Help - I'm allergic to our new house!

[Anonymous]

We've lived here about a year, and since I moved in I've become a sneezy red-eyed mess. I've finally come to the conclusion that it's the house.

I'm going to make an appointment with an allergist, but in the meantime, has anyone been successful in reducing allergens in their home? The house is circa 1960s so I'm sure there are all kinds of nasties around. Only one room has carpet, the rest is hardwoods, and we've gotten rid of all the old window treatments. We change the air filters regularly, but I'm thinking we should pay to have the duct work cleaned. Even with the AC off though, I still feel horrible, so I doubt dust in the heating/AC system is my only problem. Is there anything else we can do? I know nothing about mold, but am assuming maybe that's contributing?

If you've BTDT and somehow made things better, I'd love to hear about it. This is miserable!

[Anonymous]

This was me when I could come back from any trip away from my condo.

Your house probably has mold in the ducts. It does not matter if the air is running or not.

You need a duct treatment with mold killer.

After I had this done it was night and day with my sinuses.

[Anonymous]

I'd pull the carpet for hardwood. I'd be cautious about blaming ducts, but it can happen.

[Anonymous]

were there pets living there previously? cat dander esp can last for years

[Anonymous]

pull the carpet

[Anonymous]

I do not think one room with carpte, unless maybe its the bedroom would be causing OP all these issues.

[Anonymous]

^^carpet

[Anonymous]

I would do a mold test.

[Anonymous]

OP, please check out Potomac home inspection:

http://www.potomac-homes.net/

He does allergy testing and mold testing. Let's us know how it goes.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks all. I don't think the carpet is the main culprit, although we have plans to get rid of that anyway. The only room with carpeting is our bedroom, and oddly enough, that's one of the rooms I have the fewest issues being in. I'm intrigued by the mold idea (the first PP give me hope!) and would be interested to hear from anyone who may have had similar issues where mold ended up being the culprit.

[Anonymous]

Could you hire a home inspector to come and inspect, after telling about your allergy problems? I'd probably start there. Is anyone else in the house experiencing problems, including pets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks all. I don't think the carpet is the main culprit, although we have plans to get rid of that anyway. The only room with carpeting is our bedroom, and oddly enough, that's one of the rooms I have the fewest issues being in. I'm intrigued by the mold idea (the first PP give me hope!) and would be interested to hear from anyone who may have had similar issues where mold ended up being the culprit.

Mold can also lurk behind the walls so if a good solid duct cleaning doesn't do the trick you might want to consider checking your walls. If you live in a TH your neighbors might have a mold problem on the shared wall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not think one room with carpte, unless maybe its the bedroom would be causing OP all these issues.

If ther is central air the allergens from that room get all over the house

[Anonymous]

First thing most allergists tell you is h rid of carpet, ESP in bdrm

[Anonymous]

I was having similar problems, although more related to breathing. We had our ducts cleaned, and I was shocked at the amount of dust they removed from our tiny house. It was enough to fill a full size refrigerator/freezer. The guys said it was full of dog hair and dander and the ducts had likely never been cleaned before.