Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

... lately I have a dehumidifier running in my shop quite a bit - it produces a load of - what looks like - clean water...

Right now I empty a 2 gallon tank every day - but if I connected the "constant running drain-hose" I bet I get way over 5 gallons if I let it run 24/7...
Basically any A/C will be the same - so if one would collect all the run-off - it could be a substantial amount of water - potentially enough to keep the system topped up....

I know there is a load of surfaces this condensate comes in contact with, before collecting in the tank...
There could be longterm leaching of copper, aluminium, zink, chrome, etc....

Did anyone ever any water analysis on these condensates?

One could easily pass the resulting water through some gravel/sand filter (if it makes any sense)...

Considering the need to prepare tap-water for Aquaponics use - this water has no chlorine or chloramine...

What DOES it have that would be detrimental to the system?


Cheers,

thjakits

It would also be demineralized water. I guess it would matter how your dehumidifier works.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

...the run-of-the-mill dehumidifier, same as a common A/C - just doesn't blow the cold air out - closer/smaller system....

Something like that: https://www.amazon.com/Vremi-Energy-Deh ... iatesce-20

thjakits

Well I haven't done tests or anything, but my girlfriend's dog got bladder stones once, and the vet associated it with the high lavels of calcium in the tap water. At one point we filled the dogs water bowl with dehumidifier condensate after using it in a room where we were drying laundry. The dog was not keen to drink from this water, and my girlfriend tried it and determined that it had a hint of deturgent flavour. I personally don't understand how deturgent flavour evaporates and condenses along with water vapor, but I believe that thats what was happening, more because of the dogs refusal to drink it than anything else.

Don't know how useful that info is for you but anyway, an anecdote for anecdote's sake!

Hello,
I once read the writings of a gentleman named Brad Lancaster (a crusader for wise water use in the Arizona desert) somewhere online, in which he discussed using condensate from air conditioners. He has traveled to many parts of the world to study traditional wisdom relating to water use, and I believe that he wrote about condensate use in the Mid East. I also think that he talked about what minerals/ elements you find (or don't find) in it.

It might be worth looking up.....

Interesting!!

I will dig up on Brad Lancaster...

I certainly believe the detergent thing! Especially if the dehumidifier runs no filter - even then - detergent is dissolved in water and the dehumidifier (or AC) will not only condense ACTUAL water-vapor but also "collect" small water droplets in the air (think clouds or fog...). you only need the tiniest amount of detergent to get a taste or scent of it!
Does it happen to you to have a sealed bag of detergent in the car and suddenly the whole car smells overwhelmingly of detergent? - HOW, if the bag is sealed? Also, you cannot store detergent in your pantry or most of the food, certainly all the open food (veggies, fruit) will get a soapy taste or smell! Even just the trip home from shopping...

Lack or loss of minerals is one thing, but that could be countered by adding elsewhere - as already has to be done. I think hardly any water will have EVERYTHING we want in the system....

thjakits