Water Damage Drying Equipment Rentals

Commercial equipment for an active drying project

Water-damage drying commonly requires controlled dehumidification and steady air movement. HBS rents commercial dehumidifiers, industrial air movers, and moisture meters and hygrometers for Treasure Coast properties and jobsites.

Timing matters. The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, so the goal is to stop the water, get standing water out and start the equipment as soon as the area is safe.

A dehumidifier pulls water vapor out of the air, air movers speed evaporation from wet surfaces, and a moisture meter tells you when the materials are actually dry.

Information that helps HBS confirm a setup

• The exact project address and affected rooms
• Wet materials such as flooring, walls, carpet, or contents
• When the water event occurred and whether the source has stopped
• Equipment already operating at the property
• Your requested start date and rental period

Rental equipment does not replace inspection, water extraction, remediation, or professional advice. Rentals are for clean-water leaks only: if the water is contaminated, call an appropriate experienced professional instead. If the source is still active or the area is unsafe, stop the water and make the area safe before operating equipment.

A typical setup for one or two wet rooms

Every job is different, but a clean-water leak that soaked one or two rooms often starts with:

• One or two commercial LGR dehumidifiers with a pump and drain hose, sized from the rooms' cubic feet.
• Several air movers, counted with the IICRC worksheet: 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 deeper than 18 inches, such as a closet.
• An Injecti-Dry system if water got inside walls or under cabinets.
• A moisture meter and hygrometer to know when you are done.

For example, a 12 × 14 foot bedroom with wet carpet and a closet comes to 5 or 6 air movers. Larger areas, several floors, or commercial spaces need more units.

When the water only wet the lower walls and spread less than 2 feet into the room, the worksheet counts one air mover per 14 linear feet of wet wall instead; use one method or the other in a room, not both.

Small air movers (1/2 HP, about 2,200 CFM) suit single rooms, carpet and wall bases; large air movers (1 HP, 4,000+ CFM) suit open floor plans and heavier jobs. The guide to how many dehumidifiers and air movers you need walks through the count. Describe what got wet and HBS will size the setup with you.

Plan the power before the equipment arrives. Spread the units across more than one circuit, keep cords out of walkways and away from water, and do not run extension cords under rugs or overload them, as the CPSC warns. If a breaker keeps tripping, unplug the units and call HBS rather than resetting it again and again.

What to do in the first hours after a leak

1. Stop the water at the fixture or the main shutoff.
2. If water reached outlets, cords or appliances, 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.
3. Take photos and video for your records and your insurance company, before and after any emergency repairs, and keep the receipts.
4. Remove standing water with a wet-dry vacuum and move furniture, rugs, and belongings out of the wet area. Open cabinet and closet doors so air reaches the wet surfaces.
5. Start drying: dehumidifier first, air movers angled across the wet floor and wall bases, windows closed.
6. Read the wet materials each day until they match a dry area of the same material.

Homeowners can follow the same steps in more detail, including what not to do, on the homeowner equipment rentals page.

Common questions

What equipment do I need after a water leak?

Most clean-water leaks need a commercial LGR dehumidifier, air movers for the wet walls and floors, and a moisture meter to track progress. Wet wall cavities or cabinets may also need an Injecti-Dry system.

How soon should drying start?

As soon as the leak is stopped and standing water is removed. Starting within the first day or two gives the best chance of saving drywall, cabinets, and flooring. If materials stayed wet for more than 48 hours, have the area checked by an appropriate experienced professional before running fans; mold can start growing by then, and clean water that sits for days can degrade.

When should I call a professional instead of renting?

Call an appropriate experienced professional for sewage or a toilet overflow or backflow, outside floodwater or storm surge, washing machine or dishwasher water, mold growth, sagging ceilings or other structural damage, and electrical hazards. Rentals are for clean-water leaks once the area is safe; HBS also offers separately scoped water-only drying at (772) 677-1735. Compare the options in rent drying equipment or hire a dry-out.

How do I know the drying is finished?

Take a moisture reading on the same material in a room that never got wet, then read the wet spots each day. Keep the equipment running until they match that dry reference; a surface can feel dry before the material inside is.

Can I run air movers if I see mold?

No. If you see mold growing in the area, do not run air movers there: FEMA and CDC mold cleanup guidance says not to use fans once mold has started to grow, because they may spread it. Call an appropriate experienced professional; EPA recommends professional help for mold covering more than about 10 square feet.

Independent safety guidance

For homeowner-focused moisture and mold information, review the EPA guide to mold and moisture and the CDC mold guidance. If standing water or electrical hazards are present, do not enter or place powered equipment in the affected area until it is safe.

For questions about a property insurance claim, the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Consumer Services publishes consumer guides and runs an insurance consumer helpline.

Dry-out rental planning in Martin County

Include the exact address and the rooms or floors affected when you request equipment for a Martin County property. Use the local service guides to check location coverage. For a condo or managed building, include gate access, loading restrictions, stairs or elevator arrangements, and any requirements from the property manager.

Have the site conditions ready

• Describe the water source, when it was stopped and whether standing water remains.
• Identify wet materials and any wall, ceiling or cabinet cavities that may need investigation.
• Explain the available power and a permitted drain-hose destination.
• Say who will operate the equipment, check moisture readings and arrange its return.

The example quantities above are a starting point for discussion, not a property-specific drying plan. HBS confirms the equipment for the conditions you describe. A rental does not by itself include a site assessment, daily monitoring, an insurance report or a clearance certificate; discuss any managed work separately.

When the water source changes the next step

Rentals and HBS's water-only drying are for clean-water (Category 1) leaks only. The EPA cleanup guidance recommends an experienced professional for contaminated-water cleanup. Do not use rental equipment, and call an appropriate experienced professional instead, for:

• Sewage or a toilet backflow.
• Outside floodwater or storm surge.
• Washing machine or dishwasher water.
• Mold growth. If you see mold growing in the area, do not run air movers there: the FEMA and CDC mold cleanup guide warns that fans may spread it, and the EPA recommends professional help for mold covering more than about 10 square feet.
• A sagging ceiling or other structural damage.
• An electrical hazard, such as wet outlets, wiring or a wet electrical panel.

After a storm, use the official Martin County recovery page for local information.

You can request a drying setup or call (772) 677-1735. Include the project description and requested dates. HBS confirms availability, price and pickup or delivery before the rental is reserved. For a South Florida address outside the established service area, confirm fulfillment with HBS first.