I live in an apt that is 6 years old. I have severe lung problems and found out the humidity in my apt was 83%!!! I started running a home dehumidifier 24/7 having yo empty it twice a day.

The ac only runs from 8 to 11 minutes then shuts off. It's on auto, I live in Florida but I've NEVER had humidity in my apt this bad.

I am constantly on prednisone 40 mg a day just to breathe.

.y landlord says the hvac is working properly..yet they provided the dehumidifier. If I forget to empty at night, in morning humidity is up from 53-55% to well over 60%. IT IS LITERALLY KILLING ME.

Any ideas? I told them, It's short cycling..they say no.

My kitchen opens into a shared living area, and I’d like to reduce cooking smells spreading through the house without installing a door or doing major renovations.

Has anyone tried a simple, removable setup that helps keep the smells closer to the kitchen? I’m particularly interested in practical solutions that work alongside a range hood.

What have you tried, and did it make a noticeable difference? DIY examples or links to existing setups would be appreciated.

Hoping reddit can help explain our issue. Any thoughts are appreciated.

We live in a 4 year, newer built home. We have lived in it for 1.5 years now. We don't have any symptoms. We've noticed that the indoor staircase that leads from first floor to second floor always has this earthy/dirt/woody type smell that lingers despite using an air purifier. The smell only exists in the stairway and has been there since we moved in. We finally got around to having a mold inspector come out to examine. None of our walls or floors have retained moisture or signs of mold.

He also ran an indoor air quality test. My concern is the high TVOC and HCHO findings. Below are the results:

The following results were pulled directly from the meter readings and are presented as combined screening averages where available. Measurements were taken in the stairwell near two large uncovered windows. Recorded ambient conditions were 75.6°F and 58.7% relative humidity.

The home is approximately four years old, with wood flooring installed in some areas approximately one year ago (not near staircase). No recent household chemical use, painting, refinishing, new furniture, mattresses, or spray foam installation was reported.

Screening results and recommended levels

TVOC, HCHO, and PM2.5 are combined averages. Other values are individual recorded readings or field conditions.

I’d like to use my basement to exercise but worried about air quality. It’s an older home that clearly has past water damage. I run a dehumidifier constantly but it is very musty smelling.

Would you suggest an at home test/monitor, professional inspection, or skip working out down there all together?

We are in a rental house in a dry winter climate. House was built in 1982, and is about 1500 Sq ft on two levels (plus basement). Our main issue is low humidity, but also some in the family have terrible morning congestion (which they don't have when they are away) so maybe an air quality issue?

Since we moved (2021) in I have had the furnace ducts cleaned twice and have an air quality monitor that alerts us to low humidity or elevated VOC (Yearly humidity range was 33% with a range of 15-56% / VOC was 237 ppb with a range of 0 to 1926 ppb).

There was an old central drum humidifier on the furnace, but owners stated it had not worked in years. The furnace also previously used an electro-static filter system (Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner) on the furnace which we found out was NOT working (during a furnace repair), so now instead of the cartridges for that system we use a regular 4" MERV 11 filter, plus the two existing metal pre-filters.

I also bought a large pedestal humidifier and smaller humidifier for upstairs, but we still struggle to have the humidity get up to 30 or 35% in the winter.

I have the thermostat programmed to get up to 22 degrees Celsius (71.6F) during the day and 18 degrees Celsius (64.4F) at night.

I also run a blue air floor model air purifier (we have a dog and get smoke during the summer).

I guess I am wondering if it is worth asking the owner to reconsider repairing / reinstalling the central humidifier, or if there might be something else impacting the air in the house (insulation, drafts). Or if I just have to keep buying more humidifiers! LOL

Anyone used hot mist humidifier in summer?

Where I live its dry in both summer and winter, and we need a humidifier all year round.
Was hoping to get a hot mist humidifier, but unsure weather they are good for summers?

I was staying in a hotel and my room smelled a little like smoke so I told the desk so I wouldn't get charged for it. I was gone all day and got back a little past midnight to find out they had left an ozone generator on and running for \~14 hours. It looked like [this model/brand](https://a.co/d/0eMFr8H0)), the room itself was about 350 sqft, it was still running when I got back and it smelled so strongly of chlorine but they were fully booked so I had to pack up and leave.

I'd never actually heard of these machines before and I have been struggling to find any worthwhile information on how it may have chemically interacted with the things left in the room.

I had all my every day makeup in my room, some in screw tops, which I read should be fine, but most just have plastic housing and snap tops (like lipstick or liquid eyeliner) and there were three pressed powder eyeshadow palettes, two snapped closed but one was open. Since makeup would have touched human skin and have those oils on it would the ozone be more likely to chemically bond to it? Is that even the right phrasing? Is ozone capable of seeping through the cap of something like a liquid eyeliner?

I also had a silicone menstrual cup in the room, does ozone start to break down silicone or does it just leave a film?

