Question 1

How much water does an Altitude machine produce?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the temperature and humidity where it's installed: the more humid the air, the more it makes, and output drops in dry air. The T-12 is rated at up to 15 gallons a day, but for planning purposes in the Dominican Republic we work with a range of 8 to 11 gallons a day. That's an estimate based on location and conditions, not a guaranteed figure: it shifts with the day's weather, the season, and exactly where the unit sits. Before we quote, we assess your address and give you the range that actually applies to you.

Question 2

Is this real?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Atmospheric water generators have been running for years in dozens of countries, and the machine in our photos is producing today in a kitchen in Sosúa. We'd encourage you to do your research before buying and to work with a manufacturer that has a track record: this is buying equipment, not an accessory.

Question 3

Do you manufacture the machines?

Accepted Answer

No. Agua del Aire is the authorised Altitude Water distributor in the Dominican Republic. The machines are built in the United States; we import them, install them, service them and stand behind the maintenance here.

Question 4

Why have I never heard of an atmospheric water generator?

Accepted Answer

Because it's a young technology outside its niche. It's been in development for more than fifteen years, but most people have never seen one running. The principle is the same one any air conditioner already uses: condensing moisture out of the air. The difference is that here the water is collected, filtered and mineralised instead of being dumped down a drain line.

Question 5

Is there enough humidity in the Dominican Republic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's about as good as conditions get. The north coast sits between 70% and 85% relative humidity for much of the year, well above the 40% generally considered the minimum for a machine to run economically. Inland areas and drier months bring output down, which is why we assess your location before recommending a model.

Question 6

Is there enough water in the air to produce every day?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The atmosphere holds an enormous amount of water at any moment, and the hydrologic cycle replenishes it continuously through evaporation and rainfall. A machine takes a microscopic fraction of the air around it, and that air renews itself. Daily output varies with the weather, but the source doesn't run out.

Question 7

Does taking water out of the air harm the environment?

Accepted Answer

Not to any meaningful degree. Any dehumidifier, refrigerator or air conditioner condenses moisture out of the air exactly the same way; the difference is that an atmospheric generator collects it instead of discarding it. It doesn't touch aquifers, rivers or the municipal supply. That said, let's be precise: the T-12 draws 730W, so the environmental argument is limited to where the water comes from and to the plastic and delivery trips avoided. We don't claim the machine is energy-neutral, because it isn't.

Question 8

Should the machine go inside or outside?

Accepted Answer

Both work. Outdoors it usually produces more, because it has access to all the ambient air. Indoors, if the space is air-conditioned, the AC is pulling moisture out of that same air and the machine makes less. Our recommendation for the Dominican Republic is a spot under cover but in open air: a gallery, a carport or a covered terrace.

Question 9

Can it handle being left outdoors?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as the temperature stays above 18 °C, which here is nearly year-round. The ideal spot is covered, protecting it from direct sun and rain without boxing it in. A surge protector is essential: the Dominican grid is unforgiving.

Question 10

How much power does it use, and what will it add to my bill?

Accepted Answer

The T-12 draws 730W while producing. To know what that means on your bill you multiply the hours it runs each day by the rate your utility charges you, which isn't the same for everyone. We run that calculation with you during the assessment, with your actual bill in hand, so you get your number rather than an average.

Question 11

Will it run on an inverter or a generator during a power cut?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if the system is sized for it. That's 730W of continuous draw, plus the compressor's start-up surge, which is considerably higher. A small household inverter won't carry it comfortably. During the assessment we look at your inverter or generator and tell you straight whether it's up to the job or whether something needs to change.

Question 12

Do the machines run on solar power?

Accepted Answer

The commercial T-100 and T-200 models are ready to integrate with a solar system. We're also designing self-contained solar systems for the whole line: these are proposals in design, not finished products and not available for sale. When they're ready, we'll say so plainly.

Question 13

Can it be plumbed into the whole house?

Accepted Answer

Yes, an installation can be designed to carry the water to specific fixtures in the house. Four things need assessing: the plumbing you already have, the daily volume you need to cover, the storage tank, and a booster pump or pressure regulator if required. On materials: PEX, CPVC and PVC are compatible; copper isn't recommended because of how it reacts with the system's ozone. It's custom work and gets quoted after we've seen the house.

Question 14

How does an atmospheric water generator work?

Accepted Answer

The machine filters incoming air and passes it over a cold coil. As the air cools, its moisture condenses into droplets, the same way a glass of iced water beads up on the outside. The coil carries a food-grade coating, so the condensed water never touches metal. That water drops into an internal tank and from there moves through the filtration, mineralisation and purification stages before it's ready to draw.

Question 15

Can you really get drinking water from air that has dust and pollution in it?

Accepted Answer

The air passes first through a filter that catches dust, pollen and particulates. Then, in condensation, only water vapour turns to liquid: particles and much of what's suspended in the air don't condense and are left behind. From there the water continues through the EnviroGuard multi-stage filtration, which the manufacturer states filters below 0.01 microns. This is a different process from rainwater, which does pick up whatever it meets on the way down.

Question 16

How is the water mineralised?

Accepted Answer

In two stages. First a 5-micron carbon block filter. Then a mineral cartridge with natural calcite, which returns calcium, magnesium and trace minerals to the water and raises the pH to around 8.1. Freshly condensed water comes out essentially distilled, with no minerals; mineralisation is what gives it taste.

Question 17

What is the pH of the water?

Accepted Answer

Around 8.1, within the alkaline range. It's the result of calcite mineralisation, not an additive.

Question 18

What does pH mean for water?

