Please help, my house is making me sick and I don't know why

Tampa, Florida
First-Time Home Buyer
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Please help, my house is making me sick and I don't know why

Andre Crabb
Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 205 posts · 92 votes

Hey BP,

So I bought my first property last year in Tampa, FL. Its a SFH with a half-converted detached garage in the back.

Pretty soon I realized that I have health issues when I'm in the home, and it seems to be related to when I run the AC. But when I'm working on the detached garage in the back I also have problems.

There's a few things I think it could be related to: mold, rats, termites.

I don't see or smell a lot of mold - there was some in the AC handler which I cleaned what I could see. I've fogged the house with several different solutions for this as well.

Rats had definitely infested the attic and the garage at some point before I owned the house. I know the ducts leak attic air into the house so this seemed like a cause. I just had all the old batt/blow-in insulation removed and replaced with spray foam, but I'm still feeling the symptoms.

Termites have been all over the house, the attic and garage was full of their frass which I've been starting to vacuum up and clean. But I'm not sure if people get sick/symptoms from termites.

What's worse is now I feel similar symptoms when I turn on my car fan / AC - and that makes me think its back to mold being the problem.

If it is mold, I'm thinking I'll have to replace my AC unit (20+ years old) and al the ducting (probably about the same age). But that's a $10k+ bill and I still don't KNOW if its going to solve the problem.

I could really use some help here.

I've had several professionals comes to the house and a lot of them say conflicting things, so its all been very confusing.
I bought an air particle counter and that didn't show anything bad.
I use a MERV 14 filter for my AC system intake and have a small HEPA air purifier in the house.

Not a great experience with my first property, but I'm learning a hell of a lot.

Thanks

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Theresa HarrisPro Member
Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
3y

If you are vacuuming up and removing messes left behind from rats (guessing termites might be similar), you need to mask up.  Their feces carry diseases that are easily airborne when you start disturbing large amounts of feces.  Pay to have a professional come in and clean it up along with cleaning all of your ducts.

Is your car parked in the garage?  If not, I have no idea how anything would go from your house and garage into your car in large enough amounts to cause problems.

I agree with getting tested for allergies.  You mention you bought your first place in Tampa-are you new to the area?  If so, there maybe something unrelated to your house causing problems (eg a plant found in the area).

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  • Michael J.
    Real Estate Agent · Greenville, SC · Member since 2021 · 210 posts · 142 votes
    3y

    I'm really sorry to hear about the health issues you're facing. It sounds like you've been dealing with a lot of challenges in your new property. I can imagine how frustrating it must be to not have clear answers despite having professionals assess the situation.

    If you haven't done so already, you might consider seeing an allergist or immunologist. They may be able to identify specific allergens that are causing your problems. This could give you a better idea of what to target in your house and car.

    Replacing the AC unit and ducting is indeed a big investment, and it's understandable that you'd want to be sure it would solve the problem before making that commitment. If mold is suspected in the ducts, you could consider having the ducts professionally cleaned before replacing them to see if that helps.

    I hope this gives you a starting point for further action, and I truly hope you get this resolved soon. It's definitely a challenging situation, but with persistence, I'm sure you'll find a solution. 

    Best of luck!

    1Reply
  • Bill B.
    Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    3y

    I ASSUME there’s some kind of air testing that could be done. There’s certainly mold testing. I’d have all that done first. You’d hate to find out after you replace the AC system there’s a plant on the property who's spores/pollen are being spread through the ac unit. 

    Maybe duct cleaning, maybe the electrostatic furnace filters, portable air cleaners, maybe a couple of window/portable ac units to see if the problem goes away. Going away in winter would lead to allergies/plants since the furnace would be using same equipment. 

    0Reply
  • Richard F.
    Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    3y
    Aloha,

    Closely examine all areas of the house for hidden, slow, water leaks. There may be seepage inside the walls or in a slab, or even just a water heater tank seam. Roof leaks, leaking supply or waste pipes, tub surrounds, cabinet bases (between the interior bottom of cabinet and the floor), all can create these slow leaks that rot wood and can "feed" mold and attract other pests that could be causing your issues.

    You might also have a professional perform testing for mold.
    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk · Member since 2021 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Andre Crabb:

    Hey BP,

     Since I don't see that you mention the age of the house, or the material it's made of, or one story or two story or if it's under trees or out in the sunshine, if it's a fixer or if it was well kept (sounds like it wasn't well kept) here are some options:

    I think I would take a screw driver and poke the walls around the bathrooms and kitchen and anywhere you think water might get to. If the house ever flooded during a hurricane or severe storm, poke about 6 inches up from the floor. If the sheet rock is soft and the screw driver easily goes into the wall, you have to remove a 1 foot by 1 foot section to see if there is mold.

    If you have linoleum or vynal floors, look for corners that have peeled up and see if water is getting into there.

    If the house is on pilars or blocks crawl under the house to see if the soil is damp and if the wood is rotting. Not much to do there is it's a slab. 

    If you'e smelling methane, it might actually be in the soil and that's a real problem.

    It also could be a particular plant or tree outside that side of the house that you have allergies to.

    And of course, depending on how old it is, it may just be materials that have seen their last days and need to be replaced.

    1Reply
  • Caroline Gerardo
    Lender · Washington DC · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    3y

    Hard to diagnose without seeing and smelling. Did you pull the Clue report to see if a flood or water claim was made prior? Flood brings every type of bad thing seeped inside. Look at FEMA flood maps and history.