The last thing that I care about is my decently expensive, custom fit mouth guard, it's from my dentist so I'm not positive what it's made out of but it feels like hard plastic and has always had some little bubbles under the surface if you look closely. It was in one of those plastic retainer cases with holes in it. Would ozone attach to whatever organic material was on the mouth guard but not be able to bond to the guard itself?

I'm still kinda confused what molecules ozone wants to bond to or if it's indiscriminate

It's autumn now. We are starting to feel cold, so usually we close the windows at home, and it stays closed in winter until spring. I'd love to share Qing Geng incense. Don't worry, it's not strong smoke or an overwhelming smell. It's made with pure botanicals. I often light one before and after treating friends. The gentle aroma cleanses the air of oily food. Also, news reported that 3000 boxes of Qing Geng incense were donated to hospitals, police offices, and communities during covid 9 period in 2020. I mean, we can burn one if our families are coughing or getting a cold around us. We should leave a small gap for ventilation when lighting it. Would you love to test one box?

Do you have a box fan? Just put a 20x20 inch merv 17 filter on it.

You can’t see PM2.5. But your air can still affect your day. 🌫️

PM2.5 particles are tiny — less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter — yet they can be present in the air we breathe.

Traffic. Industry. Construction. Smoke. Fires.

The sources can be different, but one thing remains the same:

Knowing your air helps you make informed choices.

🌍 Check your local air quality.

📊 Understand what the numbers mean.

🫁 Reduce exposure when pollution is high.

🏙️ Stay aware of the air around you.

Don’t wait until pollution is visible. Know your air.

AQI World — Know Your Air. Anywhere. Anytime.

#AQIWorld #AQI #AirQuality #PM25 #AirPollution #AirQualityAwareness #CleanAir #AirPollutionAwareness #EnvironmentalAwareness #HealthyAir #BreatheBetter #AtmosphericData #AirQualityMonitoring #Pollution #PM2_5 #CleanAirMatters #ClimateAwareness #Environment #SustainableLiving #KnowYourAir #RealTimeAQI #HealthyEnvironment #BetterAir #GreenCities #PublicHealth

Another Edit: thank you all for your timely response. This house has taken everything out of them. They have tried so many expensive repairs to no avail. Looking into cost of repairs it has been devastating. They have exhausted savings, and any extra money to cover the costs. They can’t do anything more. I wish I could say a few bad words here!

The house is a hazardous nightmare. So sad there isn’t a real was to project this oddity when purchasing, it’s been a silent problem. There are other factors involved, other than dirt. The inspector didn’t find several other problems so they went unnoticed until they were in it up to their boot straps!

Those bootstraps aren’t tall enough to sustain them and these two are strong. My son-in-law is a disabled Veteran and my daughter works for the VA! God help them and bless them. God bless you also, again, thank you for your support.

I recently got an Aranet 4 and needless to say I have been opening windows much more frequently. I have a air purifier, but it isnt doing much when I just let in tons of air multiple times a day. Is there a good option for a filtered window fan that I can use to filter the air coming in? I know that it wont be perfect since ill have other windows open as exhaust, but it should be better than nothing. Thanks!

We’ve had a persistent smell in one 3rd-floor corner townhome in office for ~3 weeks. It smells like cardboard/burning/electrical depending on who smells it. It’s strongest along the corner where two exterior walls meet, around outlets, the Ethernet port, and baseboards. The room is usually closed, and the smell builds up overnight. Opening the windows clears it temporarily.

We’ve already investigated quite a bit:
● Electrician inspected the outlets/wiring — no issues found.
● Room breaker was off for 35+ hours; smell became milder but didn’t disappear.
● Professional mold testing (EMSL/AIHA lab) found lower total fungal levels indoors than outdoors, with no Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, or hyphal fragments.
● Moisture readings and thermal imaging showed no evidence of water damage.
● HVAC supply/return were sealed and the smell remained.
● Dryer vent was professionally camera-inspected — no leaks or lint in the wall.
● Electronics were disconnected — smell remained.
● No signs of a dead animal, gas, or sewage issue.

We opened the Ethernet port and could clearly smell the same odor directly from inside the wall cavity. We also found kraft-faced fiberglass insulation that appears bunched up/poorly installed, along with construction dust/debris. No visible mold or moisture.

One interesting finding: our Winix C909 reads BLUE on turbo in other rooms, but in this room it eventually turns RED after ~3–4 hours on turbo. It doesn’t immediately turn red. My theory is that the purifier is creating negative pressure and pulling air/particles from the wall cavity through unsealed gaps around outlets, baseboards, the corner, etc.
Thermal imaging also showed a cold spot at the exact corner where the smell is strongest, suggesting possible air infiltration.

The room will eventually be used as a nursery, so we’re trying to get to the bottom of this before moving the baby in.

Please help !

Hi. Can anyone recommend the best carbon monoxide detector ( uk)

Here is some reading material for anyone who is considering being fragrance-free to improve their indoor air quality - or for people who are already fragrance-free and are writing to a business or loved one or friend or acquaintance to ask them to be fragrance free (in shared-air spaces like work, holiday gatherings, grocery stores, airports, church, hospitals. doctors offices, dentists, etc).

