One week ago Friday, I installed a new AC unit on my back porch. I'm
sick to death of screwing around with window units. They need proper
support and insulation so that you don't lose room cooling around the
sides of the unit. Plus they are hard to keep clean. The last one grew a
lot of mold in the vents and foam insulation. Yuck!

The large unit I had burned out last fall. I gave it to freecycle for
someone to re-build or harvest the copper coils just to get it hauled
away.

My poor Hobart unit was up to 55 degrees last week as the porch was up
to 90 degrees and refrigerators don't like that! So I finally bought a
nice little indoor unit that is keeping the room at 70 to 75 degrees.
The Hobart is staying back down to 38 to 40 degrees now. :-) Fortunately
I did not have anything really perishable in it when the temps got too
high...

The AC unit sits on the floor and is vented to the outside. I'm going
to add some extra foam insulation to the slider panels in the window but
it's not nearly as inconvenient as a regular window unit. It's cooling
a 12' x 23' area and the window is only open 8" with the plastic panels.

Anyway, my question is about the water coming off the condenser. It has
an internal tank with a small hose that I could try to run outside
(which would require me to lose additional cooling to the outdoors by
cutting an additional hole in the panels) or running the drain hose into
an additional tank which is what I have chosen to do, even tho' I'm
going to have to empty it about every 2 days.

The tank holds 4 gallons and this unit, with the current humidity (which
is sitting at 68% today in my bedroom according to my digital
hygrometer) is collecting around 2 gallons per day.

I've tasted the water and it does not taste the least bit bad or
metallic. I'm currently just using it to water plants...

Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
cooking and drinking?
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

"Omelet" > wrote
>
> Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> cooking and drinking?

Hell no!. It may seem clean now if the unit is new, but over time it is
going to be cruddy with everything that is in the air getting carried over
the finds of the evaporator coil. It may still look clear, but there will
be mold spores, dust, bacteria, etc. Watering plants OK, but that is all.

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> One week ago Friday, I installed a new AC unit on my back porch. I'm
> sick to death of screwing around with window units. They need proper
> support and insulation so that you don't lose room cooling around the
> sides of the unit. Plus they are hard to keep clean. The last one grew a
> lot of mold in the vents and foam insulation. Yuck!
>
> The large unit I had burned out last fall. I gave it to freecycle for
> someone to re-build or harvest the copper coils just to get it hauled
> away.
>
> My poor Hobart unit was up to 55 degrees last week as the porch was up
> to 90 degrees and refrigerators don't like that! So I finally bought a
> nice little indoor unit that is keeping the room at 70 to 75 degrees.
> The Hobart is staying back down to 38 to 40 degrees now. :-) Fortunately
> I did not have anything really perishable in it when the temps got too
> high...
>
> The AC unit sits on the floor and is vented to the outside. I'm going
> to add some extra foam insulation to the slider panels in the window but
> it's not nearly as inconvenient as a regular window unit. It's cooling
> a 12' x 23' area and the window is only open 8" with the plastic panels.
>
> Anyway, my question is about the water coming off the condenser. It has
> an internal tank with a small hose that I could try to run outside
> (which would require me to lose additional cooling to the outdoors by
> cutting an additional hole in the panels) or running the drain hose into
> an additional tank which is what I have chosen to do, even tho' I'm
> going to have to empty it about every 2 days.
>
> The tank holds 4 gallons and this unit, with the current humidity (which
> is sitting at 68% today in my bedroom according to my digital
> hygrometer) is collecting around 2 gallons per day.
>
> I've tasted the water and it does not taste the least bit bad or
> metallic. I'm currently just using it to water plants...
>
> Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> cooking and drinking?
> --
> Peace! Om
>
> Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
> Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food
> groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

Hubby, who in his earlier incarnation as an HVAC/R mechanic said there
should be no reason the water shouldn't be potable. My only concern would
be what is in the air the humidity is being drawn from? That would be my
only concern. As far as for cooking or drinking, I would say if you are
boiling it, no problem, but for drinking, go with the taste and your gut
feeling.
-ginny

Omelet wrote:
> One week ago Friday, I installed a new AC unit on my back porch. I'm
> sick to death of screwing around with window units. They need proper
> support and insulation so that you don't lose room cooling around the
> sides of the unit. Plus they are hard to keep clean. The last one grew a
> lot of mold in the vents and foam insulation. Yuck!
>
> The large unit I had burned out last fall. I gave it to freecycle for
> someone to re-build or harvest the copper coils just to get it hauled
> away.
>
> My poor Hobart unit was up to 55 degrees last week as the porch was up
> to 90 degrees and refrigerators don't like that! So I finally bought a
> nice little indoor unit that is keeping the room at 70 to 75 degrees.
> The Hobart is staying back down to 38 to 40 degrees now. :-) Fortunately
> I did not have anything really perishable in it when the temps got too
> high...
>
> The AC unit sits on the floor and is vented to the outside. I'm going
> to add some extra foam insulation to the slider panels in the window but
> it's not nearly as inconvenient as a regular window unit. It's cooling
> a 12' x 23' area and the window is only open 8" with the plastic panels.
>
> Anyway, my question is about the water coming off the condenser. It has
> an internal tank with a small hose that I could try to run outside
> (which would require me to lose additional cooling to the outdoors by
> cutting an additional hole in the panels) or running the drain hose into
> an additional tank which is what I have chosen to do, even tho' I'm
> going to have to empty it about every 2 days.
>
> The tank holds 4 gallons and this unit, with the current humidity (which
> is sitting at 68% today in my bedroom according to my digital
> hygrometer) is collecting around 2 gallons per day.
>
> I've tasted the water and it does not taste the least bit bad or
> metallic. I'm currently just using it to water plants...
>
> Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> cooking and drinking?

