Dri-Eaz Air Scrubbers: HEPA 700, DefendAir & HEPA 2000 Compared
The current Restoration Select catalog tracks four Dri-Eaz air scrubbers that cover very different restoration roles: compact 400 CFM filtration, two 700 CFM platforms with different controls, and a high-volume 2,000 CFM machine. The useful choice depends on airflow, static pressure, electrical load, monitoring, filter configuration, portability and negative-air needs.
Current normalized Dri-Eaz air scrubber lineup
| Model | Airflow | Static pressure | Amps | Weight | Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEPA 700 | 275–700 CFM | 3.0 in. H₂O | 1.5–3A | 42 lb | Command Center Pro |
| DefendAir HEPA 700 | Up to 700 CFM | 3.0 in. H₂O | 3A | 41 lb | No remote monitoring |
| DefendAir 400 | 400 CFM | 2.63 in. H₂O | 2.2A | 29 lb | No remote monitoring |
| HEPA 2000 | 500–2,000 CFM | 2.7 in. H₂O | 7.7A | 124 lb | No remote monitoring |
HEPA 700: connected 700 CFM platform
HEPA 700 publishes variable airflow from 275 to 700 CFM, 3.0 in. H₂O static pressure and a 1.5–3A operating range. Its Command Hub supports airflow adjustment, filter-status visibility and Dri-Eaz Command Center Pro monitoring. Dri-Eaz currently publishes daisy chaining up to seven units on low under its stated 15A guidance.
Its filtration configuration includes a MERV 8 prefilter and primary HEPA filter, with an optional activated-carbon stage for odor, smoke and fume work. See the Dri-Eaz HEPA 700 exact-model page for verified filter part numbers and model-specific tradeoffs.
DefendAir HEPA 700: similar airflow with simpler controls
DefendAir HEPA 700 publishes the same 700 CFM maximum and 3.0 in. H₂O static pressure in a nearly identical 23 × 17 × 26 inch form. The key difference is the control philosophy: Dri-Eaz publishes a manual variable-speed dial with no app, Bluetooth or Command Hub. Its current daisy-chain guidance is up to four units rather than seven.
Dri-Eaz also states that the DefendAir HEPA 700 uses the same HEPA 700 filter part family, which can matter for fleets standardizing replacement filters.
DefendAir 400: compact lower-airflow option
DefendAir 400 publishes 400 CFM, 2.63 in. H₂O static pressure, 2.2A and a 29 lb weight. Its current filter parts are 127974 for the prefilter and 111333 for the primary HEPA filter. Dri-Eaz publishes daisy chaining up to five units under its stated guidance.
That combination can be attractive when portability and lower per-unit electrical load matter more than 700–2,000 CFM airflow.
HEPA 2000: high-volume air filtration
HEPA 2000 is the outlier in this group. It publishes variable airflow from 500 to 2,000 CFM, 2.7 in. H₂O static pressure, a 7.7A draw and a 124 lb chassis. Dri-Eaz documents a 12-inch ductable outlet and an included MERV 11 prefilter plus H13 primary HEPA filter.
It can reduce the number of machines needed for high-airflow work, but the weight, current draw and transport profile are very different from the compact DefendAir models.
Filter compatibility should be treated as exact-model data
HEPA 700 and DefendAir HEPA 700 use the HEPA 700 filter family: primary HEPA 125028, 2-inch MERV 8 prefilter 125026, 1-inch MERV 8 prefilter 125029 and activated-carbon filter 125027. DefendAir 400 uses primary HEPA 111333 and prefilter 127974. HEPA 2000 uses a different H13/MERV 11 arrangement.
Restoration Select does not infer filter interchangeability simply because two products share the Dri-Eaz brand.
Negative-air capability is not identical across the lineup
HEPA 700, DefendAir HEPA 700 and HEPA 2000 have published negative-air/ducting support in the current normalized records. DefendAir 400 does not currently have the same verified negative-air capability field, so the Finder and Compare tools keep that distinction instead of treating every HEPA scrubber as automatically equivalent.
Electrical load changes fleet scale
A 2.2A DefendAir 400, 3A 700-class scrubber and 7.7A HEPA 2000 create very different multi-unit electrical plans. Use the Restoration Equipment Power Calculator when scrubbers will operate alongside dehumidifiers and air movers.
