My house is killing me

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Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
When we moved into this house, which is pretty old, we felt tired all the time. We thought it was just becuase of the moving process, but even two weeks later, the house just seems to suck our energy out.

This previous weekend, I went to CT while one of my roommates traveled to another part of VA. We both returned Monday night, felt fine on Tuesday, but we were both sick today (Wednesday) and my other roommate who was here the whole weekend said he doesn't feel too good either.

So.. we're thinking it has something to do with the house.. I'm pretty sure it's not carbon monoxide because we have two detectors in the house that we test regularly.. the only thing I can think of is lead so I think I might make some calls tomorrow to find out what the lead levels are in the house and in the water.

Is there anything else we should be checking for?

Edit- by sick I mean cold/fever like symptoms.
 
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dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
bad feng shui :p

seriously though, what do you mean by "sick"? just tired?
 
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DAGTA

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,172
1
0
Definitely check for mold, if possible. Asbestos might be in a house that old, too. Lead paint and possibly lead in the pipes.

If the weather is nice enough, leave the windows open 24 hours a day for a few days. Also, drink only bottled water and other bottled drinks for a while (no faucet water) and see if you feel any better.
 
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daclayman

Golden Member
Sep 27, 2000
1,207
0
76
black mold - run dehumidfiers

edit: actually, black mold is evil; I'd rather have a Bush for president. Dehumidifiers won;t solve a black mold problem. Fire does...
 
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Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
Originally posted by: globalcitizen
Fungal organisms? If you have central air in your place, those spores could be the problem.
Click to expand...

We have central heat, but since it's summer we don't have it running...

Originally posted by: DAGTA
Definitely check for mold, if possible. Asbestos might be in a house that old, too. Lead paint and possibly lead in the pipes.

If the weather is nice enough, leave the windows open 24 hours a day for a few days. Also, drink only bottled water and other bottled drinks for a while (no faucet water) and see if you feel any better.
Click to expand...

I'll check for those two as well, thanks.
 
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Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Text Found this on webmd.com

Couldn't ask for a better article i guess...
Click to expand...

Thanks, just what I was looking for!
Looks like I'm gonna have to get the placed checked for radon, asbestos, lead, etc, because they seem like they are all possibilities here.

Edit: sounds very much like it could be a mold problem, too...
 
n7

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
I am not superstitious or anything, but ever since moving to my new apartment, i have had an unbelievable amount of bad luck.

It's like everything turned against me as soon as i moved...
 
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Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: brxndxn
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=648969

Get one of those.. My dusty ass apartment gave me allergies until I started filtering the air. Now, I hardly ever get a stuffy nose/snore/watery eyes..
Click to expand...

I think he's looking to clean his house, not scrap something to make a nuke...
Click to expand...

lol, I might get one of those anyway. All I really have is one of those Sharper Image Breeze things, and from what I've read its just a piece of crap. Might as well have something that at least works as its supposed to.
 
MoPHo

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
2,978
2
0
Originally posted by: supafly
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: brxndxn
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=648969

Get one of those.. My dusty ass apartment gave me allergies until I started filtering the air. Now, I hardly ever get a stuffy nose/snore/watery eyes..
Click to expand...

I think he's looking to clean his house, not scrap something to make a nuke...
Click to expand...

lol, I might get one of those anyway. All I really have is one of those Sharper Image Breeze things, and from what I've read its just a piece of crap. Might as well have something that at least works as its supposed to.
Click to expand...


You mean the one that doesn't require any filtering and is quiet enough to allow you to sleep at night? And can be yours with only 6 easy payments of $69.99? Yea i hear they suck the fat one.
 
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ThisIsMatt

Banned
Aug 4, 2000
11,820
1
0
Have any leaks? Could very well be mold. Check under/behind sinks, check crawlspace or attic near piping, etc. Mold can do permanent damage to your health.
 
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Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
Have any leaks? Could very well be mold. Check under/behind sinks, check crawlspace or attic near piping, etc. Mold can do permanent damage to your health.
Click to expand...

There definitly are leaks in this house, I'll do some more investigating tomorrow.

And as far as radon goes.. I think my illustration speaks for itself:
Text
Red = bad

http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap/virginia.htm
 
A

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
12,411
2
0
Originally posted by: supafly
When we moved into this house, which is pretty old, we felt tired all the time. We thought it was just becuase of the moving process, but even two weeks later, the house just seems to suck our energy out.

This previous weekend, I went to CT while one of my roommates traveled to another part of VA. We both returned Monday night, felt fine on Tuesday, but we were both sick today (Wednesday) and my other roommate who was here the whole weekend said he doesn't feel too good either.

So.. we're thinking it has something to do with the house.. I'm pretty sure it's not carbon monoxide because we have two detectors in the house that we test regularly.. the only thing I can think of is lead so I think I might make some calls tomorrow to find out what the lead levels are in the house and in the water.

Is there anything else we should be checking for?

Edit- by sick I mean cold/fever like symptoms.
Click to expand...

radon gas accumulating below the house? (don't laugh, it's a real problem in some dwellings)

mould/ fungus

bed bugs (they are making a comeback, they emerge in the night to suck your blood and you could have an allergic reaction to their bites)

outgassing of toxic chemicals from the materials used in the house?

um, pesticides sprayed inside the house?


 
SagaLore

SagaLore

Elite Member
Dec 18, 2001
24,036
21
81
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: supafly
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Originally posted by: brxndxn
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=648969

Get one of those.. My dusty ass apartment gave me allergies until I started filtering the air. Now, I hardly ever get a stuffy nose/snore/watery eyes..
Click to expand...

I think he's looking to clean his house, not scrap something to make a nuke...
Click to expand...

lol, I might get one of those anyway. All I really have is one of those Sharper Image Breeze things, and from what I've read its just a piece of crap. Might as well have something that at least works as its supposed to.
Click to expand...


You mean the one that doesn't require any filtering and is quiet enough to allow you to sleep at night? And can be yours with only 6 easy payments of $69.99? Yea i hear they suck the fat one.
Click to expand...

Actually I have one, and it does work really well. You have to wipe down the blades every few weeks (and turn it upside down a couple of times for the bead to clean the wire). It's not so good for cleaning large amounts of dust out of the air like a hepa filter, but it does neutralize all the odors in the house and trap things like candle smoke particles.
 
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Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
Wow, the landlord just came by and let me into the basement! There was black mold all over the place!!!

I could tell he was scared when I mentioned the health department.. he said he hasn't had good luck with them in the past (gee, good to know) and he even offered me all of my rent money back if I wanted to move, which I really don't since I'm only a block away from campus - I just want the mold gone! If he doesn't take care of it I will hire someone and just take the money out of my rent. He said he will have someone come by tomorrow and clean the basement real good with bleach.. I don't know how much good that will do but it's a start.
 
SagaLore

SagaLore

Elite Member
Dec 18, 2001
24,036
21
81
Originally posted by: supafly
He said he will have someone come by tomorrow and clean the basement real good with bleach.. I don't know how much good that will do but it's a start.
Click to expand...

Instead of bleach, he should use a real fungicide. And if there is a moisture problem in the basement, he should paint the walls and floor with a paint sealant that contains fungicide.
 
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