Yes, and yes. It's just condensed humidity OM. Use it for whatever you
want. Sort of like distilled water without the boiling and condensing,
just the condensing. Always leave a small amount in the bottom to avoid
picking up any air particulates that may have settled there and be
careful about mold spores, ie. keep the thing clean.

On Sun, 16 May 2010 10:49:26 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:

>One week ago Friday, I installed a new AC unit on my back porch. I'm
>sick to death of screwing around with window units. They need proper
>support and insulation so that you don't lose room cooling around the
>sides of the unit. Plus they are hard to keep clean. The last one grew a
>lot of mold in the vents and foam insulation. Yuck!
>
>The large unit I had burned out last fall. I gave it to freecycle for
>someone to re-build or harvest the copper coils just to get it hauled
>away.
>
>My poor Hobart unit was up to 55 degrees last week as the porch was up
>to 90 degrees and refrigerators don't like that! So I finally bought a
>nice little indoor unit that is keeping the room at 70 to 75 degrees.
>The Hobart is staying back down to 38 to 40 degrees now. :-) Fortunately
>I did not have anything really perishable in it when the temps got too
>high...
>
>The AC unit sits on the floor and is vented to the outside. I'm going
>to add some extra foam insulation to the slider panels in the window but
>it's not nearly as inconvenient as a regular window unit. It's cooling
>a 12' x 23' area and the window is only open 8" with the plastic panels.
>
>Anyway, my question is about the water coming off the condenser. It has
>an internal tank with a small hose that I could try to run outside
>(which would require me to lose additional cooling to the outdoors by
>cutting an additional hole in the panels) or running the drain hose into
>an additional tank which is what I have chosen to do, even tho' I'm
>going to have to empty it about every 2 days.
>
>The tank holds 4 gallons and this unit, with the current humidity (which
>is sitting at 68% today in my bedroom according to my digital
>hygrometer) is collecting around 2 gallons per day.
>
>I've tasted the water and it does not taste the least bit bad or
>metallic. I'm currently just using it to water plants...
>
>Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
>cooking and drinking?

I consider that gray water, the same as the water coming off my
central air and dehumidifier... contains excessive traces of aluminum
oxide and typically too high a bacteria count to be potable for humans
or pets... use it to water plants. If you run the hose outdoors that
would be best or eventually you will forget to dump the tank in time
and you'll have a flood... you can seal around that small hole with
caulking compound... plumber's putty works well and is easily
removable. My dehumidifier has a float valve so it shuts off when the
tank is near full.

In article >,
"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:

> "Omelet" > wrote
> >
> > Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > cooking and drinking?
>
> Hell no!. It may seem clean now if the unit is new, but over time it is
> going to be cruddy with everything that is in the air getting carried over
> the finds of the evaporator coil. It may still look clear, but there will
> be mold spores, dust, bacteria, etc. Watering plants OK, but that is all.

The unit has an air filter, but I see your point. ;-) I guess the
potted Lantana will just get watered more often then...

Thanks!
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
"Virginia Tadrzynski" > wrote:

> Hubby, who in his earlier incarnation as an HVAC/R mechanic said there
> should be no reason the water shouldn't be potable. My only concern would
> be what is in the air the humidity is being drawn from? That would be my
> only concern. As far as for cooking or drinking, I would say if you are
> boiling it, no problem, but for drinking, go with the taste and your gut
> feeling.
> -ginny

Thanks.

It's not like I don't have plenty of clean tap water...<lol> Might be
unwise to take the risks.

The idea of having "free" distilled water was attractive is all, like
for use in the coffee maker.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
George Shirley > wrote:

> > Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > cooking and drinking?
>
> Yes, and yes. It's just condensed humidity OM. Use it for whatever you
> want. Sort of like distilled water without the boiling and condensing,
> just the condensing. Always leave a small amount in the bottom to avoid
> picking up any air particulates that may have settled there and be
> careful about mold spores, ie. keep the thing clean.

Thanks George! I do plan to keep the tank clean by bleaching it when I
empty it. I do worry about mold spores... I put the hose into a small
gallon bottle when I'm emptying the main tank and that water goes out to
the potted Oleander.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
brooklyn1 > wrote:

> >Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> >cooking and drinking?
>
> I consider that gray water, the same as the water coming off my
> central air and dehumidifier... contains excessive traces of aluminum
> oxide and typically too high a bacteria count to be potable for humans
> or pets... use it to water plants. If you run the hose outdoors that
> would be best or eventually you will forget to dump the tank in time
> and you'll have a flood... you can seal around that small hole with
> caulking compound... plumber's putty works well and is easily
> removable. My dehumidifier has a float valve so it shuts off when the
> tank is near full.

