Indoor Air and Health - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Indoor Air and Health

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ohuntingtoniii
Apr 04, 2009 9:54:27 on the surface, this has nothing to do with gaming; but for me it does. You see I have grown sensitive to indoor air as I get older. If there is a musty, stale, or undesirable odor in the air, chances are I will react in a variety of ways. In my current residence, i become dizzy and confused. But when checked we don't have a carbon monoxide leak, a gas leak or black mold. It seems to be a case of the building being a little tight from weatherization and some local molds in the wood (though I haven't checked, just guessing). Here is my problem: my condition is impacting my ability to DM and to game in general. My short term memory gets very poor in my environment, and I have trouble focusing. I have been to doctors. But none of their tests can turn up anything, so they have basically given up. I want to fix the air in my house, but things like mold remediation and indoor air quality inspection are outrageously expensive. I need a cheap, easy way to bring clean air in, get dirty air out, and remove any contaminants in my house. I am posting here, because this seems to be where many of the intelligent posters gather. Not that people in the other areas aren't intelligent as well.
#2
RUMPLESTIX
Apr 04, 2009 10:07:35 Well, this will probabl be moved regardless.

But, I would suggest playing at a game store if that option is available. Newer would be better. If not, you might want to try a couple of air purifiers at the same time. Perhaps an ionic air purifier and a more mundane one with a replaceable filter. You might try to buy the best of both worlds in a single unit but sometimes it just might be easier to buy one of each. With both you will both remove all the ionizable particles plus mold, IMO.
#3
ohuntingtoniii
Apr 04, 2009 10:32:27 Rumplestix thanks for the advice. I guess what I am looking for is more longterm remedies to actually fix the house so I don't have these problems. I suspect it is a combination of a lack of ventilation (the house is very weatherized) and local mold growing on the pine basewood beneath the floors. The problem is, even if I leave the house, the effect lingers for a good two ours. I think it is more than allergies too (I test negative for them anyways). The overall sensation is of being drunk or on a drug. To the point that I can't remember words or names I know and make poor decisions while driving. I have tried purfiers, but they don't seem to do very much.
#4
holy_beholder
Apr 04, 2009 11:07:03 Get some windows installed, preferably with a screen, and keep them open. A few large open windows make a huge difference.
#5
ohuntingtoniii
Apr 04, 2009 11:09:31
Get some windows installed, preferably with a screen, and keep them open. A few large open windows make a huge difference.

Thanks. I have windows already. Opening them does seem to help. But it isn't feasible in the winter (though I do it anyways). In the summer, the "musty" odor gets so strong, windows just won't do it. It is as if there is something rising from between the floors and walls. An air conditioner sometimes helps.
#6
RUMPLESTIX
Apr 04, 2009 11:16:22 About this:

I need a cheap, easy way to bring clean air in, get dirty air out, and remove any contaminants in my house.

Open doors and windows. Have one big fan blowing in and one blowing out. If purifiers don't work and rennovating is too expensive, that is the only option I see. You could possibly buy a space heater with a blower like used in houses under construction for winter: draw air in from outside, heat it and send it on into the house. You can find an example here. But, tere are many models available. I see no cheap way of removing contaminants unless you just want to personally spend hours cleaning everything with bleach.
#7
KillerGM
Apr 04, 2009 12:49:59 This does not have to do with gender and gaming. I'm going to ask for a thread move.

Good luck!
#8
Krusk
Apr 04, 2009 15:18:47 When it is nice out, we try to game in a gazeebo. Its near a house, so we still have power for laptops. In the winter it could be feasable to have a fire nearby or bring out space heaters.
#9
solik
Apr 04, 2009 16:31:07 Check the ducts. They may need replacing.

If it's coming through the floors (the mold, that is), you may have a very expensive problem on your hands.
#10
milkavian
Apr 26, 2009 22:52:26 Mold is caused by moisture. Moisture happens if you have too much humidity in your house, either due to large amounts of water accumulating regularly-- large aquariums, leaky pipes, or someone who likes to leave wet towels all around the house! To prevent it, use AC if you can afford it and a dehumidifier if you can't.

If the mold is in your wood, then it can cause structural damage and is always very expensive to repair- a few thousand dollars for typical damage, more for severe damage. The longer you wait, the more it will cost.

