Im pretty sure its already being run. Therefore he's just collecting the byproduct.
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Dehumidifier as water source
- Thread starter fsusoldier
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Im pretty sure its already being run. Therefore he's just collecting the byproduct.
I was not talking about gathering it I was talking about making it drinkable. It cost money to boil and filter water to make it ready to drink. Seems foolish when there is an unending supply available at the tap at very low to no cost.
Water from a dehumidifier is, to first order, distilled. That means there are no dissolved minerals in it. Distilled water isn't a great idea for drinking as it will leach minerals out of your teeth. This is beside the point about whether or not the coils have bacteria on them and/or the solder has lead.
That said, I've used it for mixing antifreeze to put in my car.
That said, I've used it for mixing antifreeze to put in my car.
JayMcB
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This! I use RODI for my (coral) reef tank, when the water hits >1PPM, it is time to change filters. Dehumidifier water is used to flush a toilet.
dcmdon
NES Member
No big deal. They make water through a dehumidifier then run it through reverse osmosis and charcoal filters. Makes perfect sense, but not earth shattering.
Again, I come back to my original point. Useless unless you have a lot of fuel and no water. I would think that some backwards place that has generators to run any of these things would also have a well pump.
Now, a small portable photovoltaic system running one of these in an area that has lot of sunshine might be a neat trick.
Don
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MisterHappy
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Yeah, I thought the same thing. If you have fuel to run a genny, you should use it to get out of wherever there's no potable water.
Also, when you care unable to spell "Technology" in your ad copy, it does little to inspire confidence, IMO....
Also, when you care unable to spell "Technology" in your ad copy, it does little to inspire confidence, IMO....
This same question just came up on The Survival Podcast episode 1202. I would say no because of the bacteria growth and chance of Listeria(?). Listen to the episode. you wont be disappointed.
Question starts about 1hr 32 minutes into podcast.
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dcmdon
NES Member
I think the net net of all of this discussion is that under the proper circumstances, a dehumidifier could be a decent source of water, althought the likelihood of those circumstances is very very low.
The circumstances would be:
1) Abundant fuel or electricity
2) Scarce water
3) If you intend to drink, or bathe with it, the ability to filter it at sub-micron levels. This requires a filter specifically designed to turn non-potable water into safe drinking water. Although it is not very practical as far as flow rates and total capacity, a $20 LifeStraw would do the trick.
Amazon.com: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter: Sports & Outdoors
I could see a scenario with an extended power outage, where I had lost city water but city gas was still flowing. (The pumps that service the gas lines run on the gas in the line, so short of earthquake, gas almost never goes out, even in New England blizzards. If I had a gas powered generator, I would be able to make water with a dehumidifier and boil it on the stove to make it safe.
Of course in the case of a blizzard, I could just melt and boil snow from outside. So like I said, in some very specific circumstances getting water from a dehumidifier could make some sense. But otherwise its highly impractical.
Don
The circumstances would be:
1) Abundant fuel or electricity
2) Scarce water
3) If you intend to drink, or bathe with it, the ability to filter it at sub-micron levels. This requires a filter specifically designed to turn non-potable water into safe drinking water. Although it is not very practical as far as flow rates and total capacity, a $20 LifeStraw would do the trick.
Amazon.com: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter: Sports & Outdoors
I could see a scenario with an extended power outage, where I had lost city water but city gas was still flowing. (The pumps that service the gas lines run on the gas in the line, so short of earthquake, gas almost never goes out, even in New England blizzards. If I had a gas powered generator, I would be able to make water with a dehumidifier and boil it on the stove to make it safe.
Of course in the case of a blizzard, I could just melt and boil snow from outside. So like I said, in some very specific circumstances getting water from a dehumidifier could make some sense. But otherwise its highly impractical.
Don
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In many parts of world, near the equator, offices have drinking fountains that are nothing more than dehumidifies. You won't even notice the fact it's a free standing unit with no supply lines. The water is distiller and fine to drink, though it has no minerals as stated.
So......
I've got the dehumidifier fired up in the basement a few days ago and it reminded me of this thread. It got me thinking of another use for the collecting of the water. Aside from using it for things like batteries and aquariums etc. If you were OCD enough to implement some of these uses one could RE-humidify the air in the winter with the same water. This would prevent or help prevent unwanted mineral deposits in your humidifier. I hate cleaning that crap out.
I've got the dehumidifier fired up in the basement a few days ago and it reminded me of this thread. It got me thinking of another use for the collecting of the water. Aside from using it for things like batteries and aquariums etc. If you were OCD enough to implement some of these uses one could RE-humidify the air in the winter with the same water. This would prevent or help prevent unwanted mineral deposits in your humidifier. I hate cleaning that crap out.
CockedAndLocked
Banned
In another house I used to run two dehumidifiers in the basement. (one I had to drain manually, the other drained into a drain). Both had disgusting white crap that would grow in their tanks if I didn't put a few drops of bleach in them every day or two.
Yuk!
Yuk!
JayMcB
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don't use it in a salt water aquarium, the copper will kill your corals and or fish. I wouldn't use it for anything but to water plants.
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Yo were you at my house yesterday? I was thinking the exact same thing and even tslked about it with my brother lol. Great minds think alike sir
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Yeah I was just quoting uses from previous posters. Not a fish guy personally. However there are many potential uses for distilled water from a dehumidifier other than just watering plants.
JayMcB
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When you add the crap/pollen/dust/ etc in the air that is sticking to the coils of the dehumidifier hat is adding copper before it drips down into the collection bucket that is growing g-d knows what in it, it's not really distilled. YMMV
Distill it after it is collected
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JayMcB
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just run it through one of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/AQUARIUM-CO...356?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb7e2b7e4
RODI water is more pure 0 TDS than distilled water
RODI water is more pure 0 TDS than distilled water
