Joe,

   We have had a Bobrick B-7007  (115V) hand dryer in our bathrooms since we opened in 1998.  I think we're overdue for a change. :)

   We are looking at replacing them with the new Dyson HU02 ("V") hand dryer.

    As this is a faster, more powerful dryer, will we need to install new circuits?

Thanks for your help,

    Barry in Boston.

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Hello, Barry!

     Firstly, let me congratulate you on both the longevity of your current hand dryer (you must have taken very good care of it) as well as your choice of a new hand dryer.  

     The HU02 (the newest version of the Dyson "V" which replaces the AB12) is very fast as well as quieter than it's predecessor.   

     Interestingly, even though the Airblade V will dry your hands in about a third of the time, it actually uses less than half of the power.  The Bobrick B-7007 is rated at 2300 Watts (or 20 Amps at 115V).  The HU02 is rated at 1000 Watts (or about 9 Amps at 115V).  

     Bobrick's guidelines would specify a 20 or 25 Amp circuit for the dryer you have.  If that is how you installed them, you should be able to run two Dyson HU02 dryers on each circuit with no trouble. 

     Here's a link to the Dyson Airblade HU02 Specifications

Good Luck and let us know how your new dryers work out.  I'm sure they will be a revelation for you.

   Joe Handdryer

Hello, Joe. 

My name is Robin and I am a freshman in college attending Jamestown University. I am writing a research paper on hand dryers and this is my thesis: Although the 'Green Generation' really appreciates the eco-friendly alternative to hand dryers, they should become aware that they greatly affect your hygiene. I realize that you are an expert on hand dryers and was wondering if you could give me any information on this topic.

Thank you!

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Hi, Robin!

WeIl, this is a hot topic for sure!

Independent studies show that hand dryers and paper towels are about the same when it comes to hygiene.  

Studies funded by industries tend to show that their industry is better.  The paper towel industry has done a really good job painting hand dryers as un-hygienic.  

Here are some resources and some of hand dryer manufacturers’ rebuttals that will help you decide for yourself. 

At this link, http://www.restroomdirect.com/news.aspx,  I would first read this article:

On Hand Dryer vs paper Towel Studies, the Media, and Thinking for Yourself

December 1, 2014

You will see this link at the bottom of the article and it has a lot of resources on it.:

http://www.restroomdirect.com/hand-dryers-vs-paper-towels-hygiene-studies.aspx

On that page you will find a little video done by Dyson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKxT1k1cmXc

Excel Dryer references some  hygiene studies which you can see here:

http://www.restroomdirect.com/resources-excel-dryer.aspx

Best of luck with your paper.

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Help!

    My hand dryer is totally not working!  What can I do now?

Yours,

     Perplexed in Poughkeepsie

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Hello, Perplexed.
  

      The first thing to do is to make sure you have power going to the unit.  Check the circuit breaker, etc.  If you have a multi-meter, you can test power at the terminals as well.

       Once you have verified that you do have power, then the next most likely problem (if this is an automatic – sensor-activated dryer)  may be that either the sensor and/or the circuit board that controls the dryer have failed and will need to be replaced. 

       Some dryers have a separate sensor and circuit board, and some have a combined, single assembly which contains both.  

If yours has separate parts (connected with a cable), then if you have more than one of the same type of hand dryer, you can try swapping the sensor only from the working unit into the non-working one and see if that solves the problem.  If not, then it's likely the circuit board.

NOTE: To open the cover you may need a tamper proof security wrench (which would have come with the dryer).  If yours is lost, Restroom Direct offers these for sale for many hand dryer manufacturers and models (see the link below).

      If the sensor does seem to be activating (you may see a light go on inside the unit or hear a click when you put your hand under it) then it may be that the blower motor itself is faulty.

      In order to affect any repairs, you will need to know the model and serial number of the dryer, which you can usually find on a sticker underneath the dryer or inside of the dryer. 

     Once you have the information above you can contact either the manufacturer or the company that sold you the dryer In order to inquire about service.  

     Hand dryers have between a 1 and 10 year warranty, so your dryer may be under warranty.  In that case the manufacturer may send you parts to replace the faulty ones, or a new unit if the item is brand new.  Dyson provides on-the-wall service in the first year only.   

     If the unit is not under warranty, then you can purchase parts, most of which are sold at http://www.restroomdirect.com/hand-dryer-replacement-parts.aspx.   You may also need to hire an electrician to trouble shoot for you, decide what parts you need and then install them. 

     If you purchased a knock-off hand dryer (there are a number of them on the market), think of it as buying a Rolex watch for $30 on the street.  You will probably not be able to get parts or service and you will just need to purchase a new one.

     Good Luck!

     Joe

World Dryer Model Number XA5-974AU

We are looking for Model #XA5-974 for a project. Under the item specifics, you list the model number as #XA5-974AU. Is this the same hand dryer (not sure what the AU is after the number)? Thanks for you time. E.J.

EJ:

Yes.  The XA5-974 is the same as the XA5-974AU. We normally leave off the AU, but that is actually the complete model number.  

Here's the full story:  

The X means it is an automatic hand dryer.  Without the X it is push button.  

The A means it is a World Dryer Model A hand dryer.  If there were a D before the A, it would mean it is a steel cover, but since there is no D, it is a standard cast iron hand dryer. 

The 5 means it is a fixed nozzle.  Without the 5 it is a swivel nozzle.  Most of the World Dryer hand dryers now come with the 5 because they come with Universal nozzles.  A Universal nozzle comes in the fixed position but all you have to do is remove a screw, and the nozzle will swivel.  More on that in a second!  

The number 974 is the color.  White.  The other common number is 973 which is stainless. 

