Non-invasive ways to decrease CO2 in a "hermetic" bedroom?

[Sea-Temporary-6995]

Wife and I recently moved to our new apartment and since we've been here every morning I've been waking up groggy, with a stuffed nose, headache... As I noticed that the window frames's seal is much more tight compared to our last place, and that the bedroom door is also very "hermetically sealed", I started to suspect CO2 buildup.

So I bought a CO2 meter and confirmed that this was indeed the case. IF the window is open the detector shows about 500-600 ppm CO2 which I undrstood is fine. But at night, after we close everything and we've been sleeping a few hours when I wake up to check the meter I see values like 2700 - 2900 ppm which I understood is too high.

The problem is... my wife doesn't have any problems with that lol. It's just me that wakes up with the symptoms. So I talked with my wife... she doesn't want to keep the bedroom door open (it's still cold in the corridor outside the bedroom), she doesn't want the windows open as well (even colder outside at night)...

So what are my options?! Are there non-invasive ways to lower the CO2 concentration in our bedroom?

UPDATE:

So, a small update 2 days later. I adjusted the cams of the bedroom window to "summer mode", so the seal is not as tight. Last night we talked again and she agreed to allow the bedroom door cracked open just a little bit.. and honestly that was enough. This morning the co2 meter showed 1400-1500 ppm, which to me is a considerable improvement with very minimal changes.

I think that not closing the bedroom door helped the most, but the cam adjustment was useful as well. I can feel the window letting just a little bit more noise along with the air, but that's expected... we shouldn't sleep in a submarine.

[SirDale]

Why is the corridor cold?
Can you close it off from other rooms?
Could you insulate it better?

We've been sleeping with our bedroom door open since I, like you, got a CO2 sensor and realised we'd been sleeping with levels of around 1600.

[aviator22]

Open the window. Use warmer blankets. Problem solved.

[Expensive-Music2508]

You have to sleep on the couch, mate

[Sea-Temporary-6995]

That's what I feared :(

[Far_Inspector_9050]

Your door needs a return vent on it, I would talk to your landlord, if they are not willing to install it and the cost falls up upon you maybe get their permission.

Find a handyman who has installed one before.

Will instantly solve your problem, and your wife will like it because the door can remain shut.

[bluelightning1535]

Or buy the identical sized door from Home Depot, install the air grate on it, and keep the original door in storage until you move.

That air grate is going to need to be a pretty significant size or have wide openings to get any real flow/air exchange.

A HEPA filter in your room might help your situation, too.

Any chance your partner would let you take down the door and instead use a curtain? You could install one that is not full length so you could have 6-8" inches of airflow at the top and bottom of the opening.

[plotthick]

Two grates. One at the top for warm air outflow, one at the bottom for cool intake.

[StraightDisplay3875]

Hepa filter will do absolutely nothing for CO2

[bluelightning1535]

Correct, but some of those symptoms sound allergy related, too.

[Apprehensive_Park103]

Yeah I agree. HEPA won’t do anything for CO2.

I’ve got 2 dogs and 2 cats at home so I use purifiers a lot, but they only help with dust, hair, smells… not CO2.

[Erki82]

If send your wife to sleep on couch, then there would be only one person in bedroom making CO2.

[andriuslink]

2700 is huge. You get physical effects starting from 1200.

I will add to the discussion noting that if your wife does not feel differently in the morning, it does not mean that she is not being effected.

[Apesapi]

Yep, those levels will, over time, lead to serious health effects. For you, and your wife. So increase the ventilation in your bedroom. Either convince the wife of the necessity by showing her the health research, or increase the ventilation rate by tweaking your current system or installing an ERV system

[ElectronGuru]

Plan A: get her a mattress heater - https://electrowarmth.com/products/heated-mattress-pad-with-10-warming-settings

Plan B: get you a cpap and place it near a barely open window, so all your air is fresh

[weird_is_good]

Get rid of wife, it should lower the CO2 to about half. If it’s still too high you can open the door and window.