How do you hook up a float valve please?
I'd have to do that externally.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
Janet Baraclough > wrote:

> The message >
> from Omelet > contains these words:
>
>
> > Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > cooking and drinking?
>
> I wouldn't bother drinking it but it's ideal for steam irons.
>
> Janet

Neat thought. I rarely have to Iron clothes any more, but I will keep
that in mind. Unless I decide to run that hose to the outdoors, I'll
have an endless supply! <g>

And yes, I do own a steam iron. Mom taught me to use one as a child. I
wonder how many girl children nowadays even know what one is?
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

Om wrote:

> The idea of having "free" distilled water was attractive is all, like
> for use in the coffee maker.

Collect rain water.

Bob

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> One week ago Friday, I installed a new AC unit on my back porch. I'm
> sick to death of screwing around with window units. They need proper
> support and insulation so that you don't lose room cooling around the
> sides of the unit. Plus they are hard to keep clean. The last one grew a
> lot of mold in the vents and foam insulation. Yuck!
>
> The large unit I had burned out last fall. I gave it to freecycle for
> someone to re-build or harvest the copper coils just to get it hauled
> away.
>
> My poor Hobart unit was up to 55 degrees last week as the porch was up
> to 90 degrees and refrigerators don't like that! So I finally bought a
> nice little indoor unit that is keeping the room at 70 to 75 degrees.
> The Hobart is staying back down to 38 to 40 degrees now. :-) Fortunately
> I did not have anything really perishable in it when the temps got too
> high...
>
> The AC unit sits on the floor and is vented to the outside. I'm going
> to add some extra foam insulation to the slider panels in the window but
> it's not nearly as inconvenient as a regular window unit. It's cooling
> a 12' x 23' area and the window is only open 8" with the plastic panels.
>
> Anyway, my question is about the water coming off the condenser. It has
> an internal tank with a small hose that I could try to run outside
> (which would require me to lose additional cooling to the outdoors by
> cutting an additional hole in the panels) or running the drain hose into
> an additional tank which is what I have chosen to do, even tho' I'm
> going to have to empty it about every 2 days.
>
> The tank holds 4 gallons and this unit, with the current humidity (which
> is sitting at 68% today in my bedroom according to my digital
> hygrometer) is collecting around 2 gallons per day.
>
> I've tasted the water and it does not taste the least bit bad or
> metallic. I'm currently just using it to water plants...
>
> Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> cooking and drinking?


I've heard of frugal but this really takes the cake. You put my sister to
shame and she is a superhero when it comes to frugality. Seriously, you are
not wasting any water here, you are simply condensing water already in the
air. And whatever contaminants are in the air are in the water. Probably
a Brita would get it clean enough to drink. But the plants should like it
what with being chlorine free.

Paul

Bob Terwilliger wrote:
>
> Om wrote:
>
> > The idea of having "free" distilled water was attractive is all, like
> > for use in the coffee maker.
>
> Collect rain water.

As I teenager I collected rainwater a couple times
to see what it was like. The first batch was during
a light rain and was very acidic. The second batch
was during a heavy rain and seemed just like pure
fresh water.

"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
...
> Om wrote:
>
>> The idea of having "free" distilled water was attractive is all, like for
>> use in the coffee maker.
>
> Collect rain water.
>
> Bob

You would probably need less coffee once all the pollutants that came down
with the water are perked with the grounds.

On 5/16/2010 11:19 AM, Omelet wrote:
> In >,
> "Virginia > wrote:
>
>> Hubby, who in his earlier incarnation as an HVAC/R mechanic said there
>> should be no reason the water shouldn't be potable. My only concern would
>> be what is in the air the humidity is being drawn from? That would be my
>> only concern. As far as for cooking or drinking, I would say if you are
>> boiling it, no problem, but for drinking, go with the taste and your gut
>> feeling.
>> -ginny
>
> Thanks.
>
> It's not like I don't have plenty of clean tap water...<lol> Might be
> unwise to take the risks.
>
> The idea of having "free" distilled water was attractive is all, like
> for use in the coffee maker.


Use it for your houseplants, your steam iron, anyplace where distilled
or deioninzed water would be better than tapwater. I wouldn't drink it
unless I really had to; DI water is an extremely good solvent and will
pick up traces of lead from the solder in the condenser.

That and mold spores and bacteria that it might pick up...

In an emergency tho', you bet I'd drink it. (but not if there was
another source of potable water)

Bob

Omelet wrote:
> One week ago Friday, I installed a new AC unit on my back porch. I'm
> sick to death of screwing around with window units. They need proper
> support and insulation so that you don't lose room cooling around the
> sides of the unit. Plus they are hard to keep clean. The last one
> grew a lot of mold in the vents and foam insulation. Yuck!
>
> The large unit I had burned out last fall. I gave it to freecycle for
> someone to re-build or harvest the copper coils just to get it hauled
> away.
>
> My poor Hobart unit was up to 55 degrees last week as the porch was up
> to 90 degrees and refrigerators don't like that! So I finally bought a
> nice little indoor unit that is keeping the room at 70 to 75 degrees.
> The Hobart is staying back down to 38 to 40 degrees now. :-)
> Fortunately I did not have anything really perishable in it when the
> temps got too high...
>
> The AC unit sits on the floor and is vented to the outside. I'm going
> to add some extra foam insulation to the slider panels in the window
> but it's not nearly as inconvenient as a regular window unit. It's
> cooling a 12' x 23' area and the window is only open 8" with the
> plastic panels.
>
> Anyway, my question is about the water coming off the condenser. It
> has an internal tank with a small hose that I could try to run outside
> (which would require me to lose additional cooling to the outdoors by
> cutting an additional hole in the panels) or running the drain hose
> into an additional tank which is what I have chosen to do, even tho'
> I'm going to have to empty it about every 2 days.
>
> The tank holds 4 gallons and this unit, with the current humidity
> (which is sitting at 68% today in my bedroom according to my digital
> hygrometer) is collecting around 2 gallons per day.
>
> I've tasted the water and it does not taste the least bit bad or
> metallic. I'm currently just using it to water plants...
>
> Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> cooking and drinking?

