What to do with dehumidifier water?

FaithnPraise · 06-25-2015, 07:22 AM

*not sure where to best put this, so here goes*

This is a question/request from my husband, he specifically said "Can you ask your crunchy friends a question for me?" ROFL

So, we've got a dehumidifier in our basement and when the bucket is full we dump the water down the drain (frequency depends on humidity, but this month it's been at least once or twice a day).

Is there a system/something that we can purchase so we can utilize this water for something instead of dumping it? No it's not water we're paying for and wasting, but it's kinda like "free water" we're sucking out of the air and we figure we could use it for something. Any ideas?

He specifically asked can we filter it for drinking water...I dunno about that but I'm open to ideas on how to utilize this water instead of wasting it. Thanks!

mom23sons · 06-25-2015, 07:39 AM

Have any plants or a garden? Those were my 2 thoughts. I wouldn't filter and drink it though.

Little Forest · 06-25-2015, 07:48 AM

That is what I was thinking too.

And I am so curious where you live! Never heard of a dehumidifyer before. Wish we had one here.
Posted via Mobile Device

Quiteria · 06-25-2015, 07:53 AM

There is no way I'd drink that. After a while, the collector will be all nasty and slimy, and ours had too many crevices to clean well even when I tried. It would need to be boiled and distilled or something. I wouldn't even mop with it, because you'd just be spreading around whatever's growing in it. I'd water the lawn or flowers with it if you don't want to dump it down the drain.

FaithnPraise · 06-25-2015, 07:56 AM

No plants or garden currently, but I think he does plan to garden eventually.

Sundance · 06-25-2015, 08:08 AM

Do not drink it!! There are chemicals on the dehumidifier to condense the water. If they'd leak out into the water, out could be fatal.
I dump mine into the washing machine.

Indigo · 06-25-2015, 09:44 AM

We water outdoor plants with it. If you do not have plants, I'd pour it outside instead of down the drain inside.

2sunshines · 06-25-2015, 10:11 AM

Yea, I definitely wouldn't drink it.

Garden would also be my first suggestion also.

If you really want, you could dump it in your toilet to replace some of the water needed there.

FaithnPraise · 06-25-2015, 10:58 AM

He just sent me this link... http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-...ter-Generator/

I read the comments, someone mentioned Legionaire's in dehumidifier water.

I'll pass!

Soliloquy · 06-25-2015, 01:42 PM

It's basically distilled water so don't put it on houseplants. You could use it in your steam mop, if you have one. I'd just pour it onto your lawn but in a different spot each time (because it has no minerals).

silverlining · 06-26-2015, 05:49 PM

I empty mine into the washing machine when I start a load of clothes. If it's full in between I water outside if needed or just dump it down the drain.

ReedleBeetle · 06-26-2015, 06:11 PM

You can use it in car batteries that take water. If you pour into a berkey, you can make it drinkable, but it will still be lacking minerals and taste "flat". You could do half tap water with it and replenish some of the minerals with that. Dehumidifiers use a cold coil to condense the water from the air. So chemicals should not be an issue. Also, if you have a pool, you could add to that, use in a bath as part of the water, pour in the toilet tank, pour over compost to make compost tea for gardens....

twentysixcats · 06-26-2015, 09:06 PM

We pour ours into the toilet. It feels "wasteful" to pour out water all the time, but I didn't feel comfortable drinking it, and after reading these posts I see that was a good decision.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

MaySunflowers · 06-27-2015, 02:32 AM

I have a fish tank (same issue). I pour my water on the bushes outdoors.

ThreeKids · 06-27-2015, 02:44 AM

I'm planning on using it for steam cleaning, but I need to clean out some areas that have been harboring mold first.

06-25-2015, 07:22 AM	#1
FaithnPraise Rose Garden AKA Dr. Duh! Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Magic City by way of the Motor... Posts: 4,056	What to do with dehumidifier water? not sure where to best put this, so here goes This is a question/request from my husband, he specifically said "Can you ask your crunchy friends a question for me?" ROFL So, we've got a dehumidifier in our basement and when the bucket is full we dump the water down the drain (frequency depends on humidity, but this month it's been at least once or twice a day). Is there a system/something that we can purchase so we can utilize this water for something instead of dumping it? No it's not water we're paying for and wasting, but it's kinda like "free water" we're sucking out of the air and we figure we could use it for something. Any ideas? He specifically asked can we filter it for drinking water...I dunno about that but I'm open to ideas on how to utilize this water instead of wasting it. Thanks!

