Dehumidifier Water

arigram · Mar 31, 2008

There more than a couple thread regarding water used in the darkroom and there is a passing mention of the subject, but I would like a definite answer:
- Can I use the water I get from a dehumidifier unit to replace distilled water for developing of film?
- Is there a way to test if its suitable?
The unit in question (Singer 2100LCD) contains a filter and an ionizer but I am not sure if they have any effect in the collected from humidity water.

dpurdy · Mar 31, 2008

i would like to know as well so perhaps you could try it and report back. My water collection bucket isn't exactly sparkling clean looking though the water looks clean and clear when i dump it.
Dennis

climbabout · Mar 31, 2008

distilled water

Technically speaking, the water you get from a dehumidifier is distilled, however it is not pure, since it has not been boiled like commercially bought distilled water is. Also it is subject to whatever contaminants are present in your collection tank and on the coils of the dehumidifier. In practice, I would think it would be ok to use as long as your dehumidifier is clean.
Hope this helps.
Tim

Photo Engineer · Mar 31, 2008

It usually grows a lot of bacteria and mold and collects household air pollutants such as oils, spices and other things such as hair, dandruff and skin flakes.

So, to use it, filter it, boil it and then it might be usable. By that time you are just as well off using distilled.

PE

arigram · Mar 31, 2008

Photo Engineer said:
It usually grows a lot of bacteria and mold and collects household air pollutants such as oils, spices and other things such as hair, dandruff and skin flakes.

So, to use it, filter it, boil it and then it might be usable. By that time you are just as well off using distilled.

PE

Yuck.
So, I should just keep buying distilled water from the supermarket and connect the dehumidifier to the drain?

Photo Engineer · Mar 31, 2008

Thats what I do. It goes into our basement drain directly.

Every once in a while, that grunge plugs up the hole with brown glop that I have to force out of the drain tube. Nasty stuff.

Oh, a vet once told me not to give it to pets either if they were ever prescribed distilled water for a kidney problem.

PE

arigram · Mar 31, 2008

Suppose I filter it well through a couple of coffee filters, do I still have to boil it?

Photo Engineer · Mar 31, 2008

IDK. Bacteria and molds can grow in neutral and alkaline ammonium fixes. They can also grow in photo flo solutions. You are going to have to determine that by experimentation.

PE

matti · Mar 31, 2008

Aristotelis. I read the title and thought you were going to dehumidify water... And then I though about tomorrow. and then I thought about the time zone for Crete and got a bit confused.

/matti

arigram · Mar 31, 2008

Photo Engineer said:
IDK. Bacteria and molds can grow in neutral and alkaline ammonium fixes. They can also grow in photo flo solutions. You are going to have to determine that by experimentation.

So, if i boil it, it will be ok?
Even not boiled, but used in a short amount of time, will it become a problem on the actual developed film?

Matti, can I too have what you're drinking?

Photo Engineer · Mar 31, 2008

arigram said:
So, if i boil it, it will be ok?
Even not boiled, but used in a short amount of time, will it become a problem on the actual developed film?

Matti, can I too have what you're drinking?

Ari;

IDK. Never tried to do it.

PE

arigram · Mar 31, 2008

These threads I've found have some horror stories regarding using this water:
http://www.thekrib.com/Filters/dehumidifier.html
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=237065

I think I'll just drain it.

Louis Nargi · Apr 1, 2008

I'v been using it for years with no problem. Just filter it though acoffee filter and put in gal jugs. It is distilled water.

Martin Aislabie · Apr 2, 2008

I am an Air Conditioning Engineer and I would never, ever, ever touch the stuff.
Condensing water from the atmosphere is not the same as collecting distilled water from a sealed system.
As PE says - as you condense the water is washes the air from which it was obtained.
In the house that means dust (fabric/carpet/skin/pet hair/pollen/fine soil particles/cooking fats ......) plus what ever atmospheric pollutants happen to be in your local atmosphere.
If you have ever had the misfortune to have to clear out an air conditioning condensate drain you would realise what a disgusting amount of grunge gets washed out of the in the condensate.
I imagine you could particle filter it/distil it several times/chemically neutralise it into a usable form but it would be a huge task.
It would be easier to start with Tap water
Buying Distilled or Deionised water is much much quicker, simpler and more guaranteed
Martin

bobwysiwyg · Apr 2, 2008

arigram said:
Yuck.
So, I should just keep buying distilled water from the supermarket and connect the dehumidifier to the drain?

Yes. The condensation coils probably have more crud on them than you can imagine and it all ends up in the water. You'd be better off using tap water.

arigram · Apr 2, 2008

OK, I had enough scares!
I have been already draining it!

jpeets · Apr 8, 2008

Given what appears to be a consensus that water from a dehumidifier is not similar to distilled, I have wondered if there was a reasonable means to distill my own. I did acquire a condensing tube (don't know the technical term for it) consisting of a glass outer jacket with inlet and outlet and a coiled inner tube. I could McGuyver something, but I also wonder if the cost of running the thing (running cold water and boiling the water) doesn't detract from the advantages (i.e. convenience and volume available).

My water is from a deep well, and is very hard, so I am reluctant to use it for a lot of my darkroom processes.

Is anyone distilling their own?

Dehumidifier Water

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