💧 Turn Drips into Drops: How I Collect Free Water from My AC to Beat the Drought

bobaikuu (34)in #watersaving • 6 days ago (edited)

🌍 Introduction
Did you know that your air conditioner could be a hidden source of clean, usable water?

I’ve been quietly harvesting gallons of free water every day—right from my AC unit! This is part of my journey to live more sustainably, and today I’m sharing exactly how I do it, why it works, and how you can start too.

🧠 What Is AC Condensate Water?
Air conditioners remove moisture from the air to cool your space. That moisture doesn’t just disappear—it turns into condensate, which is usually drained away as waste.

But here's the kicker:

💡 That “waste” water is actually clean—clean enough for plants, cleaning, even flushing toilets!

🛠 How I Collect It
I built a simple AC Condensate Collector System that channels the water into a portable storage tank.

Materials I Used:
PVC pipe extensions ($3)

Inline mesh filter ($2)

10-liter container with lid ($4)

Overflow outlet + hose ($2)

A basic DIY bracket for elevation

Cost? Under $15.
Water saved per week? 30–50 liters.

🪴** How I Use It**
Watering my vegetable garden 🌿

Mopping the house 🧼

Flushing the toilet 🚽

Cleaning tools & windows 🧽

I haven't used tap water for these tasks in months!

📈 Environmental Impact
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an average home AC can produce up to 20 gallons of condensate water per day.

Multiply that by:

7 days a week

Millions of homes worldwide

We could be reclaiming billions of gallons of water per year—for free.

💰 Bonus: How I Turned This Into a Side Hustle
After sharing my setup on social media, people started asking for help building their own. I now:

Sell pre-made kits on Etsy

Consult with eco-conscious renters

Monetize my videos on YouTube & Steemit (like this post!)

Want help building yours? Drop a comment below!

🧵 TL;DR
Your AC makes water daily—it’s called condensate

It’s clean enough for non-drinking uses

Easy DIY setup = water savings + sustainability