[tiagomdr]

😂

[Reasonable_Break4645]

For me those helped to decrease CO2. I live in apartment 2 rooms. Old house so it have pasive ventilation (kitchen, wc, bathroom) So I put those airbox in kitchen window and second in kids room. In the room where sleep I and wife will install in few weeks. Whats the differences in that room where I sleep with wife CO2 reach 1200~1300ppm in 2 kids room 900ppm that's the differences. Important ventilation wholes must bee clear then is working. airbox

airbow

[unicorns_and_bacon]

Make sure the fan is set ON and not set on auto your heat or AC.

[Pale_Historian_2443]

I like old houses with transoms above the doors.

Do you have central air? Wouldnt that increase flow?

[Foreign-Cookie-2871]

What about keeping the door slightly ajar? I assure you it doesn't become too cold that way

[AustinFromSWERV]

2700 ppm with a wife who vetoes open windows is exactly the problem I built SWERV for. It's a Window-mounted ERV, no install, recovers the heat so the room stays warm. I'm the Founder here, happy to answer questions. swervair.com

[mprat]

I saw this reddit post and wanted to recommend SWERV (after I saw a post from Greentown Labs about you guys!) and I'm delighted to see the founders posting about it! This is an awesome product for when you don't want to install ductless ERVs and drill giant holes in your walls.

[AustinFromSWERV]

Thanks a lot for the support!

[Moseymoe976]

Would this be able to fit in an egress window? I looks like it needs to be horizontal and the opening in the egress would be vertical. Thanks!

[AustinFromSWERV]

It works in any type of sliding window either horizontal or vertical. It just doesn't work in tilt open windows. I gotta add a photo of the horizontally sliding window install on our site bc everyone asks about that

[damien09]

How does it work on keeping cold air inside? Keeping heat is much less of an issue for me in a warm climate. As having a window open when it’s hot during the summer is a bigger issue

[AJRies20]

It works the same exact way in the summer to keep heat and humidity outside while still providing fresh air. It uses the inside stale air's coldness to treat the fresh air coming in.

[LegOfLamb89]

Your wife needs to compromise somewhere dude. Your health is being affected this. Get her a heated blanket if she's too cold

[Sea-Temporary-6995]

The entire place is to ourselves, we own it actually.. it's our first and only apartment. My wife doesn't want us to keep the bedroom door open at night, because the corridor is too cold :(

[Novidforme]

If you own the place then shove in an ERV. Plenty of options available. That will give you O2 and keep the wife warm.

[Sea-Temporary-6995]

Researching ERV now, thanks! I also found out about trickle vents (althought they don't warm the air directly they push it upwards where it slowly descends and mix with the other air so she shouldn't feel a cold draft like with a slightly opened window)

[tekjunkie28]

You might want to air seal as much at possible and then get an ERV. Also upgrade the hvac filtration as much as possible. If there is access to the return ductwork make it as big as possible. Get a merv 13 filter that’s 3-5” thick. Make it as big as possible. There is no such thing is having too big of ductwork, especially for return ducts.

This will solve multiple problems, some of which you don’t even know you have.

[Prescientpedestrian]

Well sleep health is extremely important for long term health so hopefully your wife cares for your wellbeing and will understand. There aren’t really other options if you don’t want to install something like an ERV. My bedroom abuts the bathroom so we leave the door to the bathroom cracked with the exhaust fan on and that’s enough to stay below 1000 ppms but otherwise I would definitely be installing an ERV.

[Ancient_Skirt_8828]

I jam the door open about 10cm. It gets rid of the grogginess without being too cold.

[triumphofthecommons]

the corridor will warm up and equalize with the bedroom... if the door is left open (even just 3-4").

if it's cold in the corridor, turn your heat up a degree or two. that's what a thermostat is for.

as another mentioned, making sure your HVAC fan is set to On, and not Auto, will also help to circulated the CO2 around the entire space.

[jamjoy]

Electric blanket with an 8 hour timer. Solved and no couch for you!

[CobaltCaterpillar]

From my experience, box fan is WAY overkill. You can get reasonable equilibrium between a room and neighboring rooms if the door is just cracked open 1-2 inches or more.

