Global Disaster Recovery USA, Inc. is a national first responder to natural disasters involving flooding and water damage. As such, the company’s crews must have a broad spectrum of restoration tools at their disposal to efficiently handle any application they face, anywhere in the country.

GDR USA’s fleet of equipment for drying structures includes both desiccant dehumidifiers and those such as Dryvex™, which use heat. While Aaron Foreman, director of operations for GDR USA, mentions there is a need for both drying technologies on the market, he sees significant advantages of systems like the Dryvex™ MC5200.

“High heat facilitates faster drying, and there are many applications for Dryvex™,” says Foreman. “You just have to learn which jobs are right.”

Some restoration contractors quickly compare the rental price of both technologies and mistakenly think they may save a little money with desiccant dehumidifiers. Foreman admits that in some markets there can be up to a $100 per-day difference in the rental price of the Dryvex MC5200 vs. a comparable desiccant dryer.

However, he says that contractors must consider the total operating costs of the two systems – drying time, fuel, purchase price and maintenance. Upon doing this, contractors will discover that Dryvex™ is a much better deal.

Faster Drying Time

At the Millington Naval Base, GDR USA used both the Dryvex™ MC5200 and Desiccant drying systems to restore dozens of flooded buildings (see Naval Base Under Water for the full story). Crews used the MC5200 on office buildings that had a short drying window.

“Higher temperatures generated by our MC5200 excite the water molecules and draw more moisture from the materials, allowing a structure to be dried faster and leaving less potential for secondary damage and the associated replacement costs ,” says Ken Cannella, product manager for Wacker Neuson Climate Technology equipment. This is why the MC5200 will extract over 50% more moisture* per day from a building than a comparably sized desiccant system.

Foreman points to a naval college building where GDR USA used the MC5200 for moisture removal. The open drying system was able to dry the building’s corridor and classrooms in about 2 days. On a comparatively sized building at the base, crews used a propane-fired 5,000 CFM desiccant dehumidifier. It took nearly 5 days to dry the second building.

With its capability of drying in less than half the time, Foreman suggests that contractors consider the cost savings of drying time in addition to the application. “Decreased drying time results in lower insurance claims,” he says.

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Lower Fuel Costs

Desiccant dryers require fuel to power the drying unit as well as the accompanying generator. For the 5,000 to 6,000 CFM desiccant models in GDR USA’s fleet, a separate 45 kW generator is required for operation.

The Dryvex™ MC5200 comes self contained with a much smaller, 7 kW generator for operation. Its total fuel consumption is about the same as the generator powering the desiccant dryer.

Total fuel savings for the MC5200 when compared to GDR USA’s propane dehumidifiers is approximately 3 gal/hr. Propane prices for the restoration contractor range up to $4 per gallon. For every hour operated, the MC5200 saves GDR USA $12 when compared to operating desiccants. Considering a continuous 24-hour operating cycle over 5 days, the fuel savings alone by using the MC5200 can be as high as $1,440.

Purchase/Operating Costs:

In the market to purchase a new drying system? According to Foreman, you’ll get a lot more for your money with the Dryvex™ MC5200. For about the same retail cost of a complete, ready-for-operation MC5200, “you can buy a new 5,000 to 6,000 CFM desiccant system but no trailer or generator to operate the dryer,” he says.

The MC5200’s compact size also makes it easier to transport to the jobsite and requires less space for operation and storing. With its adjustable pintle hitch and 5,453-lb (2,473-kg) transport weight, the MC5200 can be quickly towed via a standard pick-up truck, making it less costly to move onto site than a desiccant drying system.

Long term maintenance costs can also be reduced by purchasing a Dryvex™ MC5200 open drying system. “The larger generator required to operate the desiccant system is more costly to maintain than the 7 kW generator on the Dryvex™,” mentions Foreman.

The drying wheels on desiccant dehumidifiers must also be maintained and can be costly when replaced. “The wheels can run as much as $25,000 to replace,” he adds.

So when you are in the market for your next drying system, take a look at the full picture and do the math. You’ll find that dollar for dollar, the Dryvex™ MC5200 from Wacker Neuson Climate Technology delivers the best value on the market.

* up to 600 gallons or 4800 pints per day of moisture removed, based on ambient conditions and humidity level.

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