Frequently Asked Questions

What type of drying mechanism do your turnout gear dryers use?

Our turnout gear dryers use a non-tumble style drying mechanism. If you need a duty gear dryer guaranteed to safely and effectively dry SCBA masks, fire gears, military gear, rescue suits and more look no further than Williamfs Direct. As a firefighter equipment gear dryer and boot and glove dryer our products have set a standard the industry is still working to replicate. As we always says, "If you can wear it… we can dry it!"
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Can your hazmat suit dryers actually improve the thermal stability of my gear?

Our hazmat suit dryers can indeed improve the thermal stability of your gear. You can depend on our products as a boot and glove dryer, cold water rescue suit dryer, and also to dry helmets, turnout gear, dry suits, fire equipment gear, and more. The success of our survival suit dryers lies in the over 20 years of experience and patented drying technology we bring to the table. You can depend on Williams Direct.
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What types of institutions use your dry suit dryers?

Williams Direct dry suit dryers and are the survival suit dryers of choice for NASA, the U.S. and Canadian Military, fire departments, sports teams, 5 star resorts, and more. Used as cold water suit dryers and to dry wet weather gear, hazmat suits, SCBA masks, duty gear, fire fighter equipment gear and more, what started as boot and glove dryers have become the industry's leading survival suit dryers.
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Are your firefighter equipment dryers user friendly?

Yes our firefighter equipment dryers are very user friendly. You may use our fire equipment dryers on all sorts of gear including rescue suits, cold water suits, turnout gear, hazmat suits, military gear, and even as a SCBA mask dryer. Much more than a mere boot and glove dryer, our commercial products have set the standard in our over 20 years in this industry. Learn more about Williams Direct Dryers.
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How many boot and glove dryers do you have to choose from?

We have over 50 boot and glove dryers to choose from. You may also use our dryers on a variety of items including firefighter equipment gear, turnout gear, rescue suits, survival suits, military gear, and as a mask dryer. Our non tumble drying mechanism and warmed air and ambient air drying options make for dryers unmatched in our industry. Dry gear is vital to your job, so trust the job of drying it to Williams Direct.
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Can your duty gear dryers help extend the life of my turn-out gear?

Our duty gear dryers will extend the usable life of your turnouts. Use our turnout gear dryers for hazmat suits, SCBA masks, rescue suits and other cold water suits, and as a boot and glove and fire gear dryer. Williams Direct Dryers uses a direct, NFPA friendly, non-tumble style drying to safely dry your wet weather gear. For fire fighter equipment gear dryers and more look to the professionals at William Direct Dryers!
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Can your fire equipment dryers reduce damage caused by bacteria and mildew?

Our fire equipment dryers and all of our duty gear dryers reduce the potential of adverse health effects and material damage caused by bacteria and mildew in wet or damp turnouts. More than just boot and glove dryers, our turnout gear dryers can be used for SCBA masks, hazmat suits, military gear, and more. In addition, Williams Direct Dryers offers both residential and commercial dryers. Make your turnouts healthier by using our fire gear dryers.
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Do you sell boot dryers to commercial and residential customers?

Our boot dryers, glove dryers, and helmet dryers are available to both commercial and residential customers. For over two decades Williams Direct Dryers' patented technology has allowed customers to rescue suits, cold water suits, turnout gear, fire fighter gear, duty gear, survival suits and more safely and effectively. We are proud of the high standards of our boot and glove dryers set.
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Do you offer SCBA dryers?

We offer SCBA dryers, mask dryers, and turnout gear dryers to dry hazmat suits, rescue suits, cold water suits, helmets, survival suits, and more. Since building our first boot and glove dryers in 1989, Williams Direct Dryers has set the industry standard for safety and effectiveness. There's a reason first responders choose our duty gear dryers. Learn more about the more than 50 different styles of dryers we offer.
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Are your fire gear dryers exclusively warmed air dryers?

Our fire gear dryers have the option of warmed air or ambient air drying at the flick of a switch. Depend on Williams Direct Dryers duty gear dryers not only as boot and glove dryers but also to dry SCBA masks, dry suits, rescue suits, hazmat suits, helmets, survival suits, and more. we have been producing turnout gear dryers for over 20 years. Count on us for warmed air or ambient air fire fighter equipment gear dryers.
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Why is wet gear a health and safety issue?

Wet turnout gear under certain conditions can result in injury due to steam burns. Wet cold-water rescue suits can be the source of blood-born infections. Wet boots can be the source of serious medical problems such as Pseudomonas Cellulitis.

Why do your machines use warmed air?

Warm air holds more water vapor than cold, so the rate of drying is enhanced. Machines can operate in cooler conditions and still maintain performance. When a fabric feels dry to the touch water molecules are hygroscopically bonded to the microscopic fibers. Average room temperature air does not provide enough energy to effectively break this bond between water and fiber within a reasonable length of time.

What causes that "locker room" smell?

Microbes thrive in warm, dark and damp conditions. PPE provides an ideal environment for the growth of fungi and other bacteria on the skin. Human odor is caused by naturally produced pheromones. The obnoxious odor associated with locker rooms is caused by an excess accumulation of microbes. Keeping PPE dry will limit this condition.

Why do my feet get cold when they are wet?

As the moisture content in a boot increases, the ability to transfer moisture from the foot to the outside layers of the sock decrease. Consequently at skin level the balance of humidity and heat is disrupted. Material in contact with the skin will cool and your feet will feel "clammy".

If warm is good wouldn't hot air be better?

Some PPE elements are manufactured with fabrics that could be damaged by too much heat. Our machines will not create this condition. Also, when you put your foot into a hot boot, it will immediately begin to sweat(see “Why are my feet cold?”). Hot air dryers usually require specialty 220V service wiring.

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