and call an electrician, as the CDC advises.
• Have a qualified electrician inspect the system before the power goes back on and before you plug anything in (OSHA).

When not to turn the fans on

Air movers spread whatever is in the water and on the wet surfaces. EPA's water damage guidance says not to use fans until you have determined the water is clean. Do not start air movers when:

• The water came from sewage, a toilet backflow, or outside floodwater or storm surge. The IICRC S500 standard calls sewage Category 3 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 see mold or smell it. When growth covers more than about 10 square feet, EPA points homeowners to its professional remediation guidance.
• Materials have been wet for more than 48 hours, which EPA's table moves to its mold guidelines.
• A ceiling or floor is sagging, which FEMA lists as possible structural damage, or wiring has been under water.

In those cases, call 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.

When to turn the air movers off

Keep them running until the wet materials read the same as matching material in a room the water never reached. The S500 standard calls that reference the dry standard. Check the same marked spots each day with a moisture meter.

Carpet that feels dry on top is not the finish line; the pad and the subfloor under it have to dry too. EPA's flood cleanup guidance notes that drying out a flooded house usually takes several days to weeks.

Equipment that runs with air movers

• Commercial LGR dehumidifier: removes the water the air movers evaporate.
• Injecti-Dry Direct-It IN: sends air into wall cavities and under cabinets.
• Moisture meter and hygrometer: the daily readings that tell you when to stop.
• FLIR E6 Pro thermal camera: points to suspect wet areas to confirm with the moisture meter before you place units.

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 an air mover rental in Stuart or Port St. Lucie, say how many rooms are wet so HBS can confirm the mix of small and large units.

Common questions

Is a drying fan the same as an event cooling fan?

This page covers restoration air movers used to move air across wet building materials. A fan requested for a tent, event or outdoor cooling job has different requirements. Tell HBS how and where it will be used so the team can confirm whether its equipment fits.

How many air movers do I need?

One per wet room, plus one per 50 to 70 square feet of wet floor, one per 100 to 150 square feet of wet wall above 2 feet and wet ceiling, and one per inset or offset over 18 inches; round up. If only the lower walls got wet, use one per 14 linear feet of wet wall instead, never both. See the sizing guide.

Do air movers need a dehumidifier?

Yes, in most cases. Air movers speed up evaporation, which puts more moisture into the air. A dehumidifier removes that moisture so it does not soak back into walls, floors, or furniture.

Can I plug several air movers into one outlet?

Spread the units across more than one household circuit so you do not trip breakers. HBS will tell you the power needs of the units you rent.

Should I rent small or large air movers?

Small air movers (1/2 HP, about 2,200 CFM) fit bathrooms, closets, hallways and wall bases. Large air movers (1 HP, 4,000+ CFM) fit larger rooms and open floor plans. Many jobs use both sizes.

Can I use air movers after a toilet overflow or flood?

No. Under the IICRC S500 standard, a toilet overflow without feces is Category 2 water, and sewage, a toilet backflow or outside floodwater is Category 3. EPA says not to use fans before you have determined the water is clean or sanitary. Rentals are for clean-water (Category 1) leaks only, so call an appropriate experienced professional for contaminated water.

Should air movers run overnight?

Yes. The IICRC S500 standard calls for continuous airflow across all wet surfaces, so leave them running day and night until moisture readings match a dry reference.