Can I Safely Recycle the Water My Dehumidifier Produces?

Water conservation is a major concern in certain states, particularly those facing water restrictions or droughts. In states like Arizona and California, homeowners face water scarcity issues due to local conditions such as prolonged droughts, limited water supply, and increasing demand.

Therefore recycling water that a humidity control system produces is a sustainable practice and a great way to reduce water wastage. Although dehumidifier water is unsafe to drink, you can reuse it for non-potable uses such as watering non-edible plants, moping floors, filling steam irons, and filling toilets.

Let's find out in detail whether it is safe to recycle dehumidifier water and, if so, how you can reuse it.

Can I Safely Recycle the Water My Dehumidifier Produces?

The short answer is yes you can recycle the water your dehumidifier produces but it isn’t safe for drinking. Although the humidifier extracts the water from the air, it is still unsafe to drink. Initially, the water might be clean but it can stagnate and be contaminated with germs such as mold, bacteria, and fungi due to the dirt in the water tanks. 

Moreover, it doesn’t contain the essential minerals that drinking water usually has. This makes it highly unsafe for human consumption. The contaminants are harmful to pets as well. The condensate becomes even more dangerous when you don’t clean your dehumidifier regularly. So, make sure to prioritize maintaining your unit. Otherwise, the germs can enter your indoor air and pose potential health risks.

That said, you can still safely recycle your dehumidifier water for a variety of other uses such as watering houseplants, filling irons, and washing vehicles. There are other useful ways where you can use the water your dehumidifier produces.

Let's discuss some effective non-potable ways.

How Do You Recycle Water from a Dehumidifier?

The lack of minerals, along with the potential presence of dirt, mold, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms, makes dehumidifier condensate unsafe for human and pet consumption. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it for other purposes. This water can be useful in many ways.

1. Watering Houseplants

One of the good uses of water your whole house dehumidifiers or air conditioner produces is watering houseplants. You can also use it to water outdoor plants as long as they are non-edible as this water might contain germs.

Since it might contain pollutants such as metal traces, mold spores, and other harmful microorganisms, avoid using it on vegetables, fruits, and herbs. But, non-edible houseplants, ornamental flowers, and shrubs can benefit from it.

2. Filling Steam Irons

You can also use the condensate to fill steam appliances such as irons. It is recommended to use distilled water for these appliances because regular water contains minerals that can leave stains on clothes when ironing. 

Dehumidifier water is very similar to distilled water, so you can use it to fill steam irons instead of drinking water if you don’t have distilled water available. While it’s a good choice for irons, steamers, and air humidifiers, you need to filter it first as it may contain dust particles.

3. Cleaning Surfaces

This water also proves to be a great choice for non-critical cleaning tasks in place of wastewater. You can use it for cleaning doors, windows, walls, and other surfaces.

To ensure thorough cleaning you can pair it with disinfectant such as bleach, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. So, mix any soap with water from your dehumidifier reservoir and start rubbing your floor, washroom sinks, or any surface that needs cleaning.

4. Filling Radiators

Another important use of dehumidifier condensate is filling your vehicle radiator. It isn’t very safe to use regular drinking water to fill your car radiator. Regular water contains minerals. These minerals start accumulating on the walls of the radiator. This significantly reduces its lifespan. As the water released by a dehumidifier doesn’t contain minerals, it acts as a better alternative to fill the radiator in place of regular water. 

However, dehumidifier water can contain contaminants like dust or bacteria despite the dehumidifier filter, so it is not as pure as distilled water. Therefore, you can consider filtering it. Also, you can mix dehumidifier water with antifreeze and fill the coolant tank, but it is always best to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

5. Flushing Toilets

One of the best ways to avoid wasting tap water is to use wastewater, such as the water collected from dehumidifiers and air conditioners. This water can't be used for potable purposes like drinking or cooking due to possible contaminants. 

So, use it for flushing toilets or any other non-potable purposes, such as watering decorative plants and cleaning. This helps save tap water and promotes sustainable, eco-friendly practices.

6. Watering Compost

Do you have a compost pile? If so, you can use the water collected from your dehumidifier to keep it moist. Doing this helps speed up the breakdown of organic materials. The compost pile doesn’t need fresh or filtered water, and the dehumidifier water can work well as an eco-friendly way to recycle water. 

Keep in mind that water from dehumidifiers can be slightly acidic, which may disturb the pH balance of the compost over time. So, you’ll need to occasionally check the pH level to adjust for any imbalance.

7. Washing Cars

Self-washing can lead to significant water waste if you use tap water. You can effectively reduce this wastage by using dehumidifier water. You just need to mix the condensate with a non-abrasive soap and apply it to your car. This mixture also acts as a disinfectant that neutralizes any harmful organisms that may exist. 

Moreover, if you wash your car with regular water, there is a chance of mineral stains on your vehicle. However, using water collected from a dehumidifier reduces the likelihood of such spots and stains when your car dries.

Remember, you can use the water collected from your dehumidifier for non-potable purposes, as we just discussed. However, you cannot use it for any potable purposes, such as drinking directly. 

Read this to understand why you shouldn’t drink dehumidifier water.

Conclusion

Whether you’re using a commercial dehumidifier in your workspace or a regular unit in your home, you cannot use the water collected from your dehumidifier for potable purposes. You cannot drink it directly, nor can you use it for cooking. Although the condensate may be free from pathogens initially, it can become contaminated when it enters the water reservoir and remains there for some time. Stagnant water is an ideal environment for mold, fungi, and other microorganisms to grow. Moreover, metal particles can mix into the water. 

Therefore, the water from a dehumidifier is not safe for human or pet consumption. It is also very important to note that you should not use dehumidifier condensate for watering vegetables and fruits either. It can only be used for non-potable purposes, as discussed above. When using it for washing purposes, you can mix it with disinfectants. This way you are saving your tap water, promoting sustainable practices. 

If you need anything related to dehumidifiers, such as accessories or replacements, you can explore our website or reach out to our support team. At Aloraircommercial, our dedicated team members will help you find the relevant products at the best price.