*Health Issues>>>Allergies issues>>>

Do individual apartments have their own vents or do they share?

Issue
I have asthma/allergies and just moved into a new apartment. I know that it is my bad season being the fall, but something in my new apartment seems to be affecting my breathing. I was wondering if I am sharing vents with other apartments, or do I just need to get my filter changed in my apartment? I'm fairly sure we have our own vents but I'm not positive. Any help would be appreciated! :)

Best Tip

Some share & some don't. You need to find out. I've had perrenial allergies since moving into my condo, (so has my kitty), & number one: I discovered BLACK MOLD in a closet caused by leakage from the water heater in the unit above. As for the vents, they're not shared, but I had them checked, & they were full of mold & mildew. VERY unhealthy. I've had them cleaned, (I own yet if your vents need cleaning & you rent, your landlord SHOULD be responsible--it's terribly expensive). You can have them checked & estimate given at no cost, (look up the guys on the BBB first!) & if found to be a health hazard, whether your landlord likes it ot not, he/she has to take care of it--or you could call your county Health & Environmental Department to prove valid cause. Also, cleaning the vents/ducts is extremely energy efficient with your A/C & furnace. In the meantime, keep as much fresh air circulation as possible by opening screened windows & doors. I can't believe how long I endured this before I realized I never had any problems OUTSIDE of my condo. (I'm not allergic to pollen or anything else.) Having mold in your home environment is like a bomb alert in an airport. Honestly. Be sure to check the BBB--lots of scammers out there. They may not be a member (suspect right there) but you can also check your state licensing board online. & GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Source(s): Experience experience in following every lead....

Others
From the ones my daughter has lived in, they are shared. She smelled cigarettes coming from her vent one day, and she does not smoke. Also there was some pot smell on the weekend. Go figure!!!!!
I don't know about all but they are supposed to be separate, You need to check is there is a mold issue.
If you have a thermostat that controls the temperature in your apartment you have your own vents. There are all kinds of things that could be bothering you...new pain, new carpet, old carpet, previous smoker and roaches to name a few. If there are new carpets and/or paint in the apartment try opening the windows and letting in some fresh air weather permitting. You might also have the carpets cleaned even if they're new to help remove chemicals in the carpet that might be bothering you. If you have control of the filter in your apartment buy your own filter made to reduce allergens. Most apartment management companies are going to use the cheapest filter they can. If the apartment is old the ducts could be full of dust too. You might be able to have them cleaned. Ask the management.