That is normally the end of the model number.  The A actually means this hand dryer is for sale.  Without the A, it is technically a demo.  (But again, it's not usually necessary to add it.)  
The U means that the nozzle on this hand dryer is a Universal nozzle - it has the ability to be fixed or to swivel.

Restroom Direct has a full write-up on the traditional World Dryer model numbers  

-HDE

My Hand Dryer Didn't Come With a Plug

Why didn't my hand dryer come with a plug?  I had to go to a hardware store to buy a plug for my hand dryer.

-No Air in Noank
_______________________________________________


Dear Nan,

Like wall mounted light fixtures almost all hand dryers do not come with a cord and plug for plugging into the wall.  Hand dryer are intended to be hard-wired.  They are designed that way for safety reasons. They also look better hard-wired and there is less opportunity to be vandalized.  

Many people do, in fact, add plugs to hand dryers, and they tend to work just fine.  (The hand dryers, that is.  I don't know most of the people.)    However, this is best with hand dryers that are less than 1500 watts and 15 AMPS.  Make sure you purchase a plug that is the appropriate gauge for your hand dryer.  (And, while this is not difficult to do, yes, you should have a qualified technician do this sort of work.)  

In the US, there are two hand dryers that we know of that come pre-installed with a cord and plug.  They are both manufactured by World Dryer Corporation.  The Nova 1 model 0833 and the World Dryer VMax.  (Although I heard rumors that the VMax will also be hard-wired in the future, so double check.)  

You can also find distributors who will add a cord and plug for you.  But note that adding a cord and plug to a product that isn't intended to have one could void the warranty and more importantly the safety certification that comes with the product.

Final note:  Hand dryers with cord and plug are much more common in Australia and some parts of Asia and Europe.  Often they come with a switch so they can be turned off on the spot.  This makes it easier to service, rather than having to turn the breaker off.  

-HDE

My Dyson dryer stopped working!

Hello, Experts.

I really need your help.   I have a Dyson hand dryer and nothing happens when I put my hands in!

"Wet and Worried in Washington"

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Hi, Wet!

To give you advice, I'll first need some more information.

Can you tell me what model of Dyson you have and how old it is?  

Next, have you checked the electrical connection to be sure that the dryer is receiving power (all connections are secure, the circuit is not tripped, and that the power is actually reaching the dryer)?

Also:  Have you tried turning the breaker off, waiting 5 minutes, and turning it back on? A lot of times this will "reset" the circuit board (kind of like turning your computer on and off) and normal operation will be restored.

When you say "nothing happens" do you hear anything at all (a clicking noise or a sound like the motor is trying to turn on)?

Hand Dryer Expert

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Thank you for your reply!

     My dryer is a Dyson Airblade AB14.  Nothing at all happens when you put your hands in.  No lights, no clicking,... nothing.  I checked the circuit breaker in the panel and it's on.  And when I plug in a lamp into an outlet that's on the same circuit, it works.  I also tried what you said about flipping it off and then back on.  Still nothing!

"Worried"

---

Well, from your description, it sounds like it's either the sensors (this model has two emitters and two receivers) or the master circuit board. The good news is that Dyson has a 5-year warranty on all of their hand dryers.  In addition, if your dryer is less than a year old, then they will actually send someone to your location to fix the problem on site (or set you up with a new dryer if they cannot).

If it is older than that, but still under warranty, then it's been our experience that they will send you a universal parts kit. In this case, you would be responsible for affecting the repairs and returning the faulty and unused parts back to them.

If it is the sensor, those are pretty hard to replace and they may just send you a whole new unit.   If it is the circuit board or motor, then it's relatively straight forward to swap out those modules.  You will need basic tools (screw drivers, wire cutter, needle nose pliers) and also, the "L-shaped" security wrench that came with your dryer.  If you don't have one, you can order it here: Dyson Security Wrench.

As a general rule, we recommend that you have a qualified electrician do the repair.  If you do decide to attempt it, allow at least an hour to complete it so that you can take your time.  If this is your first experience repairing a hand dryer, it's a good idea to take a picture at every step so that you have a record of where each screw, bracket, or wire came from and how it looked before you took it off.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Hand Dryer Expert

Will this part work in my hand dryer?

Hi, Experts.

   We have inherited a hand dryer that was on the wall when we moved in.  It's not working and I think it's the circuit board that's bad. However, when I look around on the internet, I see a lot of dryers that look almost identical to mine, but with a different brand on the front.  How can I tell if the parts will match?

    "Hopeful in Hanover"

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Good Question, Hopeful!

   In 'the good ole days,' there were only about 5 major brands of hand dryers available.  And like the automobiles of the time, each model year and each manufacturer was pretty unique looking.  

   With the the growing popularity of hand dryers, however, a multitude of new companies have come in to the market to pursue this burgeoning segment, each with it's own brand and sometimes very similar looking models.

   To make matters more confusing, some companies buy other companies products and put their own branding on them.

   But to answer your question;  if the dryer is a prominent hand dryer brand (i.e.: Excel XLERATOR, Dyson Airblade, World Dryer AirMax, American Dryer eXtremeAir, etc.)  then "look-a-likes" are very possibly copy-cat products with different (and frequently inferior) internal parts.

    If the dryer is a private label brand (Some examples would be: ASI, Global Industrial and Palmer Fixture) and if the dryer looks similar or identical (except for branding), then there is a good chance that the internal components are interchangeable. For these dryers, if you can find a picture of the part your looking for, that's even better.  

   For example, here's one company that publishes detailed pictures of all their parts.  They even provide some cross-reference charts.

  I "Hope" that clarifies things a bit for you.

  Sincerely, 

     Hand Dryer Expert