Heater or dehumidifier hire: drying out and heating
Heating and drying are different jobs
You take a heater to warm a room quickly when there is no heating, or to warm a tent, a workshop or a building during renovation. A dehumidifier is needed when you must remove moisture: after a flood or leak, while a screed or plaster dries, in a basement. Sometimes they are combined, but for damp a heater does not solve the problem: it just warms the air.
For wet walls and floors after a flood, a condensing or desiccant dehumidifier is often more effective than heat. So do not choose equipment out of habit, but describe the situation. In the rainy season, a dehumidifier is also the answer to damp walls and musty rooms; heaters matter mostly in cold regions and the hills.
What to put in your request
- What to hire — heater (diesel, gas, electric), infrared heater, dehumidifier, desiccant dehumidifier.
- Power supply — diesel, gas, electricity 230 or 415 V.
- Power or capacity — kW for heaters, litres per day for dehumidifiers.
- Task and area — drying a flat, heating a building; area or volume of the room.
- Period — a few days or the whole season.
- Quantity — one unit or several.
- Delivery — bring and collect.
- Deposit — whether you will leave one or want none.
- City, area and budget per day.
Example request
“I need a dehumidifier to dry a 650 sq ft flat after a leak, for 5 days, preferably 2 units. Auckland, delivery needed. Budget up to $18 per day.”
Safety and choosing the type
Diesel and gas heaters give a lot of heat, but they must not be used in closed, unventilated rooms without a direct exhaust outlet. Direct-fired fuel heaters release combustion products into the room, so for safety they are placed in ventilated areas, or you take a model with a flue. Electric ones are safer in living spaces but need a suitable connection.
For a dehumidifier, look at the capacity in litres per day. In a cold room condensing models work worse, and desiccant ones suit better. Ask what temperature and humidity you will have on your site.
How to compare offers
- Real power and capacity, not only the name.
- Type of fuel and who buys and fills it.
- Whether three-phase supply is needed or a socket is enough.
- How many units your area needs.
- Delivery, deposit and the time the equipment will arrive.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You write one request, and owners of heaters and dehumidifiers reply in the chat with the model, price and terms. They see where their offer stands and compete for your request. Contacts stay hidden until you choose. Read how it all works on the page “How it works”. If there is no electricity, you will also need generator hire.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a heater and a dehumidifier?
A heater quickly warms the air, a dehumidifier removes moisture. For drying after a flood you usually need a dehumidifier, not a heater.
Can I use a diesel heater in a living space?
Direct-fired fuel heaters release combustion products, so they are used in ventilated places. For homes an electric model or one with a flue is better.
How many days does it take to dry a flat after a flood?
It depends on the area, the materials and the humidity, so it is hard to say exactly. If you take the equipment with a margin of days, you avoid repeat deliveries.
Who buys the fuel for the heater?
It varies: sometimes fuel is in the price, sometimes the hirer buys it. Confirm this in the chat before hiring.
