No, the manufacturers say not to drink it. The Frigidaire use and care manual states that bucket water "is not potable and cannot be used for drinking," and the Midea MAD50PS1QWT user guide says "Do not drink the water from the bucket."
The sources advise against drinking it, with one qualified exception from the McGill Office for Science and Society. They split more on plants, and they disagree on how much metal the water carries.
At The Indoor Report, we compile what manufacturers and published sources say about this water. We have not measured any dehumidifier water ourselves, so every figure here is credited to the source that published it.
Can You Drink Dehumidifier Water?
The manufacturers say not to drink it, and the other sources advise against it with one conditional exception.
Frigidaire's use and care manual tells owners to discard the bucket water, because it "is not potable and cannot be used for drinking." Midea's guide gives the same instruction in shorter form.
Stanford Magazine says the water "can be loaded with biological contaminants and metallic residues that are not safe to drink." EngineerFix says it "must be considered non-potable and potentially hazardous to human and pet health." HouseFresh summarizes Stanford's caution about mildew, algae, mold and metal residue in the bucket.
The McGill Office for Science and Society takes a narrower position. Joe Schwarcz, writing on 5 July 2018, calls the water "possibly" drinkable, depending on how clean the tank is and how long the water sits.
What Dehumidifier Water Contains
Dehumidifier water is condensed moisture from room air, and it is not sterile.
McGill describes the unit as a refrigerator with exposed cooling coils. Vapor condenses on the coils and drips into a tank. Because evaporation leaves impurities and minerals behind, McGill calls the water "comparable to distilled water" in purity.
Purity does not mean sterility. McGill says standing water in the tank can be "a hospitable medium for the growth of bacteria and molds," and that regular tank cleaning reduces the risk. EngineerFix says dust, pollen and mold spores wash into the bucket and multiply in dark, damp conditions.
EngineerFix names Legionella and Pseudomonas as bacteria that thrive in stagnant water.
Metals are the second concern, and the sources disagree on the amount. Stanford Magazine says the condensate can contain lead and other metal residues from component parts. EngineerFix says trace copper, lead, aluminum and zinc can leach from the cooling coils and parts, at parts per billion.
Grist, writing in 2014 about air conditioner condensate rather than dehumidifiers, says that condensate is generally free of heavy metals. It adds that leaks or clogs can leave stagnant pools where bacteria grow.
Boiling does not resolve these problems. Stanford Magazine says the water is never sterilized through boiling. EngineerFix says boiling can kill bacteria, but it will not remove heavy metals, dust or volatile organic compounds, and it can concentrate non-volatile contaminants.
How It Compares to Distilled Water
Dehumidifier water is close to distilled water in purity, according to McGill and HouseFresh.
McGill calls it comparable in purity. Stanford Magazine says that without the contaminants, dehumidifier water "wouldn't be terribly different from distilled water." HouseFresh concludes it is closer to distilled water than to tap water, with no trace minerals such as calcium.
HouseFresh's author reported total dissolved solids (TDS) readings of 7 ppm for dehumidifier water, 45 ppm for filtered tap water and 54 ppm for tap water.
Stanford Magazine says distilled water is perfectly safe to drink, even if most people find it a little off-putting. The same source names the contaminants as the reason dehumidifier water is not safe to drink.
For the separate question of distilled water in a humidifier, see distilled water for a humidifier. For comparisons with other treated waters, see distilled vs. purified water and distilled vs. filtered water.
Using Dehumidifier Water on Plants
EngineerFix says dehumidifier water is acceptable for ornamental plants.
Laidback Gardener says the condensate is demineralized, with essentially no minerals plants can use. It lists flowers, container plants, houseplants, shrubs, trees and lawns as plants that can be safely watered with it. It recommends the water for carnivorous plants and for chlorine-sensitive plants such as dracaenas, marantas and spider plants.
Stanford Magazine says it is probably not a good idea to water plants you intend to eat. For other plants, it suggests a small test first.
Edible plants are the disputed case. Laidback Gardener says to avoid them, though it puts the risk as low if you water the soil rather than the foliage and rinse the produce. Grist says irrigating plants is fine if produce is washed carefully, and EngineerFix says never to use the water on plants meant for human or animal consumption.
