Cost of Operating Hand Dryers

It should come as no surprise to most business owners and facilities managers that warm hand dryers cost less to operate and maintain than paper towel dispensers. The simple truth is that consumers create a lot of waste. Paper towels are often tossed onto restroom floors, flushed down toilets, or crammed into overflowing garbage bins. These bad habits result in a more significant cost to business owners than customers may understand. Most business owners know that hand dryers are ecological, because they avert deforestation and eliminate disposable products or continuous replenishment. In this article, we will review the cost of operating hand dryers so you can make the most informed decision for your customers and the health of your business.

When it comes to the cost of operating hand dryers, electricity is paramount. There are many factors that can affect the cost of electricity in your area. Among fuels, transmission, and weather conditions, electricity prices do fluctuate often and it is essential to stay prepared in the event of an unexpected situation. The cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity plays a large part in the cost of hand dryer operation. In her Houston Chronicle article on dryer efficiency, Cindy Quarters cites an average cost of $0.01 per kWh. At this rate, it costs between $0.02 and $0.18 in electricity per use. The monthly cost of operating an electric hand dryer, automatic or otherwise, averages to approximately $20.00. As a result, you enjoy an average savings of more than $60.00 per month when compared to using paper towels in your public restroom.

The average customer uses approximately two and a half sheets of paper towel per restroom trip, although that number increases as studies prove that the transmission of bacteria is more likely to occur from wet hands than from dry hands. Paper towel waste is staggering, and paper towel dispensers require more maintenance. Added labor costs result in increased cleaning costs, which reinforces the need for chemicals, plastic bottles, trash bag liners, and other manufactured products that we rely on in day-to-day operations. Although hand dryers are more expensive, you can recoup your total investment within several months. On average, hand dryers last about seven to 10 years. Your establishment benefits by a long-lasting investment. If you have any questions about the cost of operating hand dryers, feel free to contact one of our customer support representatives at PandaProducts.com today.