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I've only been renting for about a month so I'm not all that familiar with all the dos and don'ts of the tenant/landlord relationship.
Basically, the air quality in my apartment is really bad. I noticed it after my first night in the apartment. It smells bad all the time and the air always feels musty even though I keep the apartment clean. I'm not having trouble breathing to the point where it's dangerous, but my breathing definitely doesn't feel right, and my throat feels scratchy and my eyes get red and itchy. I'm having trouble sleeping through the night and focusing on schoolwork during the day.
It definitely seems to be an apartment thing because I'm fine everywhere else. I discovered mold all over the gasket at the bottom of the door of my fridge, but even after cleaning it my breathing isn't right, so I'm not sure if that was the problem. There could still be mold spores in the air affecting me if that was the cause of my problem. Opening the windows doesn't help at all (and only lets bugs in because the screens don't sit properly into the frames). I'm wondering if it's appropriate to ask the landlord for an air purifier to see if it helps, or if that's an expense I should cover.
You certainly can ask, but whether or not your landlord agrees is an open question.
Even if the LL says no, you should get your own air purifier. You are talking about an expenditure of maybe two or three hundred dollars (on the very high end) vs your health. You should think about a water filter as well. If the air filter works to your satisfaction, you don’t have to move. If you do decide to move you still have the air purifier.
I've only been renting for about a month so I'm not all that familiar with all the dos and don'ts of the tenant/landlord relationship.
Basically, the air quality in my apartment is really bad. I noticed it after my first night in the apartment. It smells bad all the time and the air always feels musty even though I keep the apartment clean. I'm not having trouble breathing to the point where it's dangerous, but my breathing definitely doesn't feel right, and my throat feels scratchy and my eyes get red and itchy. I'm having trouble sleeping through the night and focusing on schoolwork during the day.
It definitely seems to be an apartment thing because I'm fine everywhere else. I discovered mold all over the gasket at the bottom of the door of my fridge, but even after cleaning it my breathing isn't right, so I'm not sure if that was the problem. There could still be mold spores in the air affecting me if that was the cause of my problem. Opening the windows doesn't help at all (and only lets bugs in because the screens don't sit properly into the frames). I'm wondering if it's appropriate to ask the landlord for an air purifier to see if it helps, or if that's an expense I should cover.
FWIW, mold on the fridge gasket isn't from the apartment air, its from a combination of the moisture inside the fridge meeting the relatively warm air outside the fridge. It has nothing to do with any mold present in the room.
If there is mold in the apartment you are more likely to see mildew in closets, mildew forming on clothing, in corners, places that don't get good air circulation. You can pick up mold test kits at hardware stores. If you find mold, show the tests to your LL. Also test the humidity level in the apartment with a simple hygrometer from a hardware store. Try measuring it in different rooms. Lower air humidity, less chance the problem is mold.
I'd be very surprised if the LL will buy you a air purifier. They might offer to do mold testing. Try an air cleaner in your bedroom and keep the door shut. It might make enough difference while you sleep, but if you don't keep more contaminants from getting into the room the filter probably can't keep up with it.
As for bugs getting through screens, run some wide sticky painter's tape around the outside of the screen frames to keep the bugs from getting through.
Last edited by Parnassia; 09-09-2019 at 03:03 AM..
If it's a ground floor apartment, the musty air could be from moisture. I lived in a lower level apartment and it smelled musty. I used damprid in the closets and it took care of the problem. Yes, it was a cost on my part but worth it to me, especially since the lower level was much cheaper.
I just put in musty smell into my search engine and there's a website called Mrs. Clean which has great ideas. I've never heard of zeolite but she praised that. What doesn't surprise me is the recommendation to use vinegar to clean. I use vinegar a lot. It's safe, environment friendly and effective.
I've only been renting for about a month so I'm not all that familiar with all the dos and don'ts of the tenant/landlord relationship.
Basically, the air quality in my apartment is really bad. I noticed it after my first night in the apartment. It smells bad all the time and the air always feels musty even though I keep the apartment clean. I'm not having trouble breathing to the point where it's dangerous, but my breathing definitely doesn't feel right, and my throat feels scratchy and my eyes get red and itchy. I'm having trouble sleeping through the night and focusing on schoolwork during the day.
It definitely seems to be an apartment thing because I'm fine everywhere else. I discovered mold all over the gasket at the bottom of the door of my fridge, but even after cleaning it my breathing isn't right, so I'm not sure if that was the problem. There could still be mold spores in the air affecting me if that was the cause of my problem. Opening the windows doesn't help at all (and only lets bugs in because the screens don't sit properly into the frames). I'm wondering if it's appropriate to ask the landlord for an air purifier to see if it helps, or if that's an expense I should cover.
Do you have pet hair/dander allergies? Your reaction sounds like a mild allergic reaction. Possibly the previous tenant had pets (maybe authorized, maybe not).
If you have pet allergies, you could talk to the LL about how you're feeling. Ask if there were pets in the apartment previously, and ask if the carpet could be shampooed. If they won't shampoo it for you, rent a shampooer and shampoo it yourself. If that doesn't work, then consider an air purifier.
It's very doubtful that your landlord will buy you an air purifier. You can ask, but don't get your hopes up.
Instead, buy your own air purfier, but first, go over the house completely and deep clean every inch with products that you know don't cause you issues. You might be reacting to the cleaning products or carpet cleaners that were used before you moved in. Be sure to scrub everything in the bathroom, including around the toilet base. When you clean the shower and other porcelain, use a bleach based cleaner.
Change the air filter for the furnace.
If that doesn't help, then buy your own air purifier.
You can ask for anything you want but I doubt they will oblige.
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