4 Reasons We're Fans of Air Movers

There are plenty of reasons to love fans—whether it’s cooling off on a hot day, doing a Darth Vader impression into the blades, or enjoying the soothing white noise while you sleep.

But we’re even bigger fans of air movers, the more powerful and versatile cousins of fans that play an essential role in facility maintenance. Whether you’re using a large industrial fan to keep a workspace cool or an industrial air mover to dry specific surfaces, each has a unique purpose.

Difference between fans and air movers

First things first, let’s discuss the differences between fans and air movers. The primary purpose of fans is to circulate air to cool and ventilate larger spaces. This applies whether it’s a box fan in your home or a large industrial fan in a warehouse or commercial facility.

On the other hand, the purpose of an industrial air mover is more targeted. Air movers, also known as blowers, are designed to direct a more powerful airflow at a smaller area. And while air movers are great at handling focused tasks, they’re also helpful for a broad range of applications—making them essential in facility maintenance and restoration.

Here are four of our favorite things about industrial air movers:

1. Air movers help reduce slip-and-fall incidents with quick and efficient surface drying

One of the most obvious benefits of channeling airflow to a specific area is drying surfaces that pose a danger to staff or visitors when wet.

We’ve all seen people walk right past a “Caution: Wet Floor” sign, oblivious to the risk. With that in mind, the best-case scenario is to dry slippery-when-wet surfaces as quickly as possible. Industrial air movers can speed drying time, reducing the risk of slip-and-fall incidents. Faster drying times create safer environments and can significantly decrease liability issues associated with wet floors.

Another way to reduce slips and falls

In addition to using industrial air movers, Tennant’s i-mop^® family of mechanized mops is designed to provide efficient, effective cleaning while minimizing the risk of slippery floors. With maneuverability of a mop and the cleaning performance of a walk-behind scrubber, the i-mop® family offers an excellent solution to further enhance safety in high-traffic areas.

2. Lower the risk of allergy-aggravating mold

As important as water is for achieving a deep clean on surfaces and various types of flooring, it can also be problematic. When not dried properly, certain surfaces and textiles can create the perfect environment for mold growth. Mold can wreak havoc on allergy sufferers, and the risk increases in damp, humid spaces.

Using an industrial air mover to dry these areas quickly can reduce the likelihood of mold forming. By effectively removing excess moisture, air movers help ensure that allergy-aggravating mold doesn’t have the chance to grow. This proactive approach translates to fewer respiratory problems and fewer complaints of sniffles, itchy eyes, and sneezing—all of which contribute to a happier, healthier environment.

3. Minimize chemical and paint odors to improve indoor air quality

Let’s be honest: Odors are a part of maintenance work. Before you clean something up, it stinks. After you clean something up (with a chemical cleanser, in particular), it often still stinks. And not all odors are the same. Odors caused by certain paints and chemicals can linger and even pose potential health risks.

Fortunately, air movers can target airflow directly at problem areas, helping to dry lingering chemicals and paint faster. Many industrial air movers have adjustable positions and speed settings to further reduce the amount of time these unpleasant, and potentially harmful, odors stay in the air. This results in a more comfortable and safer environment for everyone.

4. Get back to business faster

No matter how perfect your plan is, cleaning can impact your business or the way people move around in your facility. Carpet cleaning, for instance, is a task where the area needs to be fully dry before people start using it again. Wet carpets can not only disrupt workflow but also pose a safety hazard.

Once again, an industrial air mover is a vital tool to speed up this process. And it’s not just carpets. Any area or cleaning technique that isn’t complete until the drying process is finished can benefit greatly from an air mover. The last thing you want is for cleaning tasks to delay your operations due to prolonged drying times. Air movers can help reduce that worry and increase overall efficiency.

Wrapping up

Whether you’re using a large industrial fan to keep an area cool or an industrial air mover to focus on specific tasks, both play crucial roles in maintaining a comfortable, safe and productive facility. Industrial air movers excel at quickly drying surfaces, reducing risks, and improving air quality—all while helping you get back to business faster.

Interested in learning more about Tennant’s specialty cleaning equipment and solutions?

Contact your Tennant Sales Representative today to discover how we can help keep your facility clean, safe, and efficient.