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Runoff from air conditioner for irrigation?

Posted by ltecato 9 (My Page) on
Mon, Mar 10, 08 at 16:29

If you live in a hot and humid climate, you know that a lot of water condenses in your AC and then usually drains through a plastic or metal pipe to some point just outside the house.

When I lived in Texas I was able to collect or redirect some of this for my garden, but my system was as crude as it gets: I'd put a container under the drain or use a short section of old garden hose to water a flower bed about five feet away.

On a hot day when the AC was working really hard, water would come out at about the rate of a gallon per hour, if I recall correctly.

I try to keep up on water-saving trends, but I have never heard of anyone beside myself trying to set up a system to use AC runoff for irrigation. It seems to me that this could be a big help in some areas, not just for homes but for big office buildings, malls, etc.

Has anyone heard of anything like this being implemented? I can't possibly be the first one to think of the idea.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Runoff from air conditioner for irrigation?

I collect it in a container, because my gardens are not that close but I bet something could be hooked up but unsightly to see. Maybe you could direct the question to the folks in the drought section, they might be better suited.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials


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RE: Runoff from air conditioner for irrigation?

Thanks for the response, Bullthistle. Yes the garden hose approach was pretty ugly. But I think if a house was custom-designed or retrofitted for this, it wouldn't be too unsightly. Admittedly, I've never done any construction or engineering, but it seems like there should be some way to maybe direct this water into a buried irrigation system, assuming the AC will produce enough runoff to make it worth the trouble. I'll try posting to the drought forum. Thanks again.


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RE: Runoff from air conditioner for irrigation?

I came across this today and although it's for greywater this might be useful.

http://www.greywaterguerrillas.com/drip-irrigation.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials


 
 

 

 


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