06-25-2015, 07:39 AM	#2
mom23sons Rose Bouquet Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Maine Posts: 614	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? Have any plants or a garden? Those were my 2 thoughts. I wouldn't filter and drink it though. __________________ Amie, wife to JB and mom to 3 amazing teenage sons. IT 19, CP 17 and EG 15. DON to the elderly . Living as simple as can be in Maine.

06-25-2015, 07:48 AM	#3
Little Forest Rose Garden Rich in girls. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Perth hills, Australia Posts: 6,914	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? That is what I was thinking too. And I am so curious where you live! Never heard of a dehumidifyer before. Wish we had one here. Posted via Mobile Device

06-25-2015, 07:53 AM	#4
Quiteria Rose Garden Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 23,483	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? There is no way I'd drink that. After a while, the collector will be all nasty and slimy, and ours had too many crevices to clean well even when I tried. It would need to be boiled and distilled or something. I wouldn't even mop with it, because you'd just be spreading around whatever's growing in it. I'd water the lawn or flowers with it if you don't want to dump it down the drain. __________________ Homeschooling mama to five: a young adult (graduated!), two high schoolers, a big kid, and a kindergartner And yes, they've all aged overnight since the last time you read my out-of-date sigg.

06-25-2015, 07:56 AM	#5
FaithnPraise Rose Garden AKA Dr. Duh! Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Magic City by way of the Motor... Posts: 4,056	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? No plants or garden currently, but I think he does plan to garden eventually.

06-25-2015, 08:08 AM	#6
Sundance Rose Garden Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 4,055	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? Do not drink it!! There are chemicals on the dehumidifier to condense the water. If they'd leak out into the water, out could be fatal. I dump mine into the washing machine. __________________ ~Melanie Wife to my Lumberjack, Mom to DD1 (May 2007), DS (April 2009) & DD2 (July 2011), DD3 (October 2013)

06-25-2015, 09:44 AM	#7
Indigo Climbing Rose Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,144	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? We water outdoor plants with it. If you do not have plants, I'd pour it outside instead of down the drain inside. __________________ Joyful AP SAHM to 4 amazing children. Celebrating 23 years of marriage to my best friend. "Today is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

06-25-2015, 10:11 AM	#8
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,024	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? Yea, I definitely wouldn't drink it. Garden would also be my first suggestion also. If you really want, you could dump it in your toilet to replace some of the water needed there. __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

06-25-2015, 10:58 AM	#9
FaithnPraise Rose Garden AKA Dr. Duh! Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Magic City by way of the Motor... Posts: 4,056	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? He just sent me this link... http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-...ter-Generator/ I read the comments, someone mentioned Legionaire's in dehumidifier water. I'll pass!

06-25-2015, 01:42 PM	#10
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? It's basically distilled water so don't put it on houseplants. You could use it in your steam mop, if you have one. I'd just pour it onto your lawn but in a different spot each time (because it has no minerals).

06-26-2015, 05:49 PM	#11
silverlining Deactivated Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 659	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? I empty mine into the washing machine when I start a load of clothes. If it's full in between I water outside if needed or just dump it down the drain.

06-26-2015, 06:11 PM	#12
ReedleBeetle Rose Garden Hangin' on for dear life! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV, I'm a mountain momma Posts: 25,579	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? You can use it in car batteries that take water. If you pour into a berkey, you can make it drinkable, but it will still be lacking minerals and taste "flat". You could do half tap water with it and replenish some of the minerals with that. Dehumidifiers use a cold coil to condense the water from the air. So chemicals should not be an issue. Also, if you have a pool, you could add to that, use in a bath as part of the water, pour in the toilet tank, pour over compost to make compost tea for gardens.... __________________ RiAnnon infj Single Momma to LegoCraft May 2005

06-26-2015, 09:06 PM	#13
twentysixcats Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 6,404	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? We pour ours into the toilet. It feels "wasteful" to pour out water all the time, but I didn't feel comfortable drinking it, and after reading these posts I see that was a good decision. Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk __________________ Ashley (ISFJ) mom to three beautiful girls! DD1 (8/2009) DD2 (7/2012) DD3 (9/2014)

06-27-2015, 02:32 AM	#14
MaySunflowers Deactivated Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7,781	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? I have a fish tank (same issue). I pour my water on the bushes outdoors.

06-27-2015, 02:44 AM	#15
ThreeKids Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: .. Posts: 10,737	Re: What to do with dehumidifier water? I'm planning on using it for steam cleaning, but I need to clean out some areas that have been harboring mold first. __________________ DS (12), DD (10), DD2 (7) And my kids were going to behave perfectly all the time and if they didn't, they'd be Dobsoned, but I was going to Dobson so perfectly that they'd know not to slip up but once or twice because I was going to be sooooooo consistent and awesome and wise.

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