Is the Water From Air Handlers/Dehum/AC safe to use?

BustinScales510

Well-Known Member
I have an air handler and a couple dehumidifiers that drain water into a large (clean) plastic trash can outside the room. There is a good amount there each day that feels wasteful to just dump. Does anyone have firsthand experience using this to water plants? (Mixing with bottled nutrients)

I know theoretically it sounds fine, there's no readable ppm and it looks crystal clear..but just wanted to check if anyone *personally* does this successfully with no problems from machinery residue or whatnot.

Thanks.
 

justugh

Well-Known Member
I have an air handler and a couple dehumidifiers that drain water into a large (clean) plastic trash can outside the room. There is a good amount there each day that feels wasteful to just dump. Does anyone have firsthand experience using this to water plants? (Mixing with bottled nutrients)

I know theoretically it sounds fine, there's no readable ppm and it looks crystal clear..but just wanted to check if anyone *personally* does this successfully with no problems from machinery residue or whatnot.

Thanks.
Hell NO

dump it in toilet and then add bleach flush it

the water is collected from the air so it has some little particles in it from the air .........smell..virus.......mold spores

if u have a ac in the window and the room is growen weed the water that falls will set off the drug dogs
 

racerboy71

bud bootlegger
Hell NO

dump it in toilet and then add bleach flush it

the water is collected from the air so it has some little particles in it from the air .........smell..virus.......mold spores

if u have a ac in the window and the room is growen weed the water that falls will set off the drug dogs
i completely disagree.. tons of people use water from a dehumidifier for their grows...
and don't you think that water from the faucet as ever exposed to the air at any point?
 

justugh

Well-Known Member
i completely disagree.. tons of people use water from a dehumidifier for their grows...
and don't you think that water from the faucet as ever exposed to the air at any point?
my water at some point yes but it is also 300 feet down in the ground that has passed tho layers of rock sand and other things

a the water in that thing is stale pools up and is collected out of the air ...............the only thing i would ever use that water for is flushing the toilet (would not even give it to the grass )
why becuase i messed with those things i seen that pan the water sits in

even the medical ppl tell u to bleach out the collection buckets
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=498

Disadvantages: Mold can grow in the drainage areas of a dehumidifier, so regularly clean the water basin with bleach. Also, smaller units may not dry out the air satisfactorily all the time. You should consider choosing a larger capacity unit, one rated at 50 pints a day or more. It can always be turned down.
 

ASMALLVOICE

Well-Known Member
From what I have read, the risks far outweigh the reward.
Condensate, no matter the collection method used is susceptible to any and all air and water born funk.

I am not saying it cannot be used, but this water has 0 treatment and can contain stuff that can wreck a grow.

Just like a lot of things in life, if its free, a bit of caution should be exercised before it is grabbed up and used.

Peace and Clean Grows

Asmallvoice
 

Red1966

Well-Known Member
Having seen what the inside of a dehumidifier looks like. I don't think I'd use that. Water is like 1000 gallons for a penny. Why bother?
 

BustinScales510

Well-Known Member
Having seen what the inside of a dehumidifier looks like. I don't think I'd use that. Water is like 1000 gallons for a penny. Why bother?
It's not about the monetary cost. I use RO water and it takes a long time to fill up the reservoirs, so to have 40 gallons of clear looking water sitting there I thought Id ask. Plus living in a drought prone area if I can avoid squandering additional water Id like to.
 

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
Used condensate for YEARS without any remediation in E&F hydro on a commercial scale.

Still recommend adding 0.5ml / gallon sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to kill the unwanted crap, ESPECIALLY in DWC / RDWC.

Kill bacteria and ITS GOOD WATER.
 
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BustinScales510

Well-Known Member
Used condensate for YEARS without any remediation in E&F hydro on a commercial scale.

Still recommend adding 1.5ml / gallon sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to kill the unwanted crap, ESPECIALLY in DWC / RDWC.

Kill bacteria and ITS GOOD WATER.
I was thinking about that, a small amount of bleach to sterilize it. 1.5 ml per gallon sounds high though, that would be like 75 ml for a 50 gallon rez! I use coco drain to waste so dwc/recirc root slime isnt a concern.
 

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
I'm used to my own ratio of calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite that I use in general. Different ratios for different needs. Lol
 

Red1966

Well-Known Member
It's not about the monetary cost. I use RO water and it takes a long time to fill up the reservoirs, so to have 40 gallons of clear looking water sitting there I thought Id ask. Plus living in a drought prone area if I can avoid squandering additional water Id like to.
I have a 50 gallon plastic trash can I run my RO into starting the day before I change out the reservoir. I then pump the water into the reservoir. Other wise, it would take too long. I got the trash can from Home Depot for $10.00!
 

justugh

Well-Known Member
I have a 50 gallon plastic trash can I run my RO into starting the day before I change out the reservoir. I then pump the water into the reservoir. Other wise, it would take too long. I got the trash can from Home Depot for $10.00!
red why not run a float valve on the your REZ .......just leave the line hooked up and the system going when the water is used it will be replaced
http://www.amazon.com/Okeler-Adjustable-Plastic-Aquarium-Reverse/dp/B00FCKR5EC

it is the same thing they have in a RDWC to feed the mixing cell

i got myself one of theses thing and i love it .............hook it into the deepsink it gives me the length i need for the whole house ................something like this u could in theroy make a piping system .........it has a ball valve so when u turn it on it can fill out before u use any water
http://www.amazon.com/TeleBrands-7809-Pocket-Ultra-Stronger/dp/B00GPULY5Y

i want to move to hydro myself so i looked into this stuff ..........u just need to have a bucket under the RO filter if u ever want to unhook the hose
 

Red1966

Well-Known Member
red why not run a float valve on the your REZ .......just leave the line hooked up and the system going when the water is used it will be replaced
http://www.amazon.com/Okeler-Adjustable-Plastic-Aquarium-Reverse/dp/B00FCKR5EC

it is the same thing they have in a RDWC to feed the mixing cell

i got myself one of theses thing and i love it .............hook it into the deepsink it gives me the length i need for the whole house ................something like this u could in theroy make a piping system .........it has a ball valve so when u turn it on it can fill out before u use any water
http://www.amazon.com/TeleBrands-7809-Pocket-Ultra-Stronger/dp/B00GPULY5Y

i want to move to hydro myself so i looked into this stuff ..........u just need to have a bucket under the RO filter if u ever want to unhook the hose
Because the bypass would be flowing water all day, every day. That's a LOT of water.
 

justugh

Well-Known Member

d0rk2dafullest

Well-Known Member
I have an air handler and a couple dehumidifiers that drain water into a large (clean) plastic trash can outside the room. There is a good amount there each day that feels wasteful to just dump. Does anyone have firsthand experience using this to water plants? (Mixing with bottled nutrients)

I know theoretically it sounds fine, there's no readable ppm and it looks crystal clear..but just wanted to check if anyone *personally* does this successfully with no problems from machinery residue or whatnot.

Thanks.
I use this water to feed my mothers, still strong and healthy. No problems here.
 
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