Is Water From A Dehumidifier Safe To Drink? 5 Reasons Of No!

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “is water from a dehumidifier safe to drink?”, you’re not alone. But, unfortunately, the answer is a no!

Here, we will discuss five reasons you shouldn’t drink water from your dehumidifier. Also, what you can do with it instead of wasting it.

Is Water From A Dehumidifier Safe To Drink? 5 Reasons It Is Not!

A dehumidifier is a great appliance in your home – especially if you live in a damp or humid climate.

Dehumidifiers work by removing moisture from the air. That’s why it can help to reduce mold and mildew growth and eliminate musty odors. So, you have to empty the reservoir constantly.

Now, you might think, is water from a dehumidifier safe to drink? Otherwise, a lot of water will be wasted. Or if you can’t drink, what else can you do with a dehumidifier’s water?

While a dehumidifier is a wonderful addition to any home, the water it produces is unsafe to drink. However, you can use it somewhere else – other than drinking.

There are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t drink water from your dehumidifier.

1. It Contains Harmful Chemicals:

When a dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air, it collects it in the form of water. That water underwent various processes. For example, passing through a compressor, cooling coils, and a fan.

These components can contain harmful chemicals like lead and mercury. They are not good for our health if ingested.

Moreover, the water can also contain chemicals used in the unit’s refrigerant. In this way, it is also harmful.

So, it has already been in contact with many harmful chemicals before reaching the water tank. In case you drink it, all these harmful contaminants can damage your stomach.

2. It’s Not Potable:

Even if the water is free of harmful chemicals, it’s still not safe to drink. The water from a dehumidifier is not potable. This is because it is not treated or filtered like drinking water.

In case it has bacteria or other pollutants that could make you sick, there is no shield for your protection.

A dehumidifier’s water does not pass through any filter that can kill bacteria and germs. So, there is a high risk of swallowing unfiltered water.

And of course, nobody wants to take the risk of drinking unfiltered water willingly.

3. The Water Is Often Contaminated With Bacteria:

A dehumidifier’s water has a high chance of contamination with microorganisms. In other words, a unit’s reservoir contains polluted water.

This means a water tank of a unit doesn’t get full immediately. Instead, it takes hours to collect water from the air.

As a result, the water remains in the tank for several hours. That’s why there is a high risk of bacterial contamination.

Drinking polluted water leads to health problems such as diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink water from a dehumidifier.

4. You’ll Get Sick Of The Taste:

Water has no color, taste, or odor. Therefore, if you find any color, odor, or taste, you will never like to drink it unless it is a type of human drink.

The same principle applies to dehumidifier water. After going through several phases, the water adopts a specific taste. It maybe the chemicals that give it a specific taste.

These chemicals come from the plastic parts of a dehumidifier or the air.

As a result, the water from a dehumidifier is often stale and has an unpleasant taste. So, if you try to drink it, a strange, unpleasant taste will make you throw it away.

5. You Could End Up With A Serious Disease:

We drink water to stay hydrated and to get rid of toxins in our bodies.

When you drink water from a unit, you consume the toxins in the air, which is not good for your health. In fact, you could end up with a serious disease if you drink contaminated water from a dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers work by drawing in air and passing it over a cooling coil. This process can cause bacteria to grow in the water.

So drinking such water can cause serious illnesses like cholera and dysentery. That is why you should never drink water from a dehumidifier.

Is Dehumidifier’s Water Same As Distilled Water?

No, the water from a dehumidifier is not distilled. However, distilled water is safe to drink because it is purified through distillation.

We get distilled water by boiling tap water and then condensing the steam back into the water. This process removes impurities from the water.

You can say distilled water is the collection of water vapors from regular water.

On the other side, a dehumidifier’s water is not distilled. The water is merely collected from the air. It is not treated or purified in any way.

Yes, that water is collected through condensation but is not pure. After condensation, the water passes through several phases.

Like, through the coils, pipes, filters, and then drips into a water tank. The tank even does not meet the hygienic standards of drinking water.

So, it is not safe as distilled water. That’s why you should never drink water from a dehumidifier.

How Can You Use The Dehumidifier’s Water?

You may be wondering if it is safe to drink the water that comes out of your dehumidifier.

After all, you’re using this machine to remove moisture from the air in your home. So the water it produces must be pure, right? But, this is not always the case.

The water from a unit can contain harmful chemicals and bacteria, which is why you should never drink it.

In that situation, how can you use that water? To sort out this confusion, here are some ideas to use your unit’s water;

1. Water Your Plants:

The water produced by a dehumidifier is actually great for watering plants. It is free of salt and other minerals that can build up in your plant’s soil and harm them.

So, you can use this water to keep your houseplants healthy and hydrated. Plus, it is much cheaper than buying bottled water for your plants.

2. Clean Your Home:

You can also use the water from your dehumidifier to clean your home. It is a great way to get rid of dirt, dust, and other airborne contaminants that can accumulate in your home.

If you notice mold growing anywhere in your home, spray the affected area with your unit’s water.

Leave it for a few minutes before wiping it away. Then, the mold will be gone, and your surfaces will be clean and safe.

3. Mop The Floor:

Another way to use the water from your dehumidifier is to mop your floors.

The water will help pick up any dirt or debris on your floor and leave your home looking clean and polished.

Also, you don’t have to worry about the water being too harsh on your floors. Because it is already diluted.

4. Wash Windows:

If you have windows that are starting to look a little bit dirty, you can use the water from your dehumidifier to wash them. 

Just be sure to use a clean cloth, so you don’t spread any dirt or debris around. You can also use this water to clean mirrors and other glass surfaces in your home.

5. Wash Toilet:

Toilets are the parts of our homes that we use the most but often neglect to clean. However, you can use the water from your dehumidifier to clean your toilet.

Just pour it into the bowl and scrub as usual. The water will help to remove stains and leave your toilet looking and smelling fresh and clean.

6. Clean Tiles:

Tiles can be difficult to clean, but the water from your dehumidifier can help.

Pour some onto a cloth or sponge and scrub the tiles. The water will break down any dirt or grime and leave your tiles looking sparkling clean.

Just be sure to dilute it with equal water so it is not too strong for your tiles.

Final Remarks:

Is water from a dehumidifier safe to drink? The simple answer is no. It is not safe, and there are many reasons to avoid drinking it.

While the water from your dehumidifier is not safe to drink, there are many other ways for using it. The water is very useful around the house. You can use it to clean, disinfect and even polish surfaces.

So don’t just pour it down the drain – put it to good use around your home instead. Your wallet (and your home!) will thank you for it.