Use the Finder when brand is not a hard requirement
Dri-Eaz is one part of the current catalog. If the actual requirement is 700+ CFM, negative-air capability, carbon media, low amps or lighter weight, the Air Scrubber Finder can compare Dri-Eaz with AlorAir, XPOWER, Phoenix and BlueDri records without brand bias.
Static pressure helps explain why these are more than free-air CFM numbers
Dri-Eaz publishes 3.0 in. H₂O static pressure for both 700 CFM platforms, 2.63 in. H₂O for DefendAir 400 and 2.7 in. H₂O for HEPA 2000. Static pressure becomes relevant when filters, ducting or containment resistance are part of the airflow path. A high free-air CFM figure does not tell the entire story once resistance is added.
Restoration Select keeps static pressure on its own comparison row rather than attempting to convert it into a universal “better” score. The operating setup determines how much value that field has.
Transport scale changes sharply at HEPA 2000
DefendAir 400 weighs 29 lb, DefendAir HEPA 700 41 lb and HEPA 700 42 lb. HEPA 2000 is 124 lb. That is not a small difference in a fleet that may be moved through stairs, doorways and trucks. The larger machine can deliver much more airflow, but it also shifts the handling plan toward fewer, heavier units.
For mixed fleets, the decision is often whether the job benefits more from distributing several compact scrubbers or concentrating airflow into a smaller number of high-output machines.
Filter standardization can reduce maintenance complexity
HEPA 700 and DefendAir HEPA 700 share the same current HEPA 700 replacement-filter family, which can simplify stocking prefilters, primary HEPA media and optional carbon media. DefendAir 400 uses a different filter family, and HEPA 2000 uses its own large-format arrangement. A fleet buyer may therefore reasonably value filter commonality even when another model has a modest airflow advantage.
Compare the Dri-Eaz 700 CFM platforms
Current shopping paths
Shopping routes are kept separate from technical fit. Restoration Select currently has an approved Dri-Eaz air-scrubber search route, plus exact-model search routes for HEPA 700 and DefendAir 400.
Primary references for this page
- Dri-Eaz HEPA 700 ↗Current manufacturer source for airflow, static pressure, amps, weight, filtration and Command Hub features.
- Dri-Eaz DefendAir HEPA 700 ↗Current manufacturer source for 700 CFM, manual controls, filtration, weight and daisy-chain guidance.
- Dri-Eaz DefendAir 400 ↗Current manufacturer source for 400 CFM, 2.2A, 29 lb, filtration and daisy-chain guidance.
- Dri-Eaz HEPA 2000 ↗Current manufacturer source for 500–2,000 CFM, 7.7A, H13 filtration, ducting and weight.
- Dri-Eaz HEPA 700 Filters ↗Current manufacturer filter-compatibility source for HEPA 700 and DefendAir HEPA 700 replacement parts.
- Dri-Eaz DefendAir 400 Filters ↗Current manufacturer source for DefendAir 400 primary HEPA and prefilter part numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dri-Eaz air scrubbers are compared on this page?
The current normalized Restoration Select catalog includes HEPA 700, DefendAir HEPA 700, DefendAir 400 and HEPA 2000.
What is the main difference between HEPA 700 and DefendAir HEPA 700?
Both publish up to 700 CFM and 3.0 in. H2O static pressure. HEPA 700 adds Command Hub remote monitoring and publishes daisy chaining up to seven units; DefendAir HEPA 700 uses simpler manual controls and publishes up to four units.
Which Dri-Eaz air scrubber is the lightest in this catalog?
DefendAir 400 is the lightest at 29 lb. It publishes 400 CFM and a 2.2A draw.
Which Dri-Eaz air scrubber has the highest airflow?
HEPA 2000 publishes variable airflow from 500 to 2,000 CFM, making it the highest-airflow Dri-Eaz scrubber in the current normalized catalog.
Can HEPA 700 use an activated-carbon filter?
Yes. Dri-Eaz publishes optional activated-carbon filter part 125027 used with the 1-inch MERV 8 prefilter 125029 and the primary HEPA filter.
Does this page rank one Dri-Eaz scrubber as best?
No. It compares current normalized models by airflow, electrical load, filtration, ducting, monitoring and handling.