Dehumidifier Water

[wilbeck]

Is the water collected from a dehumidifier in my basement a satisfactory substitute for RO water or rainwater? Thanks for any information.

Wilson

 

[kentuckiense]

Should be pretty much the same as distilled water, no?

 

[Mahon]

Wilson,

I use this water continuously, we have a de-humidifier in the house during the summer, and my orchids have not died yet... it is, for the most part, a very clean water. The purest of all waters is distilled water, which is boiling the water and capturing the steam to create pure water. This water goes about $.27 a gallon.

-Pat

 

[ScottMcC]

the "purest" is double-distilled, de-ionized water. but that's typically only available in chemistry labs...

 

[SlipperFan]

I think you have to be careful with dehu water -- if it develops slime in the container, I wouldn't use it -- it's probably collecting "stuff" from the air. But if it's clear, it should be OK.

 

[wilbeck]

Thanks for the information. I'll try it. My plants seem to do reasonably well on our very hard tap water, but maybe this will be better.

Wilson

 

[Ron-NY]

You may want to add some of the house water for Dehumidifier water has no minerals at all.

 

[Ross]

I put a couple drops of Physan 20 into the dehumidfier collection tank every few fills and that seem to control the formation of slime in the tank.

 

[wilbeck]

Thanks Paphreek. I'll look for it. What is the slime anyway? Is it truly harmful?

Wilson

 

[Heather]

I think, that pink slimy stuff is some sort of mildew?
I'm not sure, but I get it too, and have to clean regularly to keep it at bay.

I'm cool with that.

 

[wilbeck]

Hello Heather,

The slime is not pink, but colorless. I used the dehumidifier water today, leaving the slime in the collection bucket. the water was clear, odorless and tasted fine and I ain't dead yet. We'll see if the same can be said about the two Oncidiums I watered with it.

Wilson

 

[Heather]

I love how we all taste things!

 

[Wendy]

I used the dehumidifier water from our furnace and the dehumidifier for awhile and nothing bad ever happened. Now i use rainwater for my plants and use the dehumidifier water to put in the humidifier.

 

[Marco]

mildew water and orchid discharge are on totally different levels!!!

 

[PHRAG]

I tasted Bayer Advanced once while misting my plants for insects. It tastes like burning.

 

[Heather]

...and use the dehumidifier water to put in the humidifier.

:rollhappy:

 

[Rick]

Thanks Paphreek. I'll look for it. What is the slime anyway? Is it truly harmful?

Wilson

Its a whole ecosystem of various bacteria and molds. Most species are benign, but a true pathogen could be lurking in the goo.:evil:

 

[wilbeck]

I just took a sip of the water and didn't touch the slime, which is stable. It may be some sort of glycocalyx. Maybe Wednesday I'll have a chance to peek at it under a microscope.

 

[Heather]

I just took a sip of the water and didn't touch the slime, which is stable. It may be some sort of glycocalyx. Maybe Wednesday I'll have a chance to peek at it under a microscope.

You're a brave man.
:wink: