Dehumidifiers collect water by removing moisture from the air–making the environment less damp. The water they collect is clean, but it contains potential contaminants. Before you grab a glass, let’s explore why the water they collect is unsafe for drinking. This blog post explores the process behind dehumidifier water collection, its purity levels, and whether it’s suitable for consumption.
What Is Dehumidifier Water?
Dehumidifier water is the liquid made out of the dehumidification process. When the humid air flows through the cold coils of a dehumidifier, it converts the water vapors into droplets.
The dehumidifier water looks clean, but it contains airborne contaminants. It carries dust and bacteria from the environment. The impurities of the dehumidifier water may harbor harmful microorganisms or pollutants, making it unsafe for drinking.
How is Dehumidifier Water Made?
Dehumidifiers are designed to maintain the humidity level of the air to make a room’s environment healthier. Excessive humidity in a room can lead to the growth of mold, allergens, and musty odors. They control humidity levels that improve air quality, which protects property structures in the long run. They pull humid air in to process and remove excessive moisture from the air.
Then, they release drier air back into the room’s environment. Dehumidifiers are used in residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. The water collected by a dehumidifier is created by removing extra humidity from the air. Curious about how it happens? Here’s a simple breakdown of the process step by step. Let’s get into it!
Step 1: Drawing in and Filtering the Air
The process of dehumidification begins when the dehumidifier pulls moist air from the room. This air often carries dust particles and other airborne pollutants, along with water vapor. Some dehumidifiers also come with a built-in filtration system, which makes people confused about the potability of dehumidifier water.
This filtration system only improves the quality of the air you breathe. It captures larger particles of pollutants in the air and prevents those particles from entering the internal components of the dehumidifier. However, it does not purify the dehumidifier water or make it drinkable.
Step 2: Moisture Extraction
The air passes through the cooling coils of the dehumidifier after filtration. These coils cool the air enough that the water vapor turns into liquid droplets. Knowing this process helps you better understand that the water generated by a dehumidifier does not meet the standards of drinking water. It contains impurities and contaminants, such as dust and microorganisms, which are hazardous to health.
Is the Water Collected by Dehumidifiers Not Pure?
The water gathered by the dehumidifiers is not pure and so not potable. Since the dehumidifier draws moisture from the air, it condenses into liquid form. This means the water collected in the process of dehumidification is the result of the humidity in the air. The environment where the dehumidifier functions has many pollutants to make the dehumidifier water unsafe. This is why dehumidifier water is not recommended to drink.
While dehumidification successfully reduces indoor humidity, it does not involve purifying the water. Unlike filtration or distillation–this process does nothing to remove harmful contaminants.
Common Impurities Found in Dehumidifier Water
The air circulating in your home or commercial spaces contains more than just harmless water vapor. It is a mixture of airborne particles, pollutants, and microorganisms. When the dehumidifier works to make the air less humid, these particles eventually end up in the water collected by dehumidifiers. This is how dehumidifier water becomes not potable.
Here are some of the most common contaminants found in the dehumidifier water:
- Dehumidifier water has tiny dust particles floating in the air that keep settling in the reservoir of the dehumidifier.
- Dehumidifier water has microorganisms including harmful bacteria, mold spores, and other microbes that can be fostered in a damp environment.
- Dehumidifier water has allergens like pollen, pet dander, and similar substances that can mix into the water, potentially causing allergies.
- Dehumidifier water has chemical pollutants, such as vapors from household cleaners, paints, or metals and other materials, that may also end up in the collected dehumidifier water.
The Difference Between Purified Water and Dehumidifier Water
The dehumidifier water and purified water are different in terms of their properties. The purpose and quality of dehumidifiers and purified water are also different. Following are some differences between purified and dehumidifier water:
- Purified water is processed to remove impurities from it. Several purification methods, including osmosis, distillation, and deionization, are used to make it drinkable. Whereas, dehumidifier water is not processed using any purification method.
- Purified water comes from natural sources of drinkable water. Whereas, the dehumidifier water is collected from the humidity of the air, and so have airborne pollutants.
- Purified water has no contaminants and pollutants that make it safe for drinking. It rather has minerals that are good for health. On the other hand, the dehumidifier water contains many pollutants that make it unsafe for drinking. Dehumidifier water contains allergens, microbes, and airborne pollutants that persist in the environment.
- Purified water meets the standards for consumption by the World Health Organization. Whereas, the dehumidifier water is not suitable for drinking or cooking. It might look clear, but it cannot be equated to purified water and cannot be utilized for bodily needs.
Why You Should Not Consume Dehumidifier Water?
You should not drink dehumidifier water, as it comes with unhealthy substances and microorganisms. It gathers certain allergens and bacteria from the environment, which makes it the least potable. The dehumidifier water is also not processed or filtered to eliminate any contaminants. It is not purified or distilled, and drinking it may cause you potential health risks.
Secondly, the dehumidifiers are not designed to meet the standards of handling drinking water. Its internal components also foster bacteria. Drinking dehumidifier water may cause gastrointestinal infections and serious threats to your physical health.
However, making it an eco-friendly choice–you can use the dehumidifier water for non-potable purposes. You can filter the dehumidifier water and may use it for cleaning, washing your car, or watering your plants.
Conclusion
It might be technically possible to drink water collected from a dehumidifier after filtration and purification. However, the potable use of this water is not recommended. The humidifier water contains pollutants from the air. It also carries potential contaminants from the dehumidifier. Always remember that clean water is essential for overall well-being. So stick to clean drinking water and put the dehumidifier water to good use by hydrating your favorite plants!