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recycling air conditioner condensate
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Posted by pvel 7 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 18, 08 at 5:13
i decided to place a bucket under the pipe that drains water from my home central air conditioner unit as it was causing the exterior wall to be wet.
i was surprised how much water collects. it is probably about 2-3 gallons a day. i now use this to water my plants. with temps in north arkansas hitting 100 F this week, this is looking like a good idea.
paul |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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I have been watering my rhodo this way for the last 3 years. Was worried about it at first when DH started doing it, but rhodo is doing great. The AC water & rain is all it gets.
I also put containers under my down spouts to collect the rain water.
Def a saver! |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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- Posted by dorisl 5 NW Chicago burbs (My Page) on
Fri, Jul 18, 08 at 22:47
| I remember getting FIFTEEN gallons in a day last year, the maters lerved it! unforunately, we had to reconfigure things and now it goes out thru the sump pump, which is good for the flower garden by the outlet, but no maters. :)
D |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| We added a plastic extension tube to the metal discharge pipe and the water drains to a nearby garden with clethra. They love it! |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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- Posted by jroot 5A Ont. Canada (near (My Page) on
Mon, Jul 21, 08 at 15:42
| Gosh, I wonder if it is legal in Colorado. LOL See previous posting: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/frugal/msg061846516039.html?21 |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| lol The same thought came to mind. Mine runs into a condensate pump (its below grade) and pump right out into my tomato bed :) Only way they get watered except for the rain. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| I've been (re)using my AC's condensate for over a year now. I initially started reusing it because I was getting terrible erosion problems with the sheer volume of water being produced by the unit (10-50 gallons/day). So, we dug a trench & ran a french drain through the top part of the garden (terrain slopes down towards the property line). There'a funnel receptacle w/dome screen at the top of the french drain pipe. Let's just say you could definitely tell the difference where the AC's water went during the dry season. And we even have an in-ground irrigation system here. I'd caution people to use some solution which allows the condensate to overflow outside if the "additions" fail, such as an air gap between the original pipe and the receiving end of your new plumbing, etc. You really don't want critters going inside your air con via your new plumbing hack, nor do you want water backing up inside your house when the add-on plumbing clogs. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| just a follow-up to my original post.i am very pleased with my idea to collect the a/c condensate. it is more than i had originally expected, maybe about 10 gallons a day and my vegetables and flowers love this extra water during our current 100 degree days.the ground near the a/c used to be soggy and is now dry, which is a bonus.paul |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| great idea - i am plannign to do some front landscaping around the foundation (currently bare) and have been worrying about watering - guess that could be why the weeds have no problems growing there even in this drought! |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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I has been collecting and watering my plants with the AC run off for years now. I have found that all my plants love this water. My gardenia's esp. love it and have had great success rooting cuttings with it.
And with the dry seasons and water restrictions I had to find ways to save. I get a 5 gallon bucket and half another one a day. I use kitty litter buckets that have fliptop lids so that if I don't use the water that day, mosquitoes don't breed in them. Also collect rainwater in barrels. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| I sit a large foam cooler(with drainage holes) and fill bottom with cans (so it doesn't take so much soil to fill) I fill with potting soil .Place under drip for the summer. when I take cuttings, I stick them in until new growth appears, then, pot up or plant in the garden. Barb in Ar. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| We've started this summer. It works out great for our small flower bed and the hanging baskets. We get around about 10 gallons a day. Works out great!! And saves on the water bill. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| I came up with a way to recycle water and kitty litter plastic jugs |
Here is a link that might be useful: Air conditioner condensate recycle
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| i use those same jugs. The tidy cat ones hold about 2.5 gallons and I am getting 4-5 a day. sure helps the water bill. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| since it is cold water, I wonder if sending it through a radiator connected to the ac return air would help cool the house somewhat, before dumping or saving the water somewhere. Also, could the water be used to fill toilets somehow? |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| great info guys. i crawled under the house and redid the pvc pipe to run outside the house and run into 5 gal. buckets. am getting 5/6 buckets A DAY. lov it. thanks guys. joyce |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| i also do this with my dehumidifier. isnt it amazing how much it adds up that we can save! |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| I use condensate from my ground source heat pump to top up my rain barrels during a drought. I've measured it, and it's 60ppm pH 5.5 compared to the rainwater which is 30ppm and pH 6.0. This is much better then my tapwater which is 260ppm and pH 8. Plant seem to love it. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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- Posted by pippi21 Zone 6b Silver Sprin (My Page) on
Mon, Sep 19, 11 at 4:49
| I deliver the community newspaper to 32 houses in our Sr. Community twice a month and I noticed that the two bedroom units; their A/C/heating units are located in an outside corner of their garage and I often see people having a container to catch the condensation that comes out and I'm sure they are watering their plants with it too. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| yep all summer ill get 5-6 gal a day. if i cant use it to water garden, ill pour in rain barrel. if thats full, ill find something to water, or give it to the dog. he likes it. helps alot here in VA during the mid-late summer when rain barrels get low, but AC is stroking. |
RE: recycling air conditioner condensate
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| Nice! Mine drains under the bushes around the porch. It is a southern-looking slope, really baking in summer, and they are fine, I never water them. |
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