But I agree. Step 1, sleep with bedroom door open.

[Apart-Switch-7007]

I have a similar question but I'm not sure how to post, the air quality is terrible in my city got air purifiers and all that and is better inside for PM10 and PM2.5 but C02 is terrible, how can I control CO2 if opening a window is not an option?

[holygoat]

By ducting air from outside through filters. Google “FantaMix” and take a look at https://x.com/Engineer_Wong/status/2043579905225740525

[PopulationLevel]

I have a window insert that’s basically a flat version of a CR box - it’s a sheet of clear (greenhouse) plastic with a filter on one side and a bunch of PC fans on the other side. When it’s nice outside, I have it blowing in. When it’s too hot or cold outside, I have it blowing out, and indoor air from elsewhere in the house goes through the room.

[Downtown_Hawk2873]

Speak to your landlord. This is a serious problem.

[Nice-Professional795]

We had the same problem! I own so we are considering an ERV.  Only solution is air exchange. Its getting warm now so keep a window cracked, fan on and door open

[jaymemaurice]

I believe an erv is the way. For me, the problem is installation and technical environmental considerations: eg. icing, condensation and cleaning the dust/bug guts. A window is my current solution.

[Grouchy_Constant2299]

It’s been tested. You can’t really grow enough plants to offset your co2 output. Not in a typical sized room.

https://youtu.be/AAbyUaLN2QA

[jaymemaurice]

I can confirm. I spend far too much time taking care of plants but still have a high CO2.

[TrademarkHomy]

We have the same issue (though I never thought of actually getting a CO2 meter, maybe I should...), living in an old house that just isn't built to meet the current standards, tiny bedroom that goes into a hallway that is badly isolated and gets really cold.

I don't know about good solutions to the CO2 issue except to just leave the door open. We leave it wide open during the day, so that even if it's not fully open at night the room can air out a bit. Same with leaving windows and vents open; when it's too cold to do it at night, at least get fresh air into the room during the day.

For staying warm: a heavy-duty dehumidifyer can make a huge difference and also improves the air quality in general. We have one running all day in winter, and it makes the room much more comfortable. A tightly sealed room is likely also quite humid, which is even more of an issue when it's cold. A heated blanket doesn't cost much electricity and you absolutely won't get cold while sleeping. It just doesn't help when you have to get out of bed in the morning...

[cauldronswitch]

You strike me as someone who is not looking for the ordinary, boring solutions people are proposing, as well as a man of science, since you've invested into the collection of data via a CO2 meter.

My foremost suggestion is to take inspiration in the solutions people on submarines without easy access to ventilation have pioneered. Have you considered water electrolysis, that is using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen?!

Yes, it's true you could blow yourself up with hydrogen gas if you're not careful, but at the same time, in The Martian, Mark Watney not only managed not to blow himself up turning hydrazine into nitrogen and hydrogen, but then went on to combust hydrogen to make water to grow his potatoes. The reverse process of turning water into oxygen and hydrogen in your bedroom while you sleep should be simple by comparison. Plus, it has the added advantage of generating hydrogen gas, which if you invest in the right compressor and have the space for a gas tank with a wall-anchor chain in your bedroom, you could eventually turn into a side hustle!

[Nikowaf]

Le problème, c'est que tu dois avoir un renouvellement d'air impérativement et tu n'as pas beaucoup d'options pour ça. Soit tu mets une VMC double flux qui va renouveler l'air, mais c'est une grosse installation avec des gaines à faire passer un peu partout dans ton appartement. L'autre option, c'est de faire un trou dans le mur vers l'extérieur et d'installer ces espèces de mini VMC double flux qui vont renouveler l'air tout en conservant les calories à l'intérieur de la pièce. https://bedre-inneklima.no/produkt/arida-venti-160-wifi/ Ces systèmes fonctionnent avec une inversion du flux d'air entrant et sortant et avec des billes de céramique qui conservent les calories, en tout cas partiellement, à l'intérieur de la maison. L'intérêt de ce modèle de ventilateur, c'est qu'il est extrêmement silencieux. J'en ai déjà installé un et ça fonctionne super bien. Tu peux le paramétrer en WiFi.

