Deionized Water

[Ryan DCNT]

Just wondering if anyone has any experiences or pros and cons with drinking deionized water? I know that there's no minerals in it, but I do drink regular water as well and also supplement with electrolytes. I would be drinking at most 24 oz of deionized water on training days. The reason I ask is that we recently got a dehumidifer in the gym and it usually creates a pint of crystal clear, cold deionized water a day, and we don't have a water fountain and sometimes when I run out of bottled water I'm tempted to just refill my bottle out of the tank. I don't see what it could hurt, it's just water, but just seeing if anyone has any experience with it long-term.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I think this is technically "distilled water." You'll be fine.

[Eric Schexnayder]

I think this is technically "distilled water." You'll be fine.

A key difference being that distilled water is boiled and thereby sterilized before being condensed. Condensate from a dehumidifier, which is basically just an open-loop air conditioner, is not chlorinated. This is part of why AC condensate lines plug up from algae and biofilm.

Ryan, how often is the condensate pan in the dehumidifier cleaned? How long does it take to fill (i.e. how long does it sit in the pan)? Does it get emptied out at night or are you drinking stuff in the morning that's been sitting in the dehumidifier overnight?

I mean I agree you're probably fine, but maybe just bring more water to the gym?

[HailMary]

If you have ever cleaned the coil or filter on a dehumidifier, you might change your mind about drinking that water.

[Ryan DCNT]

A key difference being that distilled water is boiled and thereby sterilized before being condensed. Condensate from a dehumidifier, which is basically just an open-loop air conditioner, is not chlorinated. This is part of why AC condensate lines plug up from algae and biofilm.

Ryan, how often is the condensate pan in the dehumidifier cleaned? How long does it take to fill (i.e. how long does it sit in the pan)? Does it get emptied out at night or are you drinking stuff in the morning that's been sitting in the dehumidifier overnight?

I mean I agree you're probably fine, but maybe just bring more water to the gym?

It gets emptied daily, it's actually draining from the dehumidifier through a plastic tube and into a bucket, which is emptied daily and cleaned weekly. I *could* bring more water, but I'm a minimalist and just trying to maximize efficiency if I can get away with it.

[Jason Donaldson]

It gets emptied daily, it's actually draining from the dehumidifier through a plastic tube and into a bucket, which is emptied daily and cleaned weekly. I *could* bring more water, but I'm a minimalist and just trying to maximize efficiency if I can get away with it.

I'm going to agree with HailMary on this one and call out the coil, etc. that are upstream of that tube and bucket. Those parts can get nasty. As with many things in life, drinker beware.

[Eric Schexnayder]

I'm going to agree with HailMary on this one and call out the coil, etc. that are upstream of that tube and bucket. Those parts can get nasty. As with many things in life, drinker beware.

On the other hand, he also eats dog food. So.

[heinz83]

Tepid water sitting in an open tank is a breeding ground for the bacteria that cause Legionairre's disease.

[Lost and Found]

Blue Buffalo dog food protein >>> Dehumidifier condensate

I'm sure there is a helpline for this.

[HailMary]

Blue Buffalo dog food protein >>> Dehumidifier condensate

I'm sure there is a helpline for this.

Let us not forget the toilet seat thread and Ryan referencing his ass spackle.