Question from Corrina
Hi Debra,
We have tenants who are the most wonderful people and would be so disappointed if they had to move. One of them has a cat allergy. The previous tenant had a cat and we have a cat in our apartment dowstairs. All summer he had no symptoms even when the AC was on and windows were closed. Once the heat came up he had significant sneezing, congestion, wheezing, and headaches. Each apartmentapartment has it’s own hot water heat system however they connect to the same furnace in the basement. What can we do to decrease his symptoms and why are they coming out now?
Debra’s Answer
If you have hot water heat then the furnace should only be producing hot water to send up to the radiators. There shouldn’t be any transfer of air between units because of that. It would be more likely with the AC.
I don’t know why they are coming out now.
Readers, any suggestions for how he can control his cat allergy?
One thing I can tell you is if he is being exposed to any toxic chemicals, they can be overwhelming his immune system, making his allergies worse. Over and over I’ve seen allergies disappear when people remove toxic chemicals from their homes.
Hi, so sorry to hear about this situation. I deal with this every time I move, too. Pet allergens can remain active for six months to a year after the pet is removed from the location. If a shared entry is used, then the allergens are being transported every time one walks through. Vacuuming can spread allergens.
My allergy/asthma doctor recommended washing my home from the ceiling, down the walls to the floor. I do this without fans or “air movers” on. I also clean everything else in the apartment with wet microfiber cloths. If I must keep upholstered furniture, then I cover it with allergen encasements.
Time zooms by so quickly. Unless “fresh” pet allergens are being introduced, things should improve as the months go by. Also, consider if the tenants are visiting other people with pets, Pet allergens are transferred from all kinds of unexpected places.
General allergy advice is to leave jackets and shoes at the entry. Change clothes (and shower) if exposed to allergens (clearest example of this is pollen season–think of all that pollen in our hair!).
Hope some of this was helpful.
Best,
A.