Sponsors
Sponsors
now plugged up all the time (Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 10/27/11 8:57 PM ET
So a friend and I bought a house together a couple months ago now, and a few weeks after we moved in, both of us started having allergy/cold symptoms. It's pretty bad, and he's not sleeping much. I just feel run down a lot.
Details:
The house was built in 1957.
It is NOT freshly painted.
Haven't found evidence of mold.
Cleaned the accessible parts of the ducts with a vacumm but didn't get them blown out (too spendy)
Exchanged the furnace filter.
Pulled up bad-smelling carpet. Found no evidence of widespread mold (did find a little on the underside.
Forced air heat (neither of us have had forced air heat for some time.....I think this may be a biggy.)
I've been humidifying the house with a soup-pot full of water on the stove.
I also bought a new memory foam mattress topper recently. So I wonder...?
Anyway, any ideas would be helpful.
------
Details:
The house was built in 1957.
It is NOT freshly painted.
Haven't found evidence of mold.
Cleaned the accessible parts of the ducts with a vacumm but didn't get them blown out (too spendy)
Exchanged the furnace filter.
Pulled up bad-smelling carpet. Found no evidence of widespread mold (did find a little on the underside.
Forced air heat (neither of us have had forced air heat for some time.....I think this may be a biggy.)
I've been humidifying the house with a soup-pot full of water on the stove.
I also bought a new memory foam mattress topper recently. So I wonder...?
Anyway, any ideas would be helpful.
------
Needle Needle Straight and Slim, Dust and Sweep the House for Him! --Grimm Fairy Tales
Posted on: 10/27/11 9:08 PM ET
In reply to Lady_Mame
Try a few nights without the foam topper. Put it outside or in a garage to air out. I've heard a lot of people have problems with them when new. I think the wrapping holds fumes in.
Congrats on the new house!
------
Congrats on the new house!
------
2009-113.25 yds
2010-115.5
2011-80.25+30+donated
2012 86.3 yds..
2013 21.0
Everyone who sews seriously has a stockpile of fabrics, because it is natural to purchase more than can be sewn in any one season" Singer, Timesaving Sewing, 1987
2010-115.5
2011-80.25+30+donated
2012 86.3 yds..
2013 21.0
Everyone who sews seriously has a stockpile of fabrics, because it is natural to purchase more than can be sewn in any one season" Singer, Timesaving Sewing, 1987
Posted on: 10/27/11 9:19 PM ET
In reply to Lady_Mame
Lady.. please pardon me for not remembering all the details of your move.. BUT If you moved to a different area.. there could be something in the air.. or a plant in your yard or so forth that may have caused this.. My DD gets congested when she comes to visit me.. always..and always leaves when she returns home.. Not uncommon from what I understand..
And you never know if they may have had a pet.. the previous owners.. that you may have an allergy too.. pet hair sticks around no matter what..
And yes.. the different type of heat may also be cause.. if so you should adapt to it in time..
Posted on: 10/27/11 9:40 PM ET
In reply to jannw
I aired it out quite a lot and always let it air in the morning.... Also, it airs every weekend. Could I be allergic in a general way?
------
------
Needle Needle Straight and Slim, Dust and Sweep the House for Him! --Grimm Fairy Tales
Posted on: 10/27/11 9:43 PM ET
In reply to poorpigling
Pigling -- I didn't say anything about it on the boards, actually. So busy with packing. I just moved about two miles, and there are actually LESS things in the yard here (I lived next to a very motivated gardener.) I'm also further away from a nasty factory, so I thought that would be better..... hrm.
I definitely think we'll want to blow the ducts in the spring.
------
I definitely think we'll want to blow the ducts in the spring.
------
Needle Needle Straight and Slim, Dust and Sweep the House for Him! --Grimm Fairy Tales
Posted on: 10/27/11 9:53 PM ET
In reply to Lady_Mame
Can you put an air filter in the bedrooms? We did that & both of us are sleeping better. In the winter we run vaporizer fairly often & continue with the air filter... get one you can clean the filter regularly ... if you have to buy filters allot gets pricey. Also wipe down all heat vents with hot water & vinegar I do this monthly all winter.. seems to help. ( I have asthma & so does my Abigail kitty.)... ... that should help kill off any lingerings of any dust mite problem.
I hope you enjoy your new home! Congrats!
------
I hope you enjoy your new home! Congrats!

------
Posted on: 10/27/11 10:38 PM ET
- yes, I think a house can make you sick.
My condo is in a 150+ year old brick townhouse -- I am an OK cook ... But, I swear, In this house I cant bake a thing and have it come out right.
Ive been pretty good at interior design in most situations that Ive tried .. but, this place was unhappy with the first three colors I tried to paint it!
The garden here will grow anything I put in it - but, can I find a plant that will live in my window box? --
On a more normal note -- forced hot air heat is hard on my nose. I have a monitor heater in my condo - Im very glad it has a built in reservoir for water that it steams off..
------
Quilting up a storm!
Posted on: 10/27/11 11:26 PM ET
I would suggest pulling out all of the carpet. Carpet is disgusting - I don't have it in my house. It can harbor all sorts of allergens and yuckyness.
------
------
~
Debby
Debby
Posted on: 10/27/11 11:27 PM ET
In reply to DebbyS
We only have one room with carpet.... I suppose it can be removed too!.
------
------
Needle Needle Straight and Slim, Dust and Sweep the House for Him! --Grimm Fairy Tales
Posted on: 10/28/11 2:51 AM ET
In reply to Lady_Mame
Did you have the house tested for mold? Black mold can be difficult to find, and a professional might need to be brought in to detect. There are other types of ordinary molds that can grow in older houses that can make one sick also. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not in the walls, etc. If the house has a basement, finished or unfinished, that can be a breeding area for molds.
Do you know anything about the previous owner/tenant? Since you both are feeling sick, could there have been a meth lab in the house? Meth residue will stay behind in a building. You can Google it and see if your symptoms match up.
I'm thinking mold, given the age of the house. It could be in the exterior walls due to condensation or leaks.
------
Do you know anything about the previous owner/tenant? Since you both are feeling sick, could there have been a meth lab in the house? Meth residue will stay behind in a building. You can Google it and see if your symptoms match up.
I'm thinking mold, given the age of the house. It could be in the exterior walls due to condensation or leaks.
------
iPad's auto-correct is my enema.
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics







