Blowers are often the largest energy consumers in wastewater treatment plants. It is important to evaluate not just the upfront capital costs but the long-term expenses associated with energy consumption, maintenance, and reliability. When you consider the comprehensive costs, it is clear that Inovair delivers the Lowest Total Cost of Ownership.

While upfront costs—also known as capital cost—are important and often the focus for purchase considerations, they make up only a small part of the total lifecycle expenses. For some blower technologies, a lower initial price often leads to higher operating costs in the long run. Thankfully, Inovair offers low upfront costs as well as low operating and maintenance costs.

Inovair geared centrifugal blowers offer a competitive price point—more affordable than gearless turbo blowers, similar in cost to PD screw blowers, and slightly above rotary lobe blowers. Inovair's superior technology benefits from its simplicity and decades of experience in other industries, resulting in cost effectiveness and stability. But equipment price points don't tell the whole story...

Equipment costs at the time of quotation doesn’t tell the full story. During the leadtime in the purchase process, many blower technologies experience price fluctuations due to global market shifts, including changes in tariffs, political policies, and raw material supply chain disruptions. These unpredictable variables can create budget uncertainties and financial risks for wastewater treatment facilities.

Inovair blowers are designed and built in the U.S., ensuring more consistent pricing and reduced exposure to global economic fluctuations. Domestic manufacturing helps eliminate unexpected cost increases, keeping project budgets accurate from the initial quote through final purchase. By choosing Inovair, facilities gain not only a high-efficiency, cost-effective solution but also the confidence of stable, predictable pricing.

As the only BABA-compliant high-efficiency blower on the market, Inovair helps facilities qualify for the federal BABA funding options. Learn how our BABA-compliant solutions can support your project’s financial and operational goals.

For most wastewater treatment plants, energy consumption is the largest operating expense, with blowers accounting for the majority of that usage. In many cases, lower upfront costs are linked to older, less efficient blower technologies, which result in significantly higher energy bills and maintenance costs over time.

When selecting a blower system, operating costs—especially energy consumption—are a major factor in the total cost of ownership (TCO). To achieve real energy savings and adapt to fluctuations in plant loading and seasonal demands, it’s crucial to evaluate efficiency across multiple operating points rather than relying on a single benchmark.

Inovair’s Geared Centrifugal Blowers are engineered for best-in-class efficiency, producing substantial energy savings (10-40%) relative to positive displacement and multi-stage centrifugal blowers.

One of the most reliable ways to measure blower efficiency is by assessing wire-to-air performance, which calculates the total energy input required to deliver air at specific conditions. For an accurate comparison between different blower technologies, the ASME PTC-13 standard is the industry’s preferred method for evaluating wire-to-air efficiency.

When evaluating blower systems, maintenance costs are often underestimated but can have a major impact on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). These costs can be broken down into two main categories: routine maintenance and non-routine repairs. Choosing a blower with simplified maintenance and accessible parts can significantly reduce long-term expenses and downtime.

Regular upkeep is essential to maintaining blower efficiency, but the cost and complexity of routine maintenance vary widely across different technologies. Some blowers require costly service contracts and proprietary parts, forcing plants to rely on the manufacturer for even basic maintenance.

Inovair Geared Centrifugal Blowers simplify maintenance with just four easily replaceable components, allowing plant personnel to handle servicing in-house. These parts are readily available and locally sourced, cutting both costs and lead times. In contrast, many blower manufacturers restrict access to replacement parts and require all purchases to go through them—often at inflated prices. Some even void warranties if third-party parts are used, increasing long-term financial burdens.

Beyond routine upkeep, facilities must also consider the cost of unexpected repairs due to external factors such as electrical surges, flooding, debris damage, or improper installation. Certain blower technologies are inherently more susceptible to these risks, leading to frequent failures and costly repairs.

One major issue is dependence on proprietary components, which can significantly increase both repair costs and lead times. In some cases, facilities may even be forced to rent a replacement blower while waiting for repairs, further driving up operational expenses. Additionally, some blower technologies experience post-repair efficiency losses, reducing long-term energy savings.

Where a blower is designed, built, and serviced can have a direct impact on long-term maintenance costs. Many blower manufacturers operate overseas, requiring replacement parts to be imported from Europe or Asia. This can result in extended lead times, costly shipping fees, and even situations where the blower must be sent back to the factory for service.

By contrast, Inovair blowers are designed and manufactured in the U.S., ensuring faster parts availability and service response times. With domestic support, wastewater treatment facilities can minimize downtime, avoid logistical delays, and reduce long-term maintenance costs—all while benefiting from a blower that is built for reliability and efficiency.

Inovair geared centrifugal blowers are built without the electrical component complexity seen in air bearing and magnetic bearing high-speed turbo blowers. Instead, a simpler design using industry standard components allows for easy maintenance at the plant level, as well as greater reliability. Owners of air bearing turbos are finding out that annual maintenance and/or warranty costs can reduce or exceed their annual energy savings. Inovair’s proven design allows for high efficiency, reliability and ease of maintenance.

Inovair blowers are also more reliable than PD blowers and only have an annual maintenance interval.

Unlike some blower technologies that require complex installation procedures or strict site conditions, Inovair blowers are engineered for simple, flexible installation. Their durable, compact design allows for easy integration into existing facilities and supports outdoor installations without the need for costly protective enclosures.

Inovair blower packages operate with a much lower noise (dBa) level than other blower technologies, allowing placement outside of blower rooms or near residential areas. Inovair’s flexible design also allows for re-use of existing components and infrastructure in many instances, which can also lower installation cost.

Certain blower systems must be installed indoors or require the construction of protective canopies, adding significant infrastructure costs - labor and material costs related to installation. Additionally, some technologies demand precise installation procedures, increasing the risk of setup errors that could lead to performance issues, early failures, or even warranty voidance. These unexpected challenges drive up costs and create long-term operational headaches.