Rated 4.7 Excellent 21,000+ Reviews.io
Whether you work in a grooming salon or have a mobile grooming business, your equipment is your livelihood.
Daily maintenance is the best way to ensure that your equipment won’t require costly repairs further down the line or, in the worst-case scenario, a replacement, which is especially important where your dryers and blasters are concerned.
Whilst dryers and blasters are some of your salon’s more robust pieces of equipment, they are still susceptible to damage and are expensive to replace. In this guide, we’re offering our top tips on caring for your dryers and blasters to prevent expensive, unnecessary repairs further down the line.
Table of contents:
What are the different types of dryers and blasters?
How do you clean and maintain a blaster dryer?
How often should you have your dryers and blasters serviced?
What are the different types of dryers and blasters?
Before we delve into caring for your equipment, it's important to establish their main differences.
Dryers and blasters generally fall into three categories:
- Blasters blast excess water and dead hair from the coat. Particularly useful for heavy or double coats, they expel a powerful blast of non-heated air through a dog's coat. Blaster's help to speed up the drying process.
- Finishing dryers are used to complete the drying and styling of your dog's coat and usually have variable heat settings, offering a groomer great control over the finish. Most grooming dryers are typically hands-free, so the groomer can style the coat while drying takes place simultaneously.
- Combination dryers are a combination of the two, offering both benefits and allowing you to handle the entire drying process with one machine. Combination dryers are a cost-effective solution for groomers just setting up and can be a handy space-saving solution for those with limited space.
Whichever you have, a dryer, blaster, or combination, regularly caring for this equipment is crucial to keep it performing at its best, prolonging the life of its motor and preventing expensive damage from occurring.
How do you clean and maintain a blaster dryer?
To care for your blaster dryer, follow these simple daily maintenance checks.
- Plug
The easiest place to start is the plug. Check the plug, the dryer's cable, and switches to ensure everything is intact before operating it. If you notice any nicks or splits in the cable, issues with the plug or any switches that are difficult to operate, use a replacement dryer until you can get your equipment looked at or repaired by an electrician to ensure your and your client's safety.
- Casing
Check the casing for cracks or damage. If hair or debris can get into your dryer via the casing, this could clog and overwork its motor, shortening its life. If you notice any cracks, it could be time to repair the casing or replace your drying equipment.
- Filters
It is essential to check, clean and maintain your dryer or blaster's filters regularly. If the filters become blocked, there is an increased risk that the motor will fail.
A blocked filter reduces airflow affecting the overall efficiency of the dryer.
Here's how to clean your dryer's filter;
- Unplug your dryer or blaster. Turn your vent to open it and gently remove it.
- Remove the filter from your dryer and vacuum it to remove any hair and debris. Once complete, wash with warm water.
- Leave the filter to dry completely before reinserting it into the dryer.
- Replace the outside cover, twisting it back into place.
- Certain dryer models may require extra/different steps. Please refer to your specific product’s user manual for guidance before conducting maintenance.
Some dryers and blasters have two sets of filters. Consult your dryer's manufacturer's instructions to see if yours has a second set of internal filters requiring vacuuming.
If your dryer's filters are left covered in hair, and aren't regularly maintained, they can damage your equipment, and you won't be covered for this under your warranty, so it's important to clean them daily.
With this in mind, it's always worth having a second backup dryer in emergencies.
Never use your dryer without a filter. Although this will increase airflow, the motor will be more susceptible to damage because it will not be protected from hair.
- Motors (and carbon brushes)
Even when maintaining your filters regularly, your dryer's motor can still become clogged with hair.
If you are confident in doing so, remove your dryer or blaster's filter, clean out any excess dust from behind it, and remove any hair caught in the back of the motor. Doing this will help the motor move more freely, preventing wear and tear and further issues.
If removing excess hair doesn't improve the performance of your motor, the issue could result from your dryer's carbon brushes.
If your dryer often slows down and speeds up again mid-use, it's advisable to stop using it and book it in for a service, as this could be a sign that the brushes are worn inside the motor. Continuing use without a service could result in further damage to the motor and expensive repairs.
As a general rule of thumb, carbon brushes should be replaced every 600 to 700 hours if you notice a burning smell or sparks when you use your dryer. Regularly servicing your dryer or blaster helps to prevent further lasting damage.
For guidance for your specific dryer or blaster regarding servicing and the replacement of brushes and other types of maintenance, always refer to your product’s user manual or to the manufacturer’s website.
- Hose
Before using your dryer, ensure its hose is undamaged and its clip isn't broken or misshapen.
Dryers and blasters with heat often have their heat function within their nozzles. Avoid wrapping anything around this, such as sticky tape, to keep it in place if loose, as this could cause your equipment to overheat, damaging the heating element.
Groomers Maestro II Replacement Hose
If you need to replace your dryer's hose, always use a manufacturer-approved part to prevent the hose from coming loose.
- Output Nozzle
Whilst checking the hose for hair, it's also worth ensuring that no hair is blocking the output nozzle. If you find any here, remove the hose and any hair protruding from or stuck in the nozzle to prevent it from being too close to the heating element and burning.
- Dryer Stand
XPower B-24 Groom Force Combi Dryer (with Stand and Drying Arm)
If you have a stand dryer, it's just as important to maintain the stand as the dryer. Before using, ensure your dryer is properly attached to the stand, and the wheels aren't clogged with hair. Clogged wheels could cause the stand to fall over, cracking the dryer or breaking the nozzle, leading to more expensive repairs.
Always ensure your dryer is unplugged before completing any dryer maintenance or checks.
How often should you have your dryers and blasters serviced?
To ensure your dryer or blaster performs efficiently, you should have it serviced at least once a year.
A good service will consist of replacing filters, carbon brushes and anything else that may be required. Your engineer will strip down the dryer, clean and remove dirt, carbon, fur, hair and particles. Regularly servicing your dryer or blaster will ensure it lasts!
Discover dryers and blasters built to last at Groomers
If you want to invest in a dryer or blaster for your salon, look no further than Groomers. We offer stand dryers and combination dryers to choose from in various speed and heat options, you're sure to find the ideal solution to suit your grooming needs. Or, if you're looking to repair your current dryer or blaster, why not browse our dryer spares?
Related posts:
Dryers & Blasters and Hearing Loss: Everything You Need To Know
