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November 3, 2009
Air Quality Assessment
Thank you to all who helped us recently with asbestos-related questions. Unfortunately, we did not get the house we were hoping to buy, so we are going to plan B, which is to switch our basement-level tv room into a toddler's bedroom.
So here's our dilemma: We have allergies in our family and the basement feels ok but a bit musty perhaps. We'd like to get someone to come and "test the air quality" if such a person/thing exists.
We're also thinking about an air purifier/filter/HEPA device like the rabbit air. Pricey. Is it worth it?
Does anyone have any suggestions, BTDT, or recommendations for making this renovated basement level as clean as possible? People or processes to consider?
(A bit more info: The tv room where our toddler will be sleeping has a full-sized door that leads only to a skylight hatch that can be propped open. This is the only source of air in the basement level.)
Many thanks!
Comments
I would be more worried about the lack of egress.
Just from a logistics point of view I can't see being far away from a toddlers bedroom.
Posted by: IMBY at November 2, 2009 10:10 PM
You know you're not supposed to be sleeping in the basement, right? For this very reason.
'Aleergies' is meaningless unless you are allergic to what happens to exist in the basement. Usually a bit of mold or mildew. If it doesn't smell that bad as you seem to indicate then there's not much going on maybe.
Get as much fresh air into the room as possible. And don't cheap out on a air purifier. By all means get a good one with a WASHABLE HEPA filter. That will suck up mold spores.
Finally, if you go thru my old posts, you'll note I am very skeptical about both the dangers of small amounts of asbestos and small amounts of mold. So it's not like I'm an alarmist by any means. But children are more susceptible to stuff like this, have more years for it to cause damage to their lungs and/or immune systems, and are less able to communicate to you if they are feeling unwell. I'm uncomfortable with putting a small child to sleep in a basement that is not completely clean.
To my knowledge, no adult has ever died from a mold situation in a house, but a number of children have. Pls see the worst case before deciding:
Posted by: denton at November 3, 2009 8:00 AM
We used Laurence Molloy to test our air quality. He was great. 212-929-8080
Posted by: eltain at November 3, 2009 8:11 AM
Am with IMBY - I would be very concerned about egress in event of fire etc. That aside, if you go ahead, you should definitely consider installing an air exchanger:
http://www.airexchangers.info/air_exchanger_basics.html
There are a number of different brands. While they generally run off a standard outlet, installation does involve some ducting (more fiddly than technically difficult). When done, you have an energy efficient low tech means of ensuring fresh air in the bottom of the house.
Posted by: going4broke at November 3, 2009 8:23 AM
If this is a cellar--all, or mostly, below ground, isn't radon gas another consideration?
Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 3, 2009 8:30 AM
Yes, these are all good concerns. Believe me, I don't want to put our toddler in the basement either. We have a duplex apartment with the lower level below ground. There is a large bedroom on the ground floor, and what currently serves as a tv room on the basement level. We have a second child coming in January, so the issue is logistical more than anything else. The only other option for us at this point is to rent a two-bedroom and rent our current apartment out. Otherwise, the option is to break through and take over an apartment above us (we own a 4 family) but then we lose another rent and kick out nice tenants.
Posted by: maribrooklyn at November 3, 2009 8:59 AM
Can you partition the large bedroom (does it have 2 windows)?
Re radon, can get free radon test kits from a NYC or NYS govt office. Not likely to be a problem in Brooklyn but worth testing as downside is big (cancer). Air exchanger would help lower risk (given you are frequently replacing the air in the space).
Posted by: going4broke at November 3, 2009 9:43 AM
I would suggest you SLOW DOWN and try and take the emotion of the new arrival out of the equation. Rule is no construction within 3 months of delivery. The January date is just a suggestion, anything will and does happen.
Pile them all into your bed, banish the Hubby to basement (cellar) and worry about the logistics when the weather is warmer.
Congrats on the new arrival.
Posted by: Gross at November 3, 2009 11:27 AM
I don't think this is a good idea for a toddler to be placed in a basement....
isn't your boiler located in the basement?
and the first human to be in contact with said boiler is your toddler???? scary stuff
SO that means if the boiler has a leak of Carbon Mon or gas leak or ignites, then your toddler is the in harms way...
Posted by: gemini10 at November 3, 2009 11:30 AM
Congrats on new baby. I concur with what Denton has said. If there is mold in the basement, it is no place for a baby. If there is mold present, an air purifier is not a solution. You can bring in the mold experts to test. It is pretty pricey -- $950 to $2,000. Chances are if the rooms are below grade, it is a problem, and you don't need to test to know that.
Not sure how many bedrooms you have above grade, but if you (parents) are not already sleeping in living room, you should consider it. With the right furniture (no more than cost of mold inspectors!) this can be a very nice solution. Helps greatly to have door that closes, of course.
Posted by: mopar at November 3, 2009 2:55 PM
Horrifying article. Fungal mat -- I want to know more.
Posted by: mopar at November 3, 2009 2:58 PM
If you can swing it, break into that other apt. and reclaim it. Screw the nice tenants. Don't put your child in the basement, alone, surrounded by potential hazards.
Posted by: Architerrorist at November 3, 2009 7:50 PM
Seems like the fire/lack of egress thing nixes it completely. Not to mention all the potential environmental concerns. Plus, if you convert it, you'll lose the family room. Why is it not an option to put two kids in one room for now? Seems like putting several kids in the same room (or even the same bed) was de riguer for many large families up until the 1950sification of this country. Or keep the newborn in a bassinet in your room (or co-sleep) for the first 6-12 months or so, and then move both kids into the same room.
Posted by: pinetree at November 4, 2009 10:32 AM
Yes, the egress thing does nix this idea. Thanks to everyone who pointed it out. Pinetree, we actually only have ONE bedroom upstairs (wish we had more) so what is looking like our best option right now is to put a pressurized wall in the middle of it (it is roughly 19 feet by 11.5, so not huge, but definitely split-worthy) and have toddler in front room with windows, and newborn with us for first 6-12 months like you suggested. Then, both kids go in front room. The quotes we got for pressurized wall (with glass panel for light transmission) were reasonable. And then we'll get an air purifier regardless for the basement. We're looking at the Rabbit Air, but am not sure what the benefits of something like that over an air exchanger system (humidex) would be. Thanks again to all for your help/suggestions.
Posted by: maribrooklyn at November 4, 2009 3:49 PM
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