Pets and Dehumidifier Water
EngineerFix is the only published source on this page that mentions pets, and it calls the water potentially hazardous to pet health.
EngineerFix also says pet dander is among the particles the water collects. It says the water must be considered non-potable, and it excludes plants meant for animal consumption from any use of the water.
Household Uses for Dehumidifier Water
Flushing toilets is the household use that both Stanford Magazine and EngineerFix list.
Stanford Magazine says most condensate can safely be used for flushing toilets. EngineerFix lists the following uses and one exclusion.
Laidback Gardener calls the water gray water that needs no special treatment for other uses. The sources do not describe any treatment step beyond that.
- Flushing toilets (Stanford Magazine, EngineerFix)
- Steam irons (EngineerFix)
- Mopping and washing non-porous surfaces (EngineerFix)
- Not for ultrasonic humidifiers (EngineerFix)
- Not for drinking, cooking, or plants meant for human or animal consumption (EngineerFix)
Cleaning the Tank Between Uses
TCL says to empty the bucket regularly to prevent stagnant water and mold growth.
TCL says to wash the tank with warm soapy water, or with warm water and vinegar. It says to scrub off residue or mold, rinse, and dry the tank fully.
McGill ties cleaning to the drinking question. Regular tank cleaning reduces the risk of bacteria and mold, and the coils must be clean.
Draining a Dehumidifier Instead of Emptying the Bucket
Continuous drainage sends the water through a hose to a drain, instead of into the bucket.
Frigidaire's manual says continuous drainage needs a garden hose and a nearby drain, with the hose secured and free of kinks. Pump-equipped models have a pump mode.
Frigidaire support says small dust particles collect in the water and can form sludge and algae that block the hose. It recommends a garden hose of 1/2 inch or larger, because small hoses clog, and says to flush the hose periodically with clean water.
Midea's guide says to run the hose from the drain outlet to a drain, and that the unit must sit above the drain. On some models, water can be pumped by putting the unit in pump mode and attaching the pump hose.
Midea's FAQ says the unit uses gravity to feed water down the hose, and the hose should never run higher than the drain point. It also says pump units need the drain pump filter attached.
Whole-home units differ. The Aprilaire 1870F manual says the drain outlet can be hard-piped with 3/4 inch tubing, or fitted with 1/2 inch clear PVC tubing. It calls for a constant downward slope, installation in a condensate pan, a float switch, and an annual check of the drain for blockage.
ENERGY STAR says most whole-home dehumidifiers have only a drain, routed to a floor drain or condensate pump by an HVAC professional. For how dehumidifier types differ, see types of dehumidifiers.
How Much Water a Dehumidifier Produces
Dehumidifier capacity is usually measured in pints removed per 24 hours, according to ENERGY STAR.
Stanford Magazine says dehumidifiers are sized by pints removed per 24 hours. HouseFresh says a standard commercial dehumidifier can remove up to 30 pints per day. Laidback Gardener says a dehumidifier produces a considerable amount of water that may need emptying sometimes daily.
For what running a unit costs, see dehumidifier running cost.
For the mold side of the question, see dehumidifier for mold. For unit selection, see best dehumidifier.
Common questions
Is dehumidifier water the same as distilled water?
Not exactly. McGill calls it comparable to distilled water in purity, and HouseFresh reports it is closer to distilled water than to tap water. Stanford Magazine says the contaminants in dehumidifier water are what make it unsafe to drink, while distilled water is perfectly safe to drink.
Can you water plants with dehumidifier water?
Yes for ornamental plants, according to EngineerFix. Laidback Gardener lists flowers, container plants, houseplants, shrubs, trees and lawns as plants that can be safely watered with it. Edible plants are disputed, and Stanford Magazine says it is probably not a good idea to water plants you intend to eat.
Does boiling make dehumidifier water safe to drink?
No. EngineerFix says boiling can kill bacteria but will not remove heavy metals, dust or volatile organic compounds, and it can concentrate non-volatile contaminants. Stanford Magazine says the water is never sterilized through boiling.
Can dehumidifier water go in an ultrasonic humidifier?
No. EngineerFix says to avoid using dehumidifier water in ultrasonic humidifiers. It lists steam irons, mopping, washing non-porous surfaces and flushing toilets as uses instead.