As with everything in life, solutions come cheap, easy, or permanent: Choose two, tops.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ohuntingtoniii Apr 04, 2009 9:54:27	on the surface, this has nothing to do with gaming; but for me it does. You see I have grown sensitive to indoor air as I get older. If there is a musty, stale, or undesirable odor in the air, chances are I will react in a variety of ways. In my current residence, i become dizzy and confused. But when checked we don't have a carbon monoxide leak, a gas leak or black mold. It seems to be a case of the building being a little tight from weatherization and some local molds in the wood (though I haven't checked, just guessing). Here is my problem: my condition is impacting my ability to DM and to game in general. My short term memory gets very poor in my environment, and I have trouble focusing. I have been to doctors. But none of their tests can turn up anything, so they have basically given up. I want to fix the air in my house, but things like mold remediation and indoor air quality inspection are outrageously expensive. I need a cheap, easy way to bring clean air in, get dirty air out, and remove any contaminants in my house. I am posting here, because this seems to be where many of the intelligent posters gather. Not that people in the other areas aren't intelligent as well.
#2 RUMPLESTIX Apr 04, 2009 10:07:35	Well, this will probabl be moved regardless. But, I would suggest playing at a game store if that option is available. Newer would be better. If not, you might want to try a couple of air purifiers at the same time. Perhaps an ionic air purifier and a more mundane one with a replaceable filter. You might try to buy the best of both worlds in a single unit but sometimes it just might be easier to buy one of each. With both you will both remove all the ionizable particles plus mold, IMO.
#3 ohuntingtoniii Apr 04, 2009 10:32:27	Rumplestix thanks for the advice. I guess what I am looking for is more longterm remedies to actually fix the house so I don't have these problems. I suspect it is a combination of a lack of ventilation (the house is very weatherized) and local mold growing on the pine basewood beneath the floors. The problem is, even if I leave the house, the effect lingers for a good two ours. I think it is more than allergies too (I test negative for them anyways). The overall sensation is of being drunk or on a drug. To the point that I can't remember words or names I know and make poor decisions while driving. I have tried purfiers, but they don't seem to do very much.
#4 holy_beholder Apr 04, 2009 11:07:03	Get some windows installed, preferably with a screen, and keep them open. A few large open windows make a huge difference.
#5 ohuntingtoniii Apr 04, 2009 11:09:31	Get some windows installed, preferably with a screen, and keep them open. A few large open windows make a huge difference. Thanks. I have windows already. Opening them does seem to help. But it isn't feasible in the winter (though I do it anyways). In the summer, the "musty" odor gets so strong, windows just won't do it. It is as if there is something rising from between the floors and walls. An air conditioner sometimes helps.
#6 RUMPLESTIX Apr 04, 2009 11:16:22	About this: I need a cheap, easy way to bring clean air in, get dirty air out, and remove any contaminants in my house. Open doors and windows. Have one big fan blowing in and one blowing out. If purifiers don't work and rennovating is too expensive, that is the only option I see. You could possibly buy a space heater with a blower like used in houses under construction for winter: draw air in from outside, heat it and send it on into the house. You can find an example here. But, tere are many models available. I see no cheap way of removing contaminants unless you just want to personally spend hours cleaning everything with bleach.
#7 KillerGM Apr 04, 2009 12:49:59	This does not have to do with gender and gaming. I'm going to ask for a thread move. Good luck!
#8 Krusk Apr 04, 2009 15:18:47	When it is nice out, we try to game in a gazeebo. Its near a house, so we still have power for laptops. In the winter it could be feasable to have a fire nearby or bring out space heaters.
#9 solik Apr 04, 2009 16:31:07	Check the ducts. They may need replacing. If it's coming through the floors (the mold, that is), you may have a very expensive problem on your hands.
#10 milkavian Apr 26, 2009 22:52:26	Mold is caused by moisture. Moisture happens if you have too much humidity in your house, either due to large amounts of water accumulating regularly-- large aquariums, leaky pipes, or someone who likes to leave wet towels all around the house! To prevent it, use AC if you can afford it and a dehumidifier if you can't. If the mold is in your wood, then it can cause structural damage and is always very expensive to repair- a few thousand dollars for typical damage, more for severe damage. The longer you wait, the more it will cost. As with everything in life, solutions come cheap, easy, or permanent: Choose two, tops.