Hey, Om, how are you? And how's your Dad doing?

-S-

On Sun, 16 May 2010 11:54:33 -0500 in rec.food.cooking, Omelet
> wrote,
>I keep my filters clean once per week.;-)

I guess those filters are supposed to be good enough to stop dirt that
would clog the condenser coils and prevent the AC from working. Not
good enough to stop mold spores or viruses.

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
<snip>


>
> Is this water potable?

For a short time only

Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> cooking and drinking?

No, eventually some bacteria and or mold or algae will begin to grow.

BTW all the forced air air conditioning units do have some sort of drip pan
which empties to the outside.

Dimitri

On May 16, 9:49*am, Omelet > wrote:
> One week ago Friday, I installed a new AC unit on my back porch. *I'm
> sick to death of screwing around with window units. They need proper
> support and insulation so that you don't lose room cooling around the
> sides of the unit. Plus they are hard to keep clean. The last one grew a
> lot of mold in the vents and foam insulation. Yuck!
>
> The large unit I had burned out last fall. *I gave it to freecycle for
> someone to re-build or harvest the copper coils just to get it hauled
> away.
>
> My poor Hobart unit was up to 55 degrees last week as the porch was up
> to 90 degrees and refrigerators don't like that! So I finally bought a
> nice little indoor unit that is keeping the room at 70 to 75 degrees.
> The Hobart is staying back down to 38 to 40 degrees now. :-) Fortunately
> I did not have anything really perishable in it when the temps got too
> high...
>
> The AC unit sits on the floor and is vented to the outside. *I'm going
> to add some extra foam insulation to the slider panels in the window but
> it's not nearly as inconvenient as a regular window unit. *It's cooling
> a 12' x 23' area and the window is only open 8" with the plastic panels.
>
> Anyway, my question is about the water coming off the condenser. *It has
> an internal tank with a small hose that I could try to run outside
> (which would require me to lose additional cooling to the outdoors by
> cutting an additional hole in the panels) or running the drain hose into
> an additional tank which is what I have chosen to do, even tho' I'm
> going to have to empty it about every 2 days. *
>
> The tank holds 4 gallons and this unit, with the current humidity (which
> is sitting at 68% today in my bedroom according to my digital
> hygrometer) is collecting around 2 gallons per day.
>
> I've tasted the water and it does not taste the least bit bad or
> metallic. *I'm currently just using it to water plants...
>
> Is this water potable? *Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> cooking and drinking?
> --
> Peace! Om
>
> Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
> *Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. *--Alex Levine

==
Condenser water should go down the drain...period. No plant watering,
no steam iron usage, no drinking and never give it to pets. Geez, some
people's kids.
==

In article >,
"Paul M. Cook" > wrote:

> I've heard of frugal but this really takes the cake. You put my sister to
> shame and she is a superhero when it comes to frugality. Seriously, you are
> not wasting any water here, you are simply condensing water already in the
> air. And whatever contaminants are in the air are in the water. Probably
> a Brita would get it clean enough to drink. But the plants should like it
> what with being chlorine free.
>
> Paul

<lol> Just tossing around ideas! It's been so humid here the last two
days, I ended up with 4 gallons in 24 hours!

It is making the Lantana and Oleander pots happy. <g> And will help to
prevent mineral buildup in the pots.

I am cleaning the air filter weekly as I feel it needs it with dust and
cat hair.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
Mark Thorson > wrote:

> Bob Terwilliger wrote:
> >
> > Om wrote:
> >
> > > The idea of having "free" distilled water was attractive is all, like
> > > for use in the coffee maker.
> >
> > Collect rain water.
>
> As I teenager I collected rainwater a couple times
> to see what it was like. The first batch was during
> a light rain and was very acidic. The second batch
> was during a heavy rain and seemed just like pure
> fresh water.

It's supposed to be superior for rinsing one's hair in the shower, but I
have no gutters or storm drains and cisterns tend to breed mosquitos
unless you use BT dunks.

With the amount of water that is currently filling that tank, I'm
reconsidering my decision to not do any gardening this year due to the
cost of city water. If I plant in containers/pots only, I'm going to be
able to water them for free!

At the very least, my two climbing Blazes are going to get more watering.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:

> "Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Om wrote:
> >
> >> The idea of having "free" distilled water was attractive is all, like for
> >> use in the coffee maker.
> >
> > Collect rain water.
> >
> > Bob
>
> You would probably need less coffee once all the pollutants that came down
> with the water are perked with the grounds.