Accepted Answer

pH measures how acidic or alkaline water is. 7 is neutral; below that is acidic, above it is alkaline. Normal surface water runs between 6.5 and 8.5. There are two ways to raise it: ionisation, which is an electrical process, and mineralisation, which means adding minerals to the water. These machines use mineralisation.

Question 19

What is ozone, and how is it handled inside the machine?

Accepted Answer

Ozone (O₃) is oxygen with three atoms, and it's a powerful oxidiser. It's been used in water treatment for more than a hundred years. The machine doesn't store it: it generates ozone on demand by corona discharge, the same phenomenon that produces it in the atmosphere during a lightning storm, and injects it straight into the tank. It then reverts to oxygen on its own, leaving no chemical residue.

Question 20

How is this different from reverse osmosis?

Accepted Answer

They're two different things. Reverse osmosis filters water you already have: from the tap, a well, or the mains. Its result depends on the quality of that source water. An atmospheric generator doesn't filter existing water, it produces it: it starts from water vapour, not from a source that needs correcting. Put briefly: RO improves the water that's there; an atmospheric generator makes water where there wasn't any.

Question 21

Is it true that reverse osmosis wastes a lot of water?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most residential and commercial systems discharge several gallons for every gallon they purify, typically at a 4:1 or 5:1 ratio. That reject water leaves with the contaminants concentrated in it and has to go somewhere, which complicates the installation and adds cost. An atmospheric generator produces no reject water.

Question 22

How is this different from bottled water delivery?

Accepted Answer

In where it comes from and in the logistics. A delivered bottle is produced by someone else, travels by truck, sits in plastic and depends on the route running. Here the water is made at your house or your business, in your own container, and depends on nobody. On the money, let's be honest: for a family home this isn't bought for savings, because at local bottled-water prices the arithmetic doesn't work; it's bought for independence and for knowing where your water comes from. For a business going through volume the arithmetic changes, and we'll work through it with your numbers.

Question 23

Is there plastic inside the T-12?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are plastic components. The manufacturer states they are certified to NSF 61, the standard covering materials in contact with drinking water. Making every component from stainless steel would raise the price considerably; this is the balance the manufacturer struck between safety, durability and cost.

Question 24

How often do the filters need changing?

Accepted Answer

Water filters every 6 months or 750 gallons, whichever comes first. The T-12's MERV-13 air filter every 1 to 4 months, depending on dust and salt air at the site. If you're right on the water or on an unpaved street, plan for the short end of that range.

Question 25

Where do I get replacement filters?

Accepted Answer

From us. We keep the one-year T-12 filter kit in stock and coordinate the change out of Puerto Plata. We also track when yours is due, so the date doesn't slip past you.

Question 26

How long does the machine last?

Accepted Answer

Around ten years in a normal environment, and with maintenance kept up many units go well beyond that. It's built with 304-grade stainless steel and commercial-grade internal components. Normal environment means indoors or away from the coast; on the coast the answer is different, and it's directly below.

Question 27

How long does it last near the ocean, with the salt air?

Accepted Answer

With routine care, years of service with no signs of corrosion. For scale: an ordinary air conditioner on the waterfront often doesn't make it past five years because of salt. These machines use 304 stainless steel, corrosion-resistant hardware and coatings intended for marine environments. What decides the outcome is maintenance and how exposed the spot is: constant salt-laden wind asks for more attention than a sheltered gallery.

Question 28

What maintenance does a machine on the coast need?

Accepted Answer

Four things, none of them complicated. Wipe the exterior down weekly with a good stainless-steel cleaner and polish, which lifts the salt and leaves a protective barrier. Rinse with fresh water and dry thoroughly after heavy salt spray. Inspect periodically for early rust spots or build-up. And keep to the filter schedule. That's what separates a machine that lasts from one that degrades.

Question 29

What warranty does it carry?

Accepted Answer

One year general warranty, and the T-12 adds three years on the compressor and coil. The exact terms are quoted from the manual for the machine actually installed, not from a brochure: on handover we leave you the manual and walk you through what's covered and what isn't.

Question 30

Where do I get the owner's manual?

Accepted Answer

It comes with the machine, in print and digital, covering installation, operation, maintenance, fault codes and warranty. If you've lost it, or want to read it before buying, message us on WhatsApp and we'll send it over.

Question 31

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

The price depends on the model and on what the installation involves in your case. We don't publish a list because the assessment changes the scope: a T-12 on a gallery is not the same job as a T-100 plumbed into a business. Message us on WhatsApp with your location and what you need it for, and we'll quote you.

Question 32

How do I buy one?

Accepted Answer

It starts with a conversation, not a shopping cart. You write to us, we assess your location and your consumption, we recommend the model and send you the quote. If you're happy with it, we schedule delivery and installation.

Question 33

Do you deliver nationwide?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We're based in Sosúa, Puerto Plata, and we deliver and install throughout the Dominican Republic. On the north coast we're close by for service; for the rest of the country we schedule the visit when we quote.

Question 34

How long do delivery and installation take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on model availability and on your location. The installation itself is a one-day job once the spot has its dedicated outlet and surge protector. We give you the actual date when we quote, not a vague estimate.

Question 35

Do you issue invoices with fiscal receipts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AGUA DEL AIRE, S.R.L. is incorporated under Law 479-08 and issues invoices with a valid fiscal receipt. If the purchase is in a company's name, give us the RNC when we quote so it's issued correctly from the start.

Question 36

Would this work for a hotel, a shop, a school or a construction site?

Accepted Answer

That's what the T-100 and T-200 are for: commercial and community scale. The question that decides the model isn't the type of business but how many litres a day you need and how consistently. Tell us that number and we'll tell you which machine covers it.

What people ask us before they buy

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