If you have an air conditioner at home, then you probably know that all the air conditioners keep dropping water while they are running.
Can animals drink air conditioner water? Is air conditioner water safe for bathing or drinking purposes? What will happen if your pet drinks the air conditioner water? Is air conditioner water safe for humans?
If you need answers to all such questions then keep reading because this article is for you!
What is the water that comes out of the AC
First of all, we should understand what is the water that comes out of your air conditioner.
The reason why air conditioners give out water has to do with the working of air conditioners.
Your air conditioner unit performs cooling by refrigeration. It has two coils; one is kept hot while the other is kept cold.
The chemicals present inside the coil of your AC continuously evaporate and condense. This, in turn, cools the coil. When the coil gets cooled, the air blowing above it also gets cooled.
The cooling coils also extract moisture from the air. Now when that cold air condenses, the water starts wringing out of it.
Some of this water will evaporate again to cool the coils whereas the rest of the water will move out of the air conditioner.
Therefore, the water that comes out of your AC is due to the cooling of your air conditioner.
Is condensed water from the air conditioner safe to drink?
No, the condensed water from air conditioners is not safe to drink.
You must be thinking why?
Well, it’s because the air conditioner water can be extremely harmful to your health.
The AC water is extracted from the air circulating in your room. That water may contain traces of harmful pollutants, toxins, heavy metals, and dust particles that are present in the air.
Thus, if you will drink it then you can get sick and develop health problems. This is the reason why the condensed water from an air conditioner is not recommended for drinking purposes.
Is AC water drinkable
No, we do not recommend you or anyone else to drink the AC water.
The reason is that the AC water is extracted from the air in your room.
That air may contain harmful toxins, pollutants, heavy metals, etc. So, the AC water may also contain traces of all those harmful particles present in the air.
Moreover, the air conditioners are a breeding ground for molds, bacteria, and slimes. The air conditioner water can easily catch harmful bacteria, molds, slimes, and other dangerous germs.
If you will drink such water then it will not only upset your digestive system but also make you vulnerable to plenty of other serious diseases.
So, in simple words, you should not drink air conditioner water as it can make you sick.
Is air conditioner water safe for pets
No, your pets should not drink air conditioner water.
Why? What’s the reason?
Well, an air conditioner is the breeding ground for many dangerous bacteria, molds, and slimes. They can also easily enter the air conditioner water.
Now if your pet will drink air conditioner water contaminated by harmful particles then it can get seriously sick.
All the experts recommend that you should avoid feeding air conditioner water to your pets and instead opt for fresh and clean water.
Can dogs drink AC water?
No, dogs should not drink AC water.
Why dogs cannot drink AC water?
Well, it is unsafe for their health.
The AC water is extracted from the air present inside your room and you know it very well that the air can be polluted. So, your AC water can also contain harmful toxins, heavy metals, and pollutants.
If your dog will drink it, then it will get seriously unwell.
Can cats drink AC water?
No, we do not recommend giving AC water to the cats.
The reason is that air conditioners are very dirty from the inside. They contain a lot of bacteria, molds, slimes, dust particles, and harmful germs. Even the pipes of your air conditioner through which the water comes out can be very dirty and polluted.
Now when the AC water will pass through all those contaminated areas, it will get polluted as well.
It may also contain germs, bacteria, dust particles, molds, etc. If your cat will drink this water then it will get seriously sick.
This is why you are recommended to keep your cat away from drinking the air conditioner water.
What happens if animals drink AC water
If an animal will drink AC water, then it may get sick and develop health problems.
The reason is that AC water can become contaminated during its collection and may contain harmful toxins and chemicals. It has the potential to make an animal sick.
If your pet drank air conditioner water then you should watch out for any symptoms of illness. There are strong chances that your pet should be completely okay.
But if it shows any adverse side effects then you should take it to the vet for immediate healthcare support.
Can we drink AC water
No, we should not drink AC water.
Here are the mind-blowing reasons that will convince you not to drink AC water:
1. It is extracted from the air
The water which comes out of the air conditioner is extracted from the air present in your room.
If the air is polluted, then the AC water may also contain traces of heavy metals, toxins, and other pollutants.
Drinking such contaminated water can be extremely bad for your health.
2. The AC is very dirty inside
Air conditioners are very dirty from the inside. They hold a lot of bacteria, molds, slimes, dust, and other germs that are harmful to our health.
Even the pipes that carry the AC water are dirty and contaminated.
All these factors can contribute towards contaminating the AC water as well.
Therefore, drinking such water can be a health risk and is likely to make you sick. So, you should avoid drinking the air conditioner water.
Instead, you should drink fresh and clean water to stay healthy and live a good life.
Is air conditioner water safe for bathing?
AC water is often contaminated and it is an unhygienic practice to use it for bathing.
Technically, it is condensed water that is extracted from the air and can be used for taking a shower.
But why don’t you use fresh and clean water to take a bath?
Many people would consider it gross to use AC water for bathing.
Conclusion
Humans and animals – both of them should not drink AC water.
The reason is that it is unsafe for their health. So, you should only drink fresh and clean water.
Curious to learn if water from air conditioner safe for plants?
Dr Joe Strachan is a Paediatric Intensive Care (CHiP) expert