It is indoor air and the air itself is already filtered. What
contaminants am I breathing please?
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
zxcvbob > wrote:

> On 5/16/2010 11:19 AM, Omelet wrote:
> > In >,
> > "Virginia > wrote:
> >
> >> Hubby, who in his earlier incarnation as an HVAC/R mechanic said there
> >> should be no reason the water shouldn't be potable. My only concern would
> >> be what is in the air the humidity is being drawn from? That would be my
> >> only concern. As far as for cooking or drinking, I would say if you are
> >> boiling it, no problem, but for drinking, go with the taste and your gut
> >> feeling.
> >> -ginny
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > It's not like I don't have plenty of clean tap water...<lol> Might be
> > unwise to take the risks.
> >
> > The idea of having "free" distilled water was attractive is all, like
> > for use in the coffee maker.
>
>
> Use it for your houseplants, your steam iron, anyplace where distilled
> or deioninzed water would be better than tapwater. I wouldn't drink it
> unless I really had to; DI water is an extremely good solvent and will
> pick up traces of lead from the solder in the condenser.

That was my main concern which is why I asked. Condensers are copper but
is the braising lead and if so, is there a lot of surface area with it?
>
> That and mold spores and bacteria that it might pick up...
>
> In an emergency tho', you bet I'd drink it. (but not if there was
> another source of potable water)
>
> Bob

Thanks Bob!

Looks like the plants outdoors will be getting it, but if I were to use
it on tomato plants or herbs, would that not be a good idea as those
plants could then add said pollutants to their leaves and fruits?

Might just use it for the Lantana, roses and Oleander. <g>
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
Janet Baraclough > wrote:

> The message >
> from Omelet > contains these words:
>
> > In article >,
> > Janet Baraclough > wrote:
>
> > > The message >
> > > from Omelet > contains these words:
> > >
> > >
> > > > Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > > > cooking and drinking?
> > >
> > > I wouldn't bother drinking it but it's ideal for steam irons.
> > >
> > > Janet
>
> > Neat thought. I rarely have to Iron clothes any more, but I will keep
> > that in mind. Unless I decide to run that hose to the outdoors, I'll
> > have an endless supply! <g>
>
> > And yes, I do own a steam iron. Mom taught me to use one as a child. I
> > wonder how many girl children nowadays even know what one is?
>
> No idea, but all my (grown up) boy children do their own ironing
> with a steam iron.
>
> I'm thinking you could bottle it and sell it to New Men.
>
> Janet

<lol> Fascinating concept... ;-D
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
"Steve Freides" > wrote:

> > Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > cooking and drinking?
>
> Hey, Om, how are you?

I'm doing ok. Learning lots of new stuff training for the new job but
not getting enough sleep. <g>

> And how's your Dad doing?
>
> -S-

Other than getting to be a bit more senile, he is doing ok. If I can
get him to eat better and not eat much sugar (he went on a sugar kick
the past two weeks which always affects him mentally to the negative) he
does better in the memory and mood dept.

I just wish I could get this home business off the ground faster so I
could stay home! He does better if I am here more to take care of him.

And how are you Steve? I've not posted on m.f.w. for months. Just have
not had time... and my AC joints hurt too much any more for me to do
much real weight lifting. I'm using mainly just body weight exercises
and resistance bands. I really do need surgery to repair that right
shoulder and possibly the left one too but it's going to be awhile.

ART and kinesiology taping are keeping most of the pain under control.

How are you doing?
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
David Harmon > wrote:

> On Sun, 16 May 2010 11:54:33 -0500 in rec.food.cooking, Omelet
> > wrote,
> >I keep my filters clean once per week.;-)
>
> I guess those filters are supposed to be good enough to stop dirt that
> would clog the condenser coils and prevent the AC from working. Not
> good enough to stop mold spores or viruses.
>
>

If there are viruses floating around in the air, I'm already breathing
them... <g>
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
"Dimitri" > wrote:

> "Omelet" > wrote in message
> news >
> <snip>
>
>
> >
> > Is this water potable?
>
> For a short time only
>
> Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > cooking and drinking?
>
> No, eventually some bacteria and or mold or algae will begin to grow.
>
> BTW all the forced air air conditioning units do have some sort of drip pan
> which empties to the outside.
>
> Dimitri

This is an indoor unit that sits on the floor. The hot air is vented to
the outdoors as is the intake. The condenser drains into an internal
tank that is connected to a hose to keep it draining.

It's not a window unit:

<http://www.lowes.com/pd_317825-94751...4294937087?pro
ductId=3192543&Ns=p_product_quantity_sold|0&pl=1&c urrentURL=/pl_Air%2BCon
ditioners_4294859075_4294937087_?rpp=15$No=15$Ns=p _product_quantity_sold|
0>

Or: <http://tinyurl.com/ybd3lzc>
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article
>,
Roy > wrote:

> Condenser water should go down the drain...period. No plant watering,
> no steam iron usage, no drinking and never give it to pets. Geez, some
> people's kids.

