Aug 22 2008
Moving! Not, I think!
I have never deleted a post, but i just deleted this one and rewrote it with the update. We thought we were going to have to move. Leon finally realized that the dust in this condo was just never going to abate and it was affecting my sinuses and my eyes — and his to a lesser degree, but I am more sensitive.
We discovered yesterday that the air conditioner was not a closed system, the air return filter went to a false ceiling and included the crawl space over the bathroom… no vent from the filter to the unit… it was pulling old construction dust and whatever else was in the crawl space into the air conditioning system. I was feeling worse everyday as I am allergic to dust mites anyway and was becoming not so pleasant about it, that is what made Leon start nosing around the ac system… By all indications it was going to be a difficult fix… Leon was just as ready to move as I was (and he usually is the type that would not react like that - especially to my constant complaining)
Well, a not-overjoyed-with-us-landlord did, after a phone conversation, however, send a general contractor over this afternoon to both fix the bathroom fan (in about two minutes!) and to look at the ac problem. He came up with a workable solution! Leon knows a lot about venting pressures and stuff from venting huge commercial dryers the size of a room in hotels and hospitals and stuff, so the contractor explained to Leon what he came up with, it made sense to Leon and would solve the problem. If she (our landlord) approves the job, he will most likely have it done Tuesday.
The contractor believes there is another reason for some of the dust, but that is not something the landlord would be required to do - and is expensive…. so we aren’t holding our breath on that one. Just to have the air conditioner now be a closed system with filtered air is enough! Though, new hurricane windows might be nice if other storms come through, grin. I certainly would put up with dust a little while for those.
So, assuming she will OK, the job, we are going to stay put. Leon may offer to pay to have the vents cleaned out after the contractor finishes. Guess we will wait and see how much dust flies out of them once the system is sealed off.
Imagine, I may actually have some more energy once this is solved - fewer sinus headaches - eyes that aren’t so dried out from reaction to the dust in the air, and energy, genuine energy. How cool will that be?
Brian and Shelby, I do appreciate your verbalized concern, thank you! Y’all must have sent us some good luck with it.
