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Original poster

Could you drink water from a dehumidifier?

23 replies

Theblackdogagain · 21/02/2022 20:17

We've just got a dehumidifier as the house is damp. It seems like magic how the water appears? If you were in a zombie apocalypse could you drink the water? Would it be safe after the main sources became infected?

OP posts:

legalseagull · 21/02/2022 20:18

With a post like this are you sure you haven't already?

TheVolturi · 21/02/2022 20:18

It might if you boiled it and added a purification tablet or something. But it could have mould particles or anything in it.

ChimChimeny · 21/02/2022 20:18

I've decanted ours into an.old. Plastic milk bottle to use to water plants, it's full.of fluff so I wouldn't fancy it unless very desperate

Buzzer3555 · 21/02/2022 20:19

Have you been sniffing glue? If so can i have some? :)

Original poster

Theblackdogagain · 21/02/2022 20:22

When I can't sleep I problem solve and this vould solve the decontamination issue. Ours has a filter so the water looks clear, good shout about putting in it on the plants, seems such a waste to chuck it away.

OP posts:

SkepticalCat · 21/02/2022 20:24

Apparently, it's slightly acidic.

I'd been pouring the water down the bathroom basin plughole and had to call the plumber out as we had a leaky pipe. He told me that the water from the dehumidifier may have eroded the pipe and that it should go down the toilet as it'll be diluted.

But, to answer your actual question. Yes, I probably would drink the dehumidifier water in that situation.

Libertybear80 · 21/02/2022 20:36

No because it would be full of mould spores. I guess it depends how desperate you are really!

DobbyTheHouseElk · 21/02/2022 20:39

MIL uses it for watering her plants.

spikeyprofile · 21/02/2022 20:43

Ooh tell me more about the dehumidifier! Have you got a link?

Crunchymum · 21/02/2022 20:45

I'm sure I read dehumidifier water can be used in the iron?

MrsT1405 · 21/02/2022 20:49

It's essentially de mineralised water. I store it in bottles and use in my steam generator iron.

Purplestar82 · 21/02/2022 20:52

I don’t know the answer but I’ve had exactly the same thoughts OP!

Oakdog · 21/02/2022 20:53

But would you have the electric to run the dehumidifier in the zombie apocalypse?!

Pixiedust1234 · 21/02/2022 20:55

@spikeyprofile

Ooh tell me more about the dehumidifier! Have you got a link?

I got mine from argos. Their cheaper challenger ones work fine.

Op - I think the question is more why would you, rather than can

Original poster

Theblackdogagain · 21/02/2022 21:04

So it was from appliances direct and a 2l one. I got it as someone on mumnet suggested it for cold houses and my sons room has signs of damp. Wete going to use it in different rooms on rotation until ot warms up and I can air the house properly.

OP posts:

Punkypinky · 22/02/2022 02:57

I've often wondered this too OP

TheWestIsTheBest · 22/02/2022 04:01

One of my cats drinks the aircon overflow. But he is an idiot, so who knows if its done him any cognitive damage.

FindingMeno · 22/02/2022 06:51

Like a pp, I think anything electric in a zombie apocalypse wouldn't be your answer.

ChimChimeny · 22/02/2022 07:25

for people with a problem with damp and/or.condensation you can put something like this in the loft, it acts as a dehumidifier but you just leave it alone. We used to get condensation everywhere in winter, installed one of these & don't get any upstairs, dehumidifier on over night & don't get any downstairs either.

www.nuaire.co.uk/product-list-page/drimaster-eco-range

Dehumidifier s are also great for drying washing quicker, we have one of these

www.meaco.com/products/meaco-12l-low-energy-dehumidifier-and-air-purifier

DuckWithOneWing · 22/02/2022 07:33

There was a product on Dragon's Den a while back that was essentially drinkable dehumidifier. The Dragons said it tasted disgusting.

BarbaraofSeville · 22/02/2022 07:38

It can't be both deionised water and acidic enough to corrode pipes as you need ions to make it acidic.

If the filter is clean, there shouldn't be any bacteria in the water so it should be perfectly safe to drink, certainly better than nothing in a zombie apocalypse scenario.

But how you're going to source the electricity to power the dehumidifier is another matter ...

HopefulProcrastinator · 22/02/2022 08:12

In dire straits I would probably drink dehumidifier water to stave off death, but not voluntarily.

We use ours to wash the recycling or as a free flush for the toilet.

Dilbertian · 22/02/2022 08:37

Deionised water is neutral when it is first made. But it doesn't remain that way unless it is properly stored. IIRC it becomes more acidic on exposure to air.

Clean deionised water is safe to drink occasionally, though not as a long term substitute for regular water. But would water from the dehumidifier be clean? Perhaps water that has been collected immediately after you've replaced the filters, and if you had washed the collection tub as well. Otherwise, I'd consider it gray water.

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