Flooring & kids and fireplace

[jlschlangen]

We have a wood burning fireplace. It came w/ the house. It is over 20 yrs. old. Works good. Heats the house good. Well we (dh & myself) are wondering if it is one reason why ds is not well 2X already this year. First time was a cold, right now he is sick w/ fever sneezing coughing runny nose. He has asthma, allergies. Also we have carpet in most of the house (in the family room, the bedroom level, a bunch of other rooms). We are thinking/comtemplating changing it to hard wood flooring. We are thinking if we change our flooring that might help ds what do you think?

Yes, I do know lots is going around right now far as lots of sicknesses. It is just hard to see our kiddos sick.

Any thoughts?

Thanks much.

[onlyoneboy]

The wood fireplace and carpet could have a role in allergies and doesn't help the asthma at all but as far as your common cold that doesn't really matter. How warm do you keep your house? I do think the warmer you keep your house the sicker you can be since germs grow more in warm weather. We keep our house between 65-68 degrees and we have yet to get sick this winter.

[bumblebee23]

If he has a constant stuffy nose and appears to have a cold alot but seem totally fine otherwise it might be allergies or he may need to have his adnoids removed.

My son always seem congested like he had a cold I was taking him to an allergist who was just giving him meds and refusing to test him. So I finally brought him to an ENT and sure enough he had to have his adnoids removed. I still think he has allergies but his symptoms did get a little better and only flare up once in awhile. I think once he is a bit older I will try the allergist again and see about having him tested.

[sarahisis]

carpets can definitely elevate allergies... as would a wood burning fireplace if used a lot. I agree with Gwen, a house that is too warm is not good for allergies either.

[jlschlangen]

Well no I think it could be more than just allergies b/c now dd has what ds has/had. We keep our house the living (main) level at 57-74+. 57 is the lowest we've had it that was only b/c the fireplace went out overnight. The upper level (sleeping) is ALWAYS cooler 64 or lower. I am going to bring all this (ds getting a sickly like bug 2X within less than a month). The first time was a cold, now this time fever/etc.

[AuntSueto4]

Hi Jodi,

Here's some info to consider:

RE: Need allergy friendly wood stove! Posted by sonny300 (My Page) on Sat, Dec 1, 07 at 18:10

Fivelinks: I don't know if you are aware that when loading a wood stove or insert it is always best to wait until only hot coals are left, and then to open the door slightly for about 20 seconds to get the draught going up the chimney instead of spilling into the room. If this doesn`t quite work, then crack open a window first, then you will most certainly have no spillage into the room. I have been burning wood for 35 years and no smoke in our house, but dust, yes. Solution, place an air-purifer, or maybe 2 of them in the same room as the stove. There is no reason that you cant make wood-heat work for you. Look at Hearth.com for help. Be aware that once you purchase a new EPA certified product, that just like anything else you use for the first time, there will be trial and error. But if you would rather spend 1k instead of 3k and be "Carbon Neutral" doing it, then go for it. Maybe too late for this year, because you should always burn nothing but well seasoned wood. And that is hard to come by in Dec.

ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/firepl/msg101526225563.html

RE: Allergies and Carpet Cleaning

Posted by ilmbg (My Page) on Mon, Oct 20, 08 at 22:33

Having no carpet is best- as long as you wipe the floor everyday with a damp 'mop' ( for lack of a better word).
If you have a bare floor and do not wipe it down, then the dust.dander/mites/pollen and other allergens accumulate. When air stirs them up, they are a problem for asthmatics.
Using the 'Swiffer' or like product helps cut down on irritants. Using a dry Swiffer and spraying the cloth with water- just enough to make the dust/allergen particles stick to it works well.
You should really get rid of the carpet if you are going to follow a good health control. If you are a severe asthmatic and you still have carpet, you are not helping yourself.People who insist on having carpet need to use a Hepa filter AND a vacuum that is approved- not one that throws out the dust/mites and such back into the air. If you vacuum at all, even a hard floor, you are supposed to use a mask and leave the property immediately for 2 hours.

ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cleaning/msg0816353321040.html

Hope this helps.