Why not to decorative plants?
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

Omelet wrote:
> In article >,
> "Steve Freides" > wrote:
>
>>> Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
>>> cooking and drinking?
>>
>> Hey, Om, how are you?
>
> I'm doing ok. Learning lots of new stuff training for the new job but
> not getting enough sleep. <g>
>
>> And how's your Dad doing?
>>
>> -S-
>
> Other than getting to be a bit more senile, he is doing ok. If I can
> get him to eat better and not eat much sugar (he went on a sugar kick
> the past two weeks which always affects him mentally to the negative)
> he does better in the memory and mood dept.
>
> I just wish I could get this home business off the ground faster so I
> could stay home! He does better if I am here more to take care of
> him.
>
> And how are you Steve? I've not posted on m.f.w. for months. Just
> have not had time... and my AC joints hurt too much any more for me
> to do much real weight lifting. I'm using mainly just body weight
> exercises and resistance bands. I really do need surgery to repair
> that right shoulder and possibly the left one too but it's going to
> be awhile.
>
> ART and kinesiology taping are keeping most of the pain under control.
>
> How are you doing?

Group, excuse us while we catch up.

I'm doing pretty well. Speaking of A/C joints, my shoulders kept me in
rehab mode for about 18 months but it was worth it, and I'm actually
back to doing quite a bit of overhead work, including pressing. Also
regularly doing weighted pullups now, even gooseneck pullups (see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDVK4HwmdM0 for me doing a couple - you
make a fist and place only your wrists over the bar, and then you do
pullups.) All this with a diagnosis, confirmed with a contrast MRI, of
a torn labrum in my left shoulder.

The Party promoted me to Team Leader, which means I'll be teaching at an
RKC certification weekend at some point in the future, responsible for
deciding pass or fail on a group of candidates - pretty awesome stuff
for me. I haven't been to any DragonDoor events in the last couple of
years but I'm going to the CK-FMS this coming weekend and then to the
Denmark RKC to be an assistant instructor the weekend after that.

My parents are definitely aging. I think you know I take my 86-year-old
mother out for coffee 2 or 3 times a week - it's her only exercise. We
park about 2 blocks away, walk to coffee, sit outside and watch the
world go by for half an hour or so, then walk back to the car - takes
her about 15-20 minutes to walk 2 blocks but, as long as she's willing,
I'll keep her company.

Well, a few days ago, I talked to my father on the phone in the morning
and he told me his doorbell was ringing at 3 AM - turns out my mother
had let herself out of the apartment, out of the front door, and was now
unable to get back into the building. Pretty scary stuff, likely a day
we'll look back on as the beginning of the end for her. My sister and I
are now going to need to resubmit her application to the VA home near
here - my Dad is a WW II veteran. Sad that, because of things like this
(this wasn't the first mental type of thing we've had with her) she'll
end up in a different unit than he will - there are, in this VA home,
couples who actually live in the same room, but my folks will not be one
of them.

I gave up my college teaching job - long story made short, they don't
treat the part-time faculty welll, I didn't really need the pittance
they pay part-time faculty, so I told them to shape up their institution
or I was leaving, and you know how that turned out. I'm plenty busy
teaching music lessons from home and the occasional personal training,
and that's why I"ve made my way here - I'm Mr. Mom, doing almost all the
grocery shopping (and laundry, etc. ) and more and more of the cooking.

Those are the highlights from here - this is a real email for me, so
please feel free to continue the conversation that way.

-S-

On May 16, 10:59*am, "Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:
> "Omelet" > wrote
>
>
>
> > Is this water potable? *Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > cooking and drinking?
>
> Hell no!. *It may seem clean now if the unit is new, but over time it is
> going to be cruddy with everything that is in the air getting carried over
> the finds of the evaporator coil. *It may still look clear, but there will
> be mold spores, dust, bacteria, etc. *Watering plants OK, but that is all.

Exactly what Ed wrote. It's the best water you could get for watering
plants--no chlorine. DO NOT drink it or allow your pets to drink it.

--Bryan

On May 16, 10:59*am, "Virginia Tadrzynski" > wrote:
> "Omelet" > wrote in message
>
> news >
>
>
> > One week ago Friday, I installed a new AC unit on my back porch. *I'm
> > sick to death of screwing around with window units. They need proper
> > support and insulation so that you don't lose room cooling around the
> > sides of the unit. Plus they are hard to keep clean. The last one grew a
> > lot of mold in the vents and foam insulation. Yuck!
>
> > The large unit I had burned out last fall. *I gave it to freecycle for
> > someone to re-build or harvest the copper coils just to get it hauled
> > away.
>
> > My poor Hobart unit was up to 55 degrees last week as the porch was up
> > to 90 degrees and refrigerators don't like that! So I finally bought a
> > nice little indoor unit that is keeping the room at 70 to 75 degrees.
> > The Hobart is staying back down to 38 to 40 degrees now. :-) Fortunately
> > I did not have anything really perishable in it when the temps got too
> > high...
>
> > The AC unit sits on the floor and is vented to the outside. *I'm going
> > to add some extra foam insulation to the slider panels in the window but
> > it's not nearly as inconvenient as a regular window unit. *It's cooling
> > a 12' x 23' area and the window is only open 8" with the plastic panels..
>
> > Anyway, my question is about the water coming off the condenser. *It has
> > an internal tank with a small hose that I could try to run outside
> > (which would require me to lose additional cooling to the outdoors by
> > cutting an additional hole in the panels) or running the drain hose into
> > an additional tank which is what I have chosen to do, even tho' I'm
> > going to have to empty it about every 2 days.
>
> > The tank holds 4 gallons and this unit, with the current humidity (which
> > is sitting at 68% today in my bedroom according to my digital
> > hygrometer) is collecting around 2 gallons per day.
>
> > I've tasted the water and it does not taste the least bit bad or
> > metallic. *I'm currently just using it to water plants...
>
> > Is this water potable? *Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > cooking and drinking?
> > --
> > Peace! Om
>
> > Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
> > Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food
> > groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. *--Alex Levine
>
> Hubby, who in his earlier incarnation as an HVAC/R mechanic said there
> should be no reason the water shouldn't be potable. *My only concern would
> be what is in the air the humidity is being drawn from? That would be my
> only concern. *As far as for cooking or drinking, I would say if you are
> boiling it, no problem, but for drinking, go with the taste and your gut
> feeling.

