A Coolant/Water Question for the Chemists in the Group

[bob heller]

Living in Florida, I have a dehumidifier running during the winter months both in the house and in the GMC and so have a seemingly endless supply of
'distilled' water. I would guess that the water that comes off the dehumidifier is like the distilled water that I would buy in the store in that
there are no minerals in it.

Question: Assuming I use fresh recently collected dehumidifier water and that the dehumidifier has an air filter to trap airborne contaminates, is it
safe to use that water for batteries and to dilute coolant?
--
Bob Heller
1974 X-Canyonlands 26ft
Original 455 exc for timing chain,
Rockwell intake, valve covers. 145k miles.
Winter Springs FL

 

[jim miller]

> Question: Assuming I use fresh recently collected dehumidifier water and that the dehumidifier has an air filter to trap airborne contaminates, is it
> safe to use that water for batteries and to dilute coolant?

I have pondered this same question myself. I think there is a possibility of metallic ions in the water from the materials in the evaporator coil - namely aluminum and copper. On the other hand I tend to think that those surfaces would develop an oxidation layer from exposure to water and air and thus protect the water from picking anything up. I know from other experience that an aluminum oxide surface layer is tenacious. If anyone has a conductivity meter we could get an answer.

In my precious metal refining I have a need for distilled water in some critical operations and so I buy the $0.90/gallon distilled water at the store for that purpose. For other less critical operations - washing, rinsing, diluting for filtering - I use dehumidifier water.

Other than metallic ions I would only expect to find biological contamination from molds and other flora growing in the dehumidifier catch pan and tank but these would not be a factor in your original question.

I think it would be perfectly OK to use dehumidifier water to dilute coolant but for my batteries I’ll stick with distilled.

I am interested to see what the chemists have to say on this matter.

—Jim

Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH

 

[d c *mac* macdonald]

I am not a chemist or other scientist, but I'd be worried about bacteria and/or mold picked up during the dehumidification process.

D C "Mac" Macdonald​
Amateur Radio K2GKK​
Since 30 November '53​
USAF and FAA, Retired​
Member GMCMI & Classics​
Oklahoma City, OK​
"The Money Pit"​
TZE166V101966

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Bob Heller
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 06:45
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] A Coolant/Water Question for the Chemists in the Group

Living in Florida, I have a dehumidifier running during the winter months both in the house and in the GMC and so have a seemingly endless supply of
'distilled' water. I would guess that the water that comes off the dehumidifier is like the distilled water that I would buy in the store in that
there are no minerals in it.

Question: Assuming I use fresh recently collected dehumidifier water and that the dehumidifier has an air filter to trap airborne contaminates, is it
safe to use that water for batteries and to dilute coolant?
--
Bob Heller
1974 X-Canyonlands 26ft
Original 455 exc for timing chain,
Rockwell intake, valve covers. 145k miles.
Winter Springs FL

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[wayne rogewski]

Not a chemist either. But, distilled water around here is running about a buck a gallon..

Think about every liquid the coach needs or uses. That has to be the cheapest fluid outside of the tap water I put in the fresh tank for the dishes
and showers.

Mobil 1 ATF = 40 bucks a gallon
Washer solvent 2.70 a gallon
The list goes on.

I'd honestly save the humidifier water for the house plants, the lawn, maybe the clothes iron, make ice cubes with it that your Not going to drink.
Wash the lawn mower or garden tools with it.

--
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan

 

[Matt Colie]

While several have said that distilled water is cheap enough and that might be, but where I live, it would be 8 miles away if it is there at all.
Most of the places I might go have deionized water "for all distilled water uses".

Well folks, I am a steam engineer and I can tell you that deionized is not the same as distilled. At one of the power plants that I worked at they
had a massive deionization system that they used to provide feed water to the make-up feed water evaporator (still).

Fortunately, in my barn shop there is no drain, so the dehumidifier out there drains into a full size polyethylene drum.

Now, if Emery (aka JerryW) comes back and says that this is not a good idea, I'll take that to heart.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[john r. lebetski]

In our convention business about 10 years back I started seeing a new type of stand up water cooler being set up in hotel ballrooms, no water jug or
water connection. You got it, it was a dehumidifier disguised as a water cooler./ hot tap dispenser. I'm assuming the water went through a charcoal
filter before being served. But knowing how filthy our equipment cooling fan filters were after a few days in a ballroom, needing soap and water to
clean the foam media, I never had the nerve to taste it. My friend just bought a table top water distillery for coffee maker and humidifier supply.
Output is a steady drip just under a stream and lots of hot air comes out of the fan from the top vent. Works great but not sure about the kW costs
guessing about 8 amp draw, I'll check tag next time.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

 

[LarryW]

John L.,
Did you get my PM or email?
Larry.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.

 

[chris tyler]

I have yet to be convinced distilled water is nessesary or a real advantage in cooling systems. Batteries are another story.
But for the negligible cost? Why not...
--
76 Glenbrook

 

[Keith V]

Water purity is measured in Megaohms, Distilled isn't very pure, DI water can be insanely pure and thus corrosive enough to etch stainless.
I use distilled in my radiators, cause it's cheap and radiators are a pain to replace and expensive
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Chris Tyler
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 7:18 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A Coolant/Water Question for the Chemists in the Group

I have yet to be convinced distilled water is nessesary or a real advantage in cooling systems. Batteries are another story.
But for the negligible cost? Why not...
--
76 Glenbrook

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