8 Key factors for choosing the best hand dryer

I must admit that I am currently facing one of those moments in which all of us, to some degree, have found ourselves at some point in our lives. And that is the decision-making process for the search and acquisition of a new "four-wheeled land motor vehicle, which is driven by means of a steering wheel and is intended for the transport of people". In other words, what we know, in real life, as a car.

I admit, I have been wanting to use this definition taken from the Oxford English Dictionary, since, more often than not, the ads for automotive brands that grab us on television, social networks or on audiovisual platforms like YouTube, seem to overlook the essence of what a car really is: a vehicle that has 4 wheels, is driven with a steering wheel and which serves to transport people. Right? How quick and easy the process of acquiring and buying a car would be if we only paid attention to these factors, don't you think? In reality, however, what happens as you progress along the decision-making process is that everything seems to become increasingly complicated; you realise that you are getting so deep into it that you are becoming a "semi-expert on the subject" (at least you have to project that image), more and more variables materialise that seem to help you, but these unquestionably lengthen the timing in the purchase process.

Do I want a powerful car to take to the mountains or should I be more practical and choose one to drive in the city? A car that consumes very little fuel, a hybrid, or take the leap to electric? A rocket that I enjoy driving myself or one that is more comfortable and pleasant for the passenger and for small folk/pets that usually ride in the back? These are just some a questions that serve to illustrate some dilemmas and doubts (there are many more) that one has in order to acquire this 4-wheeled object with steering wheel that serves to transport people.

If we were to take this approach and bring it all to our sector, the hand dryer sector, we would see that the questions and doubts would certainly be different in terms of concept, but they would actually be the same, at least, in terms of number and quantity.

As in any other purchasing process, there are a number of factors and variables that must be taken into account when purchasing the hand dryers that best suit your needs or those of your customers.

Here at Mediclinics, we will try to give you a hand ;) by listing and describing what, for us, are the 8 key factors for choosing the best hand dryer.

1. SPEED

Continuing with the automotive simile, if what you like is speed, and you are looking for a hand dryer that is going to be placed in a high traffic location (restaurant, hotel, waiting room, airport, train station, service area, etc.), we recommend one that can do it in an average time of approximately 8 to 10 seconds. But beware! Speed not at any price. Please take note of the following point.

Our recommended product: Mediclinics Machflow Plus

2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Due to events that are taking place worldwide, these two words, "Energy Efficiency", are nowadays more fashionable than ever. And just as we said in the previous point, the performance of a hand dryer should not be at the expense of its energy efficiency. We know you are as concerned about this as we are, and that is why we recommend an eco-fast hand dryer with a very low power consumption of between 1.8-4.2 w/h per drying cycle, enabling you to save 80% compared to more traditional hand dryers.

Our recommended product: Mediclinics Speedflow Plus

3. HYGIENE

Another word that has been and is on everyone's lips, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, is "Hygiene". Most users and customers today demand automatic hand dryers that guarantee an excellent level of hygiene and health, hand dryers that are capable of eliminating the actions of viruses and bacteria. Some of these features include a HEPA filter medium, Ion Hygienic technology (ionizers) and a Biocote antibacterial additive.

Our recommended product: Mediclinics Dualflow Plus

4. MAINTENANCE

Energy efficiency is not the only aspect of a hand dryer that will save you money. You also have to take into account (especially if they are hand dryers that are going to be placed in high traffic locations) the maintenance costs that they may incur. It has been demonstrated that an eco-fast hand dryer, besides having an excellent performance and very low electrical consumption, guarantees great savings in maintenance time and costs, since it ensures a clean environment, without pools of water or paper (cleaning times are reduced) and a reduced need for repair and replacement of parts due to its excellent durability and performance over time.

Our recommended product: Mediclinics Dualflow Plus Brushless with drain connection kit or Machflow Plus Brushless with a quick plug-in installation system.

5. DESIGN AND FUNCTIONALITY

Sometimes, whether for your company or for your customers, as well as these 4 components, aesthetics are also important. Thus not only are the hand dryer's excellent functionality and performance important, but it also has to confer an extra degree of aesthetic appeal for your next design project or for the refurbishment of a communal bathroom. If, in addition to amply fulfilling the function of a hand dryer with a modern and elegant design, it is multifunctional, as it also functions as a water tap and an automatic soap dispenser, that essentially gives you everything you need!

Our recommended product: All-in-One hand washing and drying station

6.SPACE AND ACCESSIBILITY

If you have limited space for your next bathroom project or you need to renovate or design an inclusive bathroom space (for the elderly or people with disabilities), you have to take into account the measurements of the hand dryer. All equipment (not only hand dryers) must meet certain requirements regarding space and location in the bathroom. In the case of hand dryers, we recommend that you select a model that can offer you excellent performance and that also complies perfectly with ADA regulations (US). ADA dictates that any wall-mounted object (such as a hand dryer) cannot protrude more than 10 cm from the wall. By doing so, we will contribute to achieving a comfortable and safe bathroom space for all users.

Our recommended product: Mediclinics Speed Flow Plus

7.NOISE

Shhhhhhhh! Can you imagine the noise of a fan motor or a hand dryer at full power inside a library or a theatre? Honestly? This is an aspect to be taken into account if you are going to install hand dryers in places where noise levels and silence are fundamental criteria to be respected. For this purpose, we recommend hand dryers that, with a sound pressure of only 57 decibels, offer good performance and the minimum silence level required for the room.

Our recommended product: Mediclinics Optima

8.DURABILITY AND RESISTANCE

Are you someone who thinks that years ago all electrical machines were made better than they are today because they had greater strength, performance and durability? Do you consider yourself a person with a rather classic and romantic style? Is one of your favourite phrases "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? If you answered yes to all three questions, this is definitely an aspect to consider when choosing your hand dryer. We recommend a hand dryer that is compact, sturdy, reliable, durable and with long-lasting motors that provide powerful airflow.

Our recommended product: Mediclinics Saniflow automatic

Returning to the automotive simile, and to bring this post to a close, whether you are looking for or need to find a Ferrari, an electric car, a van or camper van, an ambulance, a Rolls-Royce, a fantastic car or a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the important thing is that you know how to find the solutions that best suit each of your needs, environments and situations. We hope, here at Mediclinics, to have provided you with a guide and to have helped you for when it comes to choosing your next hand dryer.


Enrique González
Online Marketing Manager
Mediclinics S,A