Considering that the energy to boil it would cost orders of magnitude
more than just using tap water...

> -ginny

--Bryan

In article >,
"Steve Freides" > wrote:

> > How are you doing?
>
> Group, excuse us while we catch up.

I think they are used to it by now. <g>

>
> I'm doing pretty well. Speaking of A/C joints, my shoulders kept me in
> rehab mode for about 18 months but it was worth it, and I'm actually
> back to doing quite a bit of overhead work, including pressing.

Gods. I wish I could press! It's great for the rotator cuffs.
It seriously hurts just to press my own weight out of a chair.

> Also
> regularly doing weighted pullups now, even gooseneck pullups (see
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDVK4HwmdM0 for me doing a couple - you
> make a fist and place only your wrists over the bar, and then you do
> pullups.) All this with a diagnosis, confirmed with a contrast MRI, of
> a torn labrum in my left shoulder.

That is awesome Steve! I don't have a torn Labrum even tho' that was
Dr. Perry's initial impression. My MRI showed a complete tear of the
Supraspinatus tendon in the right shoulder with contraction of the
muscle in to the rotator cuff, and a partial tear in the left shoulder.
Surgery, unfortunately, is no longer an option for the right. It's a
must if I ever want to get the strength back.

As for the bulging disks at C7 in my neck and the weakness it caused,
Dr. Thai's steroid injections helped with that as long as I keep up the
Mackenzie exercises.

>
> The Party promoted me to Team Leader, which means I'll be teaching at an
> RKC certification weekend at some point in the future, responsible for
> deciding pass or fail on a group of candidates - pretty awesome stuff
> for me. I haven't been to any DragonDoor events in the last couple of
> years but I'm going to the CK-FMS this coming weekend and then to the
> Denmark RKC to be an assistant instructor the weekend after that.

Are you interested in Kinesiology tape? I'm fixin' to import some from
China for a good price and the Chiropractor I'm seeing (and the PT's
that work with him) have already checked it out and approved it. It'll
be far less expensive than the stuff coming in from Amsterdam. I should
have inventory by the end of June if you want to play with it.
It's helped my shoulders a lot and I wear it pretty much constantly, and
have done so since October 2009.

>
> My parents are definitely aging. I think you know I take my 86-year-old
> mother out for coffee 2 or 3 times a week - it's her only exercise. We
> park about 2 blocks away, walk to coffee, sit outside and watch the
> world go by for half an hour or so, then walk back to the car - takes
> her about 15-20 minutes to walk 2 blocks but, as long as she's willing,
> I'll keep her company.

I remember, and I totally understand. I had dad out for chinese today,
and he helped me drag some small tree branches out of the yard yesterday
morning. I had to carefully encourage him to finish. I feel things
like that are good for him and they were light in weight.

>
> Well, a few days ago, I talked to my father on the phone in the morning
> and he told me his doorbell was ringing at 3 AM - turns out my mother
> had let herself out of the apartment, out of the front door, and was now
> unable to get back into the building. Pretty scary stuff, likely a day
> we'll look back on as the beginning of the end for her. My sister and I
> are now going to need to resubmit her application to the VA home near
> here - my Dad is a WW II veteran. Sad that, because of things like this
> (this wasn't the first mental type of thing we've had with her) she'll
> end up in a different unit than he will - there are, in this VA home,
> couples who actually live in the same room, but my folks will not be one
> of them.

It's scary taking care of one's older parents. I bought dog tags from
Wal-mart recently. They have an etching machine you can pay for with
debit cards. Dad's tag has his name, physical address, a "call to" my
name and both my cell phone numbers on it. He understood the need and
wears it constantly. Plus I carved two more sets in case he loses it.
He has done so once. <g>

It eases my mind that if he does get lost when I am at work, at least
someone finding him can contact me!

>
> I gave up my college teaching job - long story made short, they don't
> treat the part-time faculty welll, I didn't really need the pittance
> they pay part-time faculty, so I told them to shape up their institution
> or I was leaving, and you know how that turned out. I'm plenty busy
> teaching music lessons from home and the occasional personal training,
> and that's why I"ve made my way here - I'm Mr. Mom, doing almost all the
> grocery shopping (and laundry, etc. ) and more and more of the cooking.
>
> Those are the highlights from here - this is a real email for me, so
> please feel free to continue the conversation that way.
>
> -S-

That would be great. :-) Just understand tho', if you e-mail me, you
will find out that I am a girl if you don't already know that... This
e-mail is also real!

