Anyone use a dehumidifier for fresh water replacement for going off grid?

[Kstills]

Self explanatory.

[inthepines]

It isn't recommended due to metal leeching.

[NLOVNIT]

I haven't done it, but I'd think if you could distill it or maybe RO it, it would be drinkable. How that's done, I don't know. Although, I still wouldn't drink that water.

[jondrew55]

Yea, those condenser coils are dust and mold magnets. You don't want to drink what comes out of that.

[Kluffinator]

With the right treatment process you can make any water potable. You could certainly use it for flushing toilets.

[Bobby F]

Heck of an energy cost per pint. Might be cheaper to have it delivered by Uber.

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by Bobby F

Heck of an energy cost per pint. Might be cheaper to have it delivered by Uber.

I’m guessing they have enormous solar install so power is free, but finding fresh water means a long drive into town.

[twogypsies]

How are you going to run the dehumidifier. How will you dispose of the water that you plan to add. It takes a long time for a dehumidifier to accumulate a lot of water. Go into town & dump and load up with water. Much easier. By the time 10-14 days were up we were always ready to move on to a new spot anyway.

[NewBlackDak]

It would take quite a bit of power to clean the water for consumption unless you’re distilling with heat from a fire. You also don’t get much water from it.
I think it would be hard to make it worth the effort.

[Steve43]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

How are you going to run the dehumidifier. How will you dispose of the water that you plan to add. It takes a long time for a dehumidifier to accumulate a lot of water. Go into town & dump and load up with water. Much easier. By the time 10-14 days were up we were always ready to move on to a new spot anyway.

Umm, does not take any time in Florida to accumulate water. We run a dehumidifier in the coach 24/7. Have to empty at least twice a day (1.5 gals per). If you can find cheap electric to run, can make lots of water. Guess we may be alone, but we never drink the water regardless of where/when we are hooked up (or not). We always drink bottled water and coffee with distilled water so if I were tight on water, using dehumidifier water would not phase me. Used a lot worse while in 'Nam.

[Kstills]

Lot's of military grade filters that will allow you to drink water out of a virus infested mud puddle, so cleaning up any contaminants would not be a problem. And, for the squeamish, you can use the reconstituted water for showers or washing dishes.

As for power consumption, people are running dehumidifiers for mold remediation anyway, so that water is going to be available regardless.

Also, with a big enough bank of lithium batteries and solar panels, power shouldn't be an issue.

There's a company that makes a fresh water system using humidity to generate the water, it starts at about 3.5k. A decent sized dehumidifier that can generate 4-6 gallons of water a day would cost around 2-300.

[Mark_K5LXP]

If it's a warm place like Florida where you want to run A/C anyway, seems one could tap into the condensate drain already there. 2 for 1.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[Kluffinator]

I drink condensate all the time. My friend J. Daniels makes the best.

[Fiesta48]

You can use dehumidifier water for batteries. Instead of buying it.