Hi everyone - This is such a knowledgeable group, I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction.
We moved into our new house last spring. The house is new construction and I think there is something in it off-gassing that is bothering me.
I'm trying to figure out what to do. I have had the house extensively tested and inspected for mold, so I'm confident it's not mold. I think it's chemical offgassing but I can't tell where it's coming from. Could be the medium density fiberboard (MDF) in the kitchen cabinets, but there is also a lot of wood paneling around in various rooms too. Or the granite countertops?
I keep the windows open a lot and I'm looking into installing a fresh air intake valve on the HVAC system. Is there some kind of whole house filter that could be installed that would help?
My question is what else can be done and how to find out what is causing it? I don't want to go ripping things out without knowing what the cause is. The mold companies don't test for off-gassing (I've asked) and I don't know who does that kind of thing. $ wise we will find a way to make some targeted changes if we know they will help, but we can't afford to go crazy.
thanks!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Fiberboard, MDF, paneling . . . oh, my.
You might want to contact people at these sites for some guidance. Good luck. ---------------
IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS & MOLD EXPOSURE IN PATIENTS WITH PERSISTENT LYME DISEASE
Lisa L. Nagy, MD Video $15.
(Excellent to get, even if mold is not an issue, this is full of great information.)
She is NOT A LLMD, however, she understands the kind of toxicity issues faced by many with lyme. She did not have lyme but overcame very serious MCS. She spoke at the recent ILADS conference.
It's a great presentation to see. The DVD can be ordered. Great detail about toxicity issues also here:
Re|shelter is a non-profit, charitable 501(c)3 corporation founded to address the urgent need for housing alternatives for people with environmental sensitivities. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I don't see how the granite countertops could be a problem. Granite is stone from the earth. Any sealer should likely have cured very soon after treatment.
How old is your home? Or, rather, how old are the medium density fiberboard (MDF) in the kitchen cabinets - and wood paneling ?
They may have to go. And that sounds like a lot of work but we can live without cabinets, even, if we must.
I don't think ANY air treatment system or filter can "fix" having MDF in the home. It's just so sad that it's so pervasive.
The sites above can guide you but know that MDF can off-gas forever. I had a 2-drawer filing cabinet that I tried and tried to make work. YEARS later, even now over at a friends, place - after mush airing out, etc. it still knocks me over.
Be sure you don't have vinyl shower curtains, etc. If so, they are easy to toss (but bad for the landfills).
I hope you find your answers and the best way to have a safe home. Good luck. -
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
Thanks Keebler. They are about a year old, so very new.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Austin Air Healthmate air purifier. We just order the Healthmate "Bedroom" unit. It is suppose to be the best at handling all various different problems.... dust, mold, particulates, VOCs, etc. etc. (The Healthmate Pro is suppose to be the best for VOCs, but we wanted a unit that does it all, and for us, this seemed to be the very best because it addresses everything as far as we can see.)
MDF carries the highest level of formeldehyde of all the home building products.
I feel for you. It's not easy.
Good luck.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Air purifies work wonders. We had one installed that sits right next to our central air conditioner (whole house filtration). When pollen is out in the spring, I open our windows. But at night, I close them and turn on the fan and within 5 minutes it's gone (can breathe again). I highly recommend them.
In the winter, we just use portable room purifiers.
Also, have you checked for radon? You can get a kit at home depot.
Also, unless you used toxic free paint, you can have off gassing for years.