Dehumidifier water

[nigel_c]

I've been doing a bit of research into my water and trying to get my head around the chemistry of it all. I've been looking at water for czech pilsner in particular. Soft water is required and many use RO or distilled water to soften the water. What I'm thinking is using the condensate that collects in my dehumidifier to achieve the same result.
I'm the condensate is going to be pretty much the same as the RO and distilled waters.
Anyone have any experience or input with doing this?
Thoughts welcome.

[Ciderhead]

Have you had it analysed by that new water lab in Malahide, Prof D Labs Inc? he has a very good 2 for one offer at the moment where he takes samples a weeks apart and only charges €10 for the result.
Rossa will sell you some if you get a bad result.

[Tom]

Try it and see. But consider that when you dilute your tap water, as well as diluting the carbonates and sulphates etc which harden your water, you're diluting the trace minerals and metals (Magnesium, calcium etc) and of course Oxygen, all of which your yeast does need some of.

Aerate your wort well, make sure you pitch a healthy yeast (consider yeast nutrients) and you'll have a first class beer.

Try using Acid Malt to improve mash efficiency, which may decrease if you dilute the water.

SO MUCH to think about.

[nigel_c]

So much is right. I haven't got a science background so it's starting from scratch for me. Loads of googling I reckon. Water for dummies is what ill be looking for.

[Dr Jacoby]

I'll be talking about water treatment at the next Capital Brewers Brew Day in TOG if that's any use? Details: http://nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,3200.0.html

I'll probably do up some kind of article as well, but that could take a while 

[nigel_c]

Will do my best to make it in. Just have to make it known to herself that it's for the greater good. The greater good.

[Will_D]

I know it will be boiled but just think of whats in the condensed water?



Dust, bacteria, skin cells, plasterboard dust from the building (ok thats the gypsum sorted), fungii, traffic film etc etc

You can get 25 L of RO water from the Kinsealy pet store 1 k up the road from you for only a fiver!

[Will_D]

Nigel: Attatched are the notes I put together for the BJCP water lecture:

[johnrm]

Whatever about bacteria.
How long would it take to produce enough?
How much is it going to cost?!

[Tom]

@will_d doesn't boiling and pH take reasonable care of the bacteria, and as for dust etc., wouldn't that settle out with trub and flocculating yeast?

(I'm not arguing my point, I genuinely have wondered this dust thing myself).

NB: cat-hair floats.

[johnrm]

Why not filter the (bird) shit out of rain water and then boil this?
Do you know how much it costs to run a dehumidifier?

[Eoin]

I collected a lot of rain water when I was doing a lager a while back, it was clean. It made a nice lager.

[Dr Jacoby]

TOG. Get some water next time time there's a brew day. It's exceptionally soft. Less than 30ppm.

Jaysus, my water doesn't usually get below 30ppm and I thought I was on the same supply at an earlier point in the chain. The alkalinity of my water averages about 37ppm (measured as CaC0₃. I'm surprised that the levels would drop below that between Naas and the city centre. Maybe the TOG water is blended from different sources?

[cruiscinlan]

Did anyone ever try using the water from their dehumidifier.

[Will_D]

See post #6 above