How to fix bad air quality in a rental apartment
Faulty or unsealed ventilation systems in multi-unit buildings can trap high humidity and volatile organic compounds indoors, forcing tenants to choose between stifling conditions or opening windows in extreme weather. This continuous exposure leads to persistent health issues and severe fatigue that disrupts daily work. Landlords are typically responsible for maintaining building ventilation and sealing structural wall penetrations to ensure a habitable living environment.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1trying to test the ventilation unit self-mode
- 2looking into local building codes
- 3contacting an HVAC technician for an inspection
- 4Opening windows to improve air quality
- 5Cleaning mold in the AC closet
- 6Relies entirely on allergy medication to function
- 7Leaving the apartment or going back home to Minnesota
- 8Placing a box fan near the doorway to circulate air
- 9Using air purifiers
- 10Considering a window unit AC or ceiling fan if budget and clearance permitted
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’ve gotten pretty sick in the last 4ish months - like to a point I can’t work anymore, and I’m actively investigating potential causes or triggers.”source ↗
“This lone room just has stagnet air in it a lot. Not really sure what I can do to fix this, another air purifier????”source ↗
“I have a window fan but opening the window and running it will bring in so much humidity into the room, which currently have clothes and a lot of books for reading”source ↗
“As much as I'd love to install a window AC, just not in my budget.”source ↗
“I can't install a ceiling fan, it's a 2nd floor room in a cape with very low ceilings. Id no joke hit my head on it lol.”source ↗
“My Wave Mini shows VOCs rise every morning, spiking midday at 2-3k before tapering back down through the afternoon.”source ↗
“Are those wall penetrations around the lines supposed to be open like that?”source ↗
“The only thing that improves the air quality is if I open windows - but it’s 90° and 60% humidity so that’s not sustainable.”source ↗
“Every fall and spring (when it's all hot and humid), I get severe allergy symptoms.”source ↗
“It's happening at least once a week, and I'm literally only functioning off allergy medication.”source ↗
“I'm starting to think it's the AC here. But how would I tell if that's true?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Why does my bathroom stay humid even with the fan on?
- 7Why is my AC air handler wet and smelly?
- 11Why is one bedroom getting way more air than other rooms?
- 3Why is just one upstairs room so hot in the summer?
- 8Why is my AC not lowering indoor humidity?
- 2Why is there condensation and damp spots on walls only on laundry days?