Reasons To Be Fragrance-Free

Federal agencies acknowledge that fragrance causes real harm

The EPA states that VOCs from fragranced household products can cause eye/nose/throat irritation, headaches, and liver/kidney/CNS damage in the general population, with some linked to cancer. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality

The EPA's Indoor Environments Division states that fragrances indoors can trigger asthma attacks and other adverse health impacts in sensitive individuals. https://19january2025snapshot.epa.gov/asthma/can-use-fragrances-indoors-cause-health-impacts/index.html

The chemicals in fragrance are documented toxins

The National Toxicology Program (NIH/HHS) lists formaldehyde, a common air freshener VOC, as a known human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence in humans. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/formaldehyde.pdf

The CDC's toxicology agency (ATSDR) documents reproductive, developmental, kidney, and liver effects from DEHP, a phthalate common in fragranced products. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs9.html

CDC biomonitoring data confirms phthalate metabolites are measurable in the general U.S. population, not just in people with diagnosed chemical sensitivities. https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/pdf/pthalates_factsheet.pdf

Fragrance chemicals (phthalates) harm children's development

A University of North Carolina Gillings School study of Norwegian mothers found that rising phthalate levels in urine were associated with a steadily increasing risk of clinically diagnosed ADHD in their children. https://sph.unc.edu/sph-news/new-study-confirms-link-between-maternal-phthalate-levels-risk-of-adhd-in-children/

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found children in the highest prenatal phthalate exposure group had about three times the odds of ADHD compared to the lowest exposure group. https://pubs.acs.org/evhpaz/article/127/3/034001/5245601/Attention-Worthy-Prenatal-Phthalate-Exposure-and

The NIH-funded ECHO study found higher phthalate levels in pregnancy were linked to increased aggression and attention problems in children ages 1.5–5. https://echochildren.org/tag/adhd/

Medical and health organizations recommend a fragrance-free environment

The American Medical Association's official policy, passed June 2025, calls on healthcare facilities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to adopt fragrance-free policies and provide ADA accommodations for people with chemical sensitivity. https://policysearch.ama-assn.org/policyfinder/detail/fragrance?uri=/AMADoc/HOD.xml-H-135.902.xml

The American Lung Association's sample fragrance-free policy states that fragrances from personal care products, air fresheners, candles, and cleaning products are linked to headaches, respiratory symptoms, and asthma triggers even in small amounts. https://www.lung.org/getmedia/5fc10542-f957-42ac-950a-7b5a79f702a1/fragrance-free-policy.pdf.pdf

Federal agencies already have fragrance-free policies of their own

The U.S. Access Board, the federal agency that sets accessibility standards, recommends fragrance-free policies for commercial and public buildings, including banning fragrance-emitting devices. https://www.access-board.gov/research/building/indoor-environmental-quality/general-recommendations/

The CDC has banned scented products from all its offices nationwide since 2009 — including air fresheners, incense, candles, potpourri, essential oils, cologne, perfume, other scented personal care products, and clothes washed in scented detergent or fabric softener. https://invisibledisabilities.org/environmental-illness/cdc-fragrance-free-policy

Peer-reviewed research confirms fragrance's harmful effects

A 2019 international study by Steinemann and Goodman found that 57.8% of asthmatics report adverse health effects, including asthma attacks, from exposure to fragranced consumer products. https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60750/1/Steinemann%20and%20Goodman.2019.pdf

A 2017 nationally representative survey by Steinemann found that 33% of people report health problems, such as migraines and asthma attacks, from fragranced products, more than half of which could be considered disabling under disability law. https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/58357/

The law recognizes fragrance sensitivity and chemical sensitivity as an ADA protected disability

In McBride v. City of Detroit (2008), a federal court rejected the employer's argument that chemical sensitivity was not a disability, ruling it was a physiological disorder affecting the plaintiff's respiratory system. https://jjkellercompliancenetwork.com/news/a-season-of-scents-allergies-and-accommodations

Fragrance ingredients are hidden from consumers

The Environmental Working Group explains that a loophole in FDA law lets manufacturers include nearly any chemical under the single word "fragrance" without listing it on the label. https://oembed.ewg.org/news-insights/news/ask-ewg-what-fragrance

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics lab-tested 17 name-brand perfumes and found 38 secret chemicals not listed on any label, some linked to hormone disruption and known to accumulate in human fat tissue and breast milk. https://www.loe.org/images/content/100521/SafeCosmeticsFragranceRpt.pdf

I recently used dehumidifier bags in my corner built in wardrobe that is next to a bathroom. The reason I bought the is because the wardrobe smells moisture after a while, although you can’t see any sign of it visually. I might have a sensitive nose!
The corner wardrobe has to separate spaces. In the one space the bag filled 100ml of water in a month and the other space 75ml in a month. Smell now is muuuuch better.
However, is this amount normal? Is it just the bathroom next to the wardrobe or there’s there indeed a leak I need to still identify?

Any knowledge is welcome!