Air conditioner condensate water is a great, all-natural alternative to store-bought or tap water. It’s demineralized, which means it’s free of minerals, making it perfect for watering plants, topping up the iron, house cleaning, and car maintenance. If you accidentally drink it, don’t worry — it’s not toxic. However, it’s not drinking water, so it might contain microorganisms in the system or heavy metals and plastic materials collected as it passes through the pipes.
The waste water that comes out of the air conditioner can be used in many ways; it is not toxic but should not be drunk. Why? And how can it be recycled? With the strong heat of these summer days, there are many people who wonder whether the water collected by the air conditioner, that is, the condensate that is produced when the air conditioner sucks in hot air and returns it cool and dehumidified, should be thrown away or can be used to water plants or recovered for some other useful use in everyday life.
Air conditioner waste water is condensate water, that is, demineralized water, essentially devoid of minerals. As such, demineralized water is not dangerous if accidentally drunk, but it is also not healthy because, being precisely devoid of minerals, it can to cause major salt deficits in the body, especially when consumed regularly. Air conditioner water, in particular, is not a safe water to drink, however, as it can be contaminated by microorganisms in the system and contain heavy metals or plastic materials collected through the exhaust system.
What air conditioner wastewater contains
The waste water produced by the air conditioner when in operation is condens ate water: condensate water is demineralized water, that is, free of mineral salts but not of any bacteria or microorganisms.
Compared to distilled water, with which it is often confused and which is instead practically completely free of mineral residues, ions and microorganisms (it is microbiologically pure), demineralized water-by definition-is water in which the saline component, mainly calcium and magnesium salts, is absent, but which does not have a high bacteriological purity: in particular, air conditioner waste water, which is uncontrolled demineralized water, can be contaminated by microorganisms in the system but also by heavy metals or plastic materials collected in the system’s pipes.
How to recycle water: household cleaning and other uses
Air conditioner waste water can be recycled in a number of ways, as it is suitable for all those uses where water with low hardness is needed, that is, with a low content of salts, such as calcium and magnesium, which are responsible for limescale. This is because, as mentioned above, air conditioner condensate water is demineralized water, which can therefore be used, for example, in household appliances that create or utilize steam.
Air conditioner condensate water can then be used for topping up the iron or in steamers, steam cleaners, and steam scrubbers, in which the use of demineralized water is always recommended because it prevents the formation of limescale. Demineralized water can also be used in car maintenance, such as topping up the windshield wiper tray, and in the home for cleaning glass or steel surfaces, as well as plastic or ceramic materials, in cases where no special disinfection is needed.
Air conditioner water can be used to water plants
Exhaust water from the air conditioner can be used to water plants, particularly acidophiles, such as hydrangeas, azaleas, hibiscus, bougainvillea, and oleanders, and climbers such as ivy, wisteria, and jasmine, but also citrus trees, including lemons and tangerines.
In fact, these plants prefer acidic soil (pH below 6.5), which demineralized water will not alter, as it does not contain alkalizing minerals, such as calcium and magnesium salts. Carnivorous plants and some types of orchids also prefer demineralized water, which also prevents the formation of lime scale at the edges of the pot, in saucers and on leaves when sprayed directly on the foliage.
Why condensation water cannot be drunk
The water collected by the air conditioner is demineralized water, which is neither toxic nor poses any particular health consequences if accidentally drunk: not that it is drinking water, however, for several reasons. First, because, being devoid of mineral salts, demineralized water is not a water suitable for human or animal consumption (so it should not be put in the bowl of dogs, cats or otherwise given to animals to drink), as it goes to alter the osmotic balance of the body, taking away mineral salts: this can pose several health risks, especially when demineralized water is consumed regularly and for long periods of time.
Added to this is the risk of contamination, as demineralized water itself does not have high bacteriological purity. Therefore, it is always inadvisable to drink demineralized water or use it for food purposes, all the more so when it comes to air conditioner condensate water, which is clearly not a controlled demineralized water, with the real possibility of it containing microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and mold) present in the system, as well as the risk of heavy metals or plastic materials released from the pipes.
For these reasons, air conditioner condensate water is not suitable for human or animal consumption. This is also true for possible uses in aquariums, where the use of controlled demineralized water is still often recommended to keep fish healthy and plants thriving.
The risk of contamination in air conditioner waste water is also reflected in beauty tips (controlled demineralized water is great for washing hair because it gives shine) and in the production of, for example, soaps: in these cases, the condensate water should still be boiled and then allowed to cool before use.
