Using a dehumidifier is essential in houses where there are high levels of humidity. It may become too uncomfortable to live in a very humid space, causing extra perspiration, tacky feelings, and a musty smell. However, having too much moisture contributes to more dangerous health risks. Using a dehumidifier, it is simple to negate these difficulties. But you then face the problem of getting tanks filled with water that you are frequently draining, and you might feel as if you are wasting this water. What can you do with it to feel as if you are making fair use of it?
WHAT IS A DEHUMIDIFIER?
A dehumidifier is a mechanical unit that removes moisture from the air. Consider that some homes could be very dry, while others are much humid. When you walk in, you smell must or feel sticky and stuffy. A dehumidifier will require some moisture from the air in such houses, so the humidity level is much more common and comfortable. This fluid is collected in a tank, which must be dumped regularly to make room, so the device can continue running.
BENEFITS OF A DEHUMIDIFIER
Aside from this space's overall comfort level, you will find other benefits to operating a dehumidifier in your house, not the slightest of which is the health element. Among the worst aspects of a space with an excessive amount of moisture from the air regularly is the growth of fungus, mold, and mildew. These growths release spores into the air, which could be annoying and unhealthy for people who don't have breathing issues and downright dangerous for anyone who has allergies, asthma, COPD, and other respiratory ailments.
Removing the extra moisture negates the risks of having these grow on your area and becoming problematic while also enabling you to be more comfortable overall. The water found in the tank is referred to as greywater. It is still great for some purposes. And those are the purposes we would like to consider for recycling because it seems a waste to ditch that fluid without finding another use for it.
WHAT IS GRAY WATER?
Gray water is water that's been used but may nevertheless be considered usable'. By way of example, when you fill out your sink and wash a few dishes (a mild use of the water), this liquid was used and dirtied but is not deemed black water', such as that in a used bathroom. In actuality, there are efforts in several communities to recycle grey water using a sprinkler system to hydrate gardens during arid climates.
Because the water on your dehumidifier has passed through a filter, and it has come into contact with dirt, dust, and other air pollutants inside it, this is deemed grey water.
That means it's appropriate for some things, but it is not drinkable. This is as it is passed over copper and other heavy metals in the coils with no kind of barrier (believe the FDA regulates, by way of example, the coating required on the interiors of plastic bottles and aluminium cans to keep food and beverage from coming into contact with these materials). It's never suggested to consume whatever comes directly into contact with heavy metals and plastics.
KEEPING IT CLEAN
A factor to consider is how often you clean your dehumidifier? To ensure the fluid is safe for use, you will need to be sure you adhere to a routine cleaning and maintenance program on your unit, paying particular attention to the water collection tank. Apart from dumping it frequently -- and saving that water, you'll have to clean it regularly. If you do not, you run the danger of letting microorganisms grow in that tank, which will become toxic to the environment if you use that fluid.
To avoid most of the debris removed from the air contaminating the fluid, make sure you change your filter frequently in the dehumidifier and wash out the grilles on the intake and exhaust of any accumulated dust and dirt. All this will help ensure you get the most out of your dehumidifier and keep the grey liquid you gather usable for many purposes.
USES FOR DEHUMIDIFIER WATER
You can't drink the water, and you don't need to bathe in it. However, there are many other ways to recycle that accumulated liquid, so you feel as though you've done your part in saving it. Not only can this be environmentally friendly, but you might save money also.
Watering Plants. Whether indoors or outdoors, you may use the greywater you recycle from your dehumidifier to water plants. Receive a barrel or big plastic bin of some type, and vacant your dehumidifier tank to this. You will be able to supply this set year-round, even during the dry summer months when you'd use more water. Just dip into your watering can and have at it.
One caveat to this is that you don't wish to use the recycled water on whatever you are likely to eat. Like you cannot consume the water, the plants could intake a few of the things you do not wish to drink. Then they are not acceptable for consumption.
This is a fantastic way to save money, particularly when you've got a large garden or plenty of plants. Your water bill will improve considerably using grey water instead of drinking water for most of your plants.
Like a dishwashing machine or bleach, adding a cleaning solution can make greywater safe for quite a few cleaning purposes. You can wash your tile flooring, clean some surfaces and counters, rinse your sinks and also wash your car. One word of warning when doing the last is to ensure you are careful of anything which may scratch or chip the paint on your vehicle. Nonetheless, it is a reasonably safe presumption that nothing will harm your car or vehicle in this procedure.