Cheers!
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article
>,
Food Snob® > wrote:

> On May 16, 10:59*am, "Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:
> > "Omelet" > wrote
> >
> >
> >
> > > Is this water potable? *Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> > > cooking and drinking?
> >
> > Hell no!. *It may seem clean now if the unit is new, but over time it is
> > going to be cruddy with everything that is in the air getting carried over
> > the finds of the evaporator coil. *It may still look clear, but there will
> > be mold spores, dust, bacteria, etc. *Watering plants OK, but that is all.
>
> Exactly what Ed wrote. It's the best water you could get for watering
> plants--no chlorine. DO NOT drink it or allow your pets to drink it.
>
> --Bryan

Thanks Bryan...
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> In article
> >,
> Food Snob® > wrote:
>
>> On May 16, 10:59 am, "Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:
>> > "Omelet" > wrote
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > > Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
>> > > cooking and drinking?
>> >
>> > Hell no!. It may seem clean now if the unit is new, but over time it
>> > is
>> > going to be cruddy with everything that is in the air getting carried
>> > over
>> > the finds of the evaporator coil. It may still look clear, but there
>> > will
>> > be mold spores, dust, bacteria, etc. Watering plants OK, but that is
>> > all.
>>
>> Exactly what Ed wrote. It's the best water you could get for watering
>> plants--no chlorine. DO NOT drink it or allow your pets to drink it.
>>
>> --Bryan
>
> Thanks Bryan...
> --
> Peace! Om
>

(Pssst. He thinks it has trans fats.)

"zxcvbob" > wrote
>
> I just thought of something; doesn't water collect on the evaporator, not
> the condenser? (it's the refrigerant that's doing the evaporating and
> condensing.)
>
> Bob


Yes, the evaporator does the water condensing.
It is the evaporator when talking about the proper AC terms as that what it
does with the refrigerant. It does, however, condense the vapor in the air.

"Omelet" > wrote
>> You would probably need less coffee once all the pollutants that came
>> down
>> with the water are perked with the grounds.
>
> It is indoor air and the air itself is already filtered. What
> contaminants am I breathing please?
> --
> Peace! Om

Look at the dust on your furniture. It is not filtered all that well.
Don't take my word for it, wait a few weeks and take a big drink and get
back to us.

In article >,
"Paco" > wrote:

> "Omelet" > wrote in message
> news
> > In article
> > >,
> > Food Snob® > wrote:
> >
> >> On May 16, 10:59 am, "Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:
> >> > "Omelet" > wrote
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > > Is this water potable? Could it be used for the pet waters or for
> >> > > cooking and drinking?
> >> >
> >> > Hell no!. It may seem clean now if the unit is new, but over time it
> >> > is
> >> > going to be cruddy with everything that is in the air getting carried
> >> > over
> >> > the finds of the evaporator coil. It may still look clear, but there
> >> > will
> >> > be mold spores, dust, bacteria, etc. Watering plants OK, but that is
> >> > all.
> >>
> >> Exactly what Ed wrote. It's the best water you could get for watering
> >> plants--no chlorine. DO NOT drink it or allow your pets to drink it.
> >>
> >> --Bryan
> >
> > Thanks Bryan...
> > --
> > Peace! Om
> >
>
> (Pssst. He thinks it has trans fats.)

<chuckles> The consensus seems to be that drinking AC condensation is a
bad idea, but it's fine for plant watering. ;-) I plan to follow that
advice... and it'll save me on city water bills.

My original estimate was 2 gallons per day but with the recent rain, the
humidity has increased. I've had to dump the tank twice today to the
tune of a good 4 gallons. I'm fixin' to check it again before I go to
bed and in the morning before I leave for work.

I don't wish to have to mop.

If this keeps up, I'll probably give up on the tank and make a way for
it to run outside and plant a new catmint patch!
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

On Sun, 16 May 2010 18:58:04 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:

>If I plant in containers/pots only, I'm going to be
>able to water them for free!

Plus the cost of electricity to run the A/C.

--
Zilbandy

In article >,
Zilbandy > wrote:

> On Sun, 16 May 2010 18:58:04 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
> >If I plant in containers/pots only, I'm going to be
> >able to water them for free!
>
> Plus the cost of electricity to run the A/C.

I have to run the AC regardless...
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

Zilbandy wrote:
> Omelet > wrote:
>
>>If I plant in containers/pots only, I'm going to be
>>able to water them for free!
>
> Plus the cost of electricity to run the A/C.

At a recent home show there was a vendor selling stands that looked like
a water cooler without the tank. The device turned out to be a
dehumidifier that generated distilled drinking water. They claimed that
even with the electricity it cost much less than the price of the 5
gallon bottles from a delivery service. Not a bad idea for a place that
is already getting the 5 gallon bottles delivered but a good filter unit
costs less still.

Clearly as long as you find a way to keep an air conditioner clean on
the inside (no easy task) and you keep the pooling water away from
sources of infection (also no easy task) it can be done. But that water
cooler was a machine built from the ground up to deliver distilled
water. The AC unit is built from the ground up to cool the air and the
stuff i've seen dripping from mine ended up nasty. Go with watering the
plants.