You’ve had a flood. You’ve sucked as much moisture from the carpet as you can with your extraction machine and wand. You've treated the carpet with a decontamination treatment. You’ve turned the air conditioner on and now it’s time to speed the drying up with an air mover or carpet blower. Sounds like a no-brainer. You want to dry the carpet fast before the stink sets in. What more could there be to think about except plugging it in and turning it on? Well, there are 10 things actually.
Over the years there have been many accidents and fires due to the misuse of air movers. And many carpets haven’t been dried fast enough. That means the stink and bacteria start to take over. Not healthy at all! You might be thinking that could never happen to you but it happens more regularly than you might think.
To make sure that your drying job is finished safely and effectively without any further insurance claims here are 10 rules you might want to take note of when using this type of electrical equipment.
1. Never leave a carpet blower unattended.
Never leave carpet blowers or dryers unattended or running overnight. For even drying move the fan every hour or two for even drying.
2. Position the air mover for maximum drying effect.
Ensure the fan is blowing the air across the floor not up into the air. This will speed up drying.
3. Current test and tag
Your carpet blower needs to have a current test and tag fitted by a qualified person. This is your responsibility and in most states and facilities in Australia, this must be done.
4. Service your air mover regularly
Get your air mover serviced regularly. It’s a good idea because it gives you peace of mind and protects you from potential problems. Proper maintenance stops problems from happening, avoids breakdowns and reduces safety risks.
5. Use a dehumidifier if necessary
When a carpet blower is not working fast enough, use a dehumidifier too. If there is no dehumidifier available turn the air conditioner on for improved drying. You have to give the moist air a way of escape from the space being dried so think about ventilation as well. A space that is closed in with no ventilation and a blower turned on just won’t ever dry out in a reasonable time frame.
6. No extension leads please
No extension leads should be used with carpet blowers unless approved by an electrician. Check your leads regularly for damage.
7. Make sure your air mover can breath
Your blower should be positioned so that air can easily flow into the machine without obstruction. Keep the blower away from curtains and ensure no fluff or other obstruction is sucked against the intake areas. Any blockage of the intake areas can cause overheating and a meltdown. Some professional carpet cleaners have not done this in the past which in some instances has caused houses and units to suffer significant fire damage.
8. Watch those intake areas
Clean the intake area regularly. That’s the area where the air gets sucked into the machine.
9. When buying used carpet blowers, buyer beware
Be sure that the 2nd hand blower you are buying complies with the Australian Standards. The Australian Standards can change too so look into it before you buy a used blower.
10. Hire out your air movers and earn extra money
A busy carpet blower can make you a lot of money. Many contractors charge up to $50 a day to hire a single blower out to their clients. This depends on the quality of the blower of course. The quality of your blower will also determine how long it lasts in heavy-use applications. Most reasonable quality blowers will have an effective working life of about 1 year up to 5 years. Don’t push your luck too far with old air movers because when there’s a flood job on it’s usually an emergency and you can’t afford to have equipment problems during those times.
A carpet blower or air mover is a brilliant addition to any carpet cleaning equipment kit. It will serve you well and pay you back more times than you can count over its lifetime. Use it properly and it will be your friend. Use it wrong and it can be a nightmare.
For more information and assistance with any of your carpet cleaning questions please get in touch.
All the best.
David Blamire, CEO at XO2
David is one of Australia's leading cleaning industry innovators. He's spent his entire working life solving cleaning challenges others thought were impossible. He's best known for his product creation and development skills along with a deep knowledge of business operations and all things ERP. In his spare time, David's a keen fisherman and adventurer. And he doesn't mind if you call him Davo.
Get in touch with David at www.xo2.com.au. He works from XO2's national headquarters and manufacturing centre in Queensland, Australia.
Related articles:
- Carpet Drying And Clean Up With The Express Method
- How To Do Flood Clean Ups (Including Mould Removal & Surface Decontamination)
- 3 Crucial Clean Up Steps That Need To Be Done After A Flood Disaster
- How To Kill Mould & Stop It Coming Back (Like A Professional)