Do dehumidifiers create RO water? Is it safe for my tank?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

CanadianKeeper

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2012
1,248
72
66
Ontario
The title says it all ! Im curious I was sitting looking at my dehumidifier and wondering if the water that is in the bucket under it is good water.
 
Hello; My take is that the water that collects is from moisture in the air. The humidifiers I am familiar with have a cooling coil much like an air conditioner or refigerator. As the moist air from the room is drawn across the cold coils it's temperature is lowered to below the dew point and the moisture condenses on the cold surfaces. This is the same condenstaion as on the outside of a glass of ice water. The water then drips into the container.
The water will have whatever is in the air of the room. Dust, pollen, mold spores, pet and human dander and any other aresol items that happen to be in the air are likely to be found in the water. There will also be contact with the materials the dehumidifier is made from.
 
ok so NOT safe for a tank haha. Cool I was just wondering

Hello; I do not that the water is not safe for sure. Looked at from the point of view that an open top tank has some of the same potential for stuff in the air to settle in the water, likely to a much less extent. It may only be a question of volume contrast for the stuff in the air. I would be guessing about the potential exposure to the parts of the humidifer as i do not know what they are made from, likely some type of metal.
I run a dehumidifier during the cold months and have been pouring the water into the washing machine. It could be used to flush toilets. During the warm months the house AC removes moisture from the air when operated.
My guess is that the dehumidifier water is safe enough, but that is only a guess.
 
ive wondered this myself daily after i dump a bucket of dehumidfier water down the drain.

WOuld be cool to plumb it directly to an outside vat somehow. That way i could use the water to water my lawn!
 
ive wondered this myself daily after i dump a bucket of dehumidfier water down the drain.

WOuld be cool to plumb it directly to an outside vat somehow. That way i could use the water to water my lawn!

Big plastic rain barrel with a pump in the bottom and your in buisness. You can allso run your drains from the roof into the barrel... Will fill up allmost instantly. If you dont like a big blue barrel in your back yard paint it green or red or what ever to match the wall behind it.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com