    Rats carry huge health risks. You removed the blow in insulation which probably had asbestos. Asbestos dust is a slow killer. Did you clean the studs, replace all paper/foam materials, and bleach it? All the entrances were sealed with galvanized mesh and steel wool? Remove all fruit on fruit trees for a year. No trees or vines touch the house.

    Vacuum with Hepa filter that you change and wash out?

    There is a foam cleaner for vents I don't know if this just adds more chemicals.

     Orange oil for the termites.

    Ionizer in bedroom. Electrostatic filters, and change filters more often. 

    Have you ever had allergies before? Boost your diet with immune foods: berries, fish, lots of variety of vegetables. No fast food, nothing from a box.

    Wear gloves and PPE mask when you work, paint, scrub, do anything that disturbs dust.

    Look everywhere for leaks. Does the air conditioner condensation vent leak into the house? Leaks in the wall?

    0Reply
  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    3y

    If you are vacuuming up and removing messes left behind from rats (guessing termites might be similar), you need to mask up.  Their feces carry diseases that are easily airborne when you start disturbing large amounts of feces.  Pay to have a professional come in and clean it up along with cleaning all of your ducts.

    Is your car parked in the garage?  If not, I have no idea how anything would go from your house and garage into your car in large enough amounts to cause problems.

    I agree with getting tested for allergies.  You mention you bought your first place in Tampa-are you new to the area?  If so, there maybe something unrelated to your house causing problems (eg a plant found in the area).

    1Reply
  • Scott Mac
    Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    3y

    Have you gone to see an MD and described your problem(???)

    Maybe it's some other cause, like you don't digest something very well--and it makes you feel awful.

    Or maybe you can get some kind of medicine to make you feel better, because maybe it is not the house, but something else...like local pollen, or eating peanuts, or something.

    It could be anything--allergic to the neighbors dog, or squirrels, or etc...

    1Reply
  • Andre Crabb
    OP
    Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 205 posts · 92 votes
    3y

    Wow thanks everyone for the responses, I really appreciate it.

    Luckily I'm on a trip for two weeks away from the home so my symptoms should calm down.
    When in the house, the symptoms definitely stop if I dont run my central fan. I know my ducts leak in air from the attic. And I wonder if air leaks in from the crawlspace (any idea anyone? I'm sure it depends).
    Its a 1956 house, single story with a few oak trees around it.
    The floor is wood and tile.

    I am new to Florida so maybe there is something environmental also causing me issues, not sure.

    @Caroline Gerardo thanks for the HEPA vacuum tip, I didn't think about it for my shop vac, but I found a HEPA filter for it and vacuum bags, that together should keep spores and things inside the vac. I think me pulling part the wall and ceiling of the garage must have caused something to spread to my car (which is parked right by the garage).

    @Bill B. thanks for the idea of electrostatic filters, I hadn't heard of those before. Are those better than HEPA filters?

    @Scott Mac I do actually have a digestive issue as well that's not great, but its unrelated to the house...just sadly happening at the same time

    I've never had allergies before and my immune system has always been pretty dang good.
    There's not water leaks that I can see.

    The challenge is all the mold/air testing companies test just that, the air...they dont seem to find the cause or location of the actual problem sadly. But I hope I get proved wrong 😂

    @Scott Mac

    I'm going to get the HEPA filter and bag for my shop vac - wear all the PPE when continuing to demo the garage, maybe hire someone to do it - and get a dry fogger to spray the heck out of the house and the garage. I have a lot of concrobium and RMR 141 at home already - also thinking of getting some hydrogen peroxide.

    Curious if anyone else has done some DIY mold/bacteria remediation?

    1Reply
  • Zackary C Dunn
    Contractor · Tampa FL · Member since 2018 · 126 posts · 64 votes
    3y

    Hey Andre, I've done quite a bit of remediation. In a 1956 home there are all kinds of issues you could be running into. Remember as you demo most building supplies to include drywall and insulation from back then had asbestos in it and they were still using lead paint. When you come back I would not do any demo for 5-7 days and see if the symptoms come back. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message  

    1Reply
  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    3y

    Sounds like you have a mold sensitivity. My wife is highly sensitive to mold....so much so that we had to buy new construction to eliminate any exposure to mold 

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    1Reply
  • Andre Crabb
    OP
    Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2017 · 205 posts · 92 votes
    2y

    Turned out to be what was left from rats living in the attic from what must have been decades ago.

    Rat hair, dirt, feces. 

    I replaced the insulation with spray foam - they vacuumed out all the old blow-in that had rat trails and feces etc etc. - I still had issues.

    I replaced the HVAC - I still had issues. BUT, while they were doing the work, my symptoms got worse while I was up in the attic. AND looking into the main plenum, I could see how filthy it was and how there was actually stuff still in the ductwork.

    So I had to replace the ductwork. - FINALLY I can be in the house and run the air. (I mean…who checks INSIDE the ductwork during an inspection??) I pulled out some of the dirt from the old ducts…it looks like mostly hair and some dirt, probably termite frass and probably some combo of other dirt things from rats like feces and urine. Just gross.

    I can’t believe the previous owners didn’t have issues and lived in the house this way for 5+ years.

    0Reply
  • Caroline Gerardo
    Lender · Washington DC · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    2y

    So sorry that some people are clueless

    1Reply
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