Flushing Toilet. Yes, we've got indoor plumbing, and it is a fantastic advantage. However, consider the gallons of water we use every time we flush. There are two methods to take advantage of your greywater to flush the toilet.
1. Fill The Tank. For this to work, you will want the lid off the back of the tank each time you flush. As the toilet flushes, take a bucket filled with your dehumidifier water to pour in the tank, so the water does not operate to fill it. Do this each time you flush, and you're going to conserve the clean, running water by merely using the greywater to flush your toilet.
2. Pour It In the Bowl. If you use enough power when pouring a bucket of grey water into the bowl, you receive the same flushing action as you do when you pull the handle. This is a more direct approach to keep the water from running and ensure that you are reusing as much of the grey water as possible. However, you might wind up overfilling the bowl without the perfect force, so try out the tank method if you are not practiced.
Iron your clothes. After several applications, having steam on your iron makes a significant difference from how you iron.
But regardless of the considerable hazard of heavy residue at the dehumidifier water. It is often cleaner in terms of chemical content water from the tap.
That means less clogging and buildup on your iron, which translates into less chance you will get stains to appear on your clothes once you iron. However, if you're concerned with the number of heavy metals in the greywater here, perhaps this is one of the applications you would like to skip.
Fill Your Radiator. Unlike living things, your car won't have the same problems with what contaminants greywater may contain. Thus, this is an excellent source of water for filling your radiator, in addition to supplementing windshield wiper fluid, even if you want to. Gray water is going to do a fine job of washing your windshield in addition to keeping your vehicle cool as required by working through the radiator.
Use It With Décor. Have you got a tabletop fountain in your home? Perhaps you've got a birdbath outside. These are prime opportunities to reuse the greywater from your dehumidifier. Because nobody is drinking or drinking out of your fountain, and you do not have to waste great running water for this function, you can drain some of the water from your dehumidifier into the fountain and allow it to flow.
If it gets low on water due to evaporation, which happens now and then, it only supplements many greywaters. The same is true of outdoor fountains and birdbaths, where birds are predominantly cooling and rinsing themselves off.
CONTAMINANT REMINDERS
Remember, you will need to care for, clean, and keep your dehumidifier for even the greywater to be recyclable. Various problems could arise based on a contaminated machine, which may negate your ability to use your dehumidifier's output safely. Below are a few of the contaminants you need to think about when collecting and using the water.
Airborne Contaminants
Recall that the water comes from the air around you, containing allergens and other contaminants. To keep these from infesting your water supply, make sure you change your dehumidifier filter regularly and clean the intake and exhaust grilles in your dehumidifier. This will prevent deposits from entering the water collection tank.
Microorganisms
You need to regularly clean the water collection tank, not just empty it. This consistently damp or moist environment is a breeding ground for nasty germs that can contaminate food and water. As you should not be watering plants that you wish to eat anyhow, it's essential to make sure that you aren't breeding these dangerous agents and ensure that you don't have mould, mildew, or fungus growing on your tank.
Copper and Aluminum
The coils in the dehumidifier contain both aluminium and copper. These heavy metals can leach to the water source. How? As the water condenses, it sticks to the coils before leaking to the water collection tank.
When it drips into the tank, it can carry microscopic amounts of these metals with it. That is why canned foods need a wax coating within them so that there isn't any direct contact that can lead to leaching of the aluminium into the food supply.
BOTTOM LINE
While you can prevent damage to your health by not consuming the water and not watering plants, you will eat with all the moisture. It would be best if you still were cautious about this specific issue. Suppose you wash with the greywater from a dehumidifier.
In that case, it is ideal to use gloves or wash your hands immediately when done to prevent contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth with any residual trace elements.
With several various applications for dehumidifier water, it is not tough to locate ways to save money and conserve water all around. There are only some precautionary measures to consider in doing this that will keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy on the way.
If you keep those items in mind, you can find a good deal of use from the greywater you create, mainly because you'll most likely have to empty the tank at least one time a day. That can go a long way, significantly watering plants or cleaning parts of your house, so take advantage of each drop, and be sure to recycle so carefully you're safe but efficient!