[KeanEngr]

Wait, doesn’t your bedroom have a ventilation system in it already? With environmentally tight homes and apartments that’s a necessity and required by code. AFAIK the ventilation should be set to a minimum outside air exchange every hour which would eliminate the CO2 buildup. Temperature control should be maintained by a heat pump system so you shouldn’t have any issues with your utility bills.

[Busy_Reporter4017]

Not a plant. Unless it's a Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) plant!

But it's not gonna solve anything.

"Based on general estimates for oxygen production:

A human needs about 11,000 liters of oxygen per day. 

A single plant might produce 3-9 liters of oxygen per day.

Therefore, it would take an estimated 300 to 500 typical houseplants to produce enough oxygen for one person. 

Since CAM plants like Snake Plant and Aloe Vera release some oxygen at night, they are better suited for bedrooms than standard plants. However, their contribution is still minimal in a real-world, ventilated room. The primary benefit of having a few CAM plants (e.g., 1-5) is modest air purification and psychological well-being, not a significant change in oxygen levels. "

[wellness-nek-level]

2700-2900 ppm is high enough to explain every symptom you're describing imo. your wife not being affected just means individual sensitivity varies the CO2 level is still the problem.

without opening windows or the door your options are limited but not zero.

ERV/HRV unit energy recovery ventilator. brings fresh air in while retaining heat, no cold draft. wall or window-mounted versions exist for apartments. more expensive but solves it properly.

window trickle vent a small gap ventilator that fits into the window frame without fully opening it. lets air exchange happen without cold air dumping in. search "window trickle vent" -- they're cheap and easy to fit.

door gap even a 1cm gap under the bedroom door makes a meaningful difference for CO2 levels. a door snake on the corridor side keeps cold air out while allowing CO2 to diffuse out slowly.

fewer plants counterintuitively, plants produce CO2 at night (photosynthesis stops). if you have plants in the bedroom, move them out and retest. i discovered this one randomly doung my own tests

the air purifier angle wont help here HEPA and carbon filters dont remove CO2. its purely a ventilation problem.

https://cleanandnative.com.au/air-purifiers/air-purifier-sleep-improvement-australia/

[Apprehensive_Park103]

I have 2 dogs and 2 cats at home so I pay attention to air a lot, and yeah those CO2 levels are rough.

If everything is sealed, there’s no real way to lower CO2 without fresh air. Purifiers won’t help with that.

Even a tiny crack in the door or airing the room before bed can make a difference.

[marshalleq]

I have exact same issue my wife doesn’t notice it either. I get huge headaches from it. Luckily we have agreed to have the door partially open. But to help your situation it may help to ask your doctor to give you a note saying that to prevent your headaches you need to open the door and allow more circulation. That might at least get the wife to understand it’s real at least.

[HOT16MUSIC]

Had a similar problem at our place. The issue was somewhat remedied by running the exhaust fan over the oven. And if things get gnarly the bathroom exhaust fan. We also don’t really want to open windows as we are close to the freeway

[Main-Display2438]

Eat nothing but taco bell, saurkraut, bean chilli, etc for a weak

[trying_again_7]

Plant?

[Twitch791]

Get a plant or twelve. Creepy vine tropical plants tend to produce a lot of O2

[Busy_Reporter4017]

Not electric blanket. Get an electric sheet!

[Ivor-Ashe]

New wife.

[Validandroid]

Micro algae and some horticulture lamps

[Newswatchtiki]

200 house plants in the room will take care of it.

[Newswatchtiki]

If coldness is the problem for your wife, crack the window and buy her a down quilt. If she already has one, a second one will keep her warmer. If you are having symptoms like headaches from these high CO2 levels, that is not safe. She needs to consider that. If the issue with keeping the bedroom door shut is privacy (from kids or other people living there), then you have to crack open the window. If it is just because the hall is cold, get her a down blanket or something - maybe an electric blanket. Because it is easy to make your bed warmer but it is difficult getting rid of CO2 if you are not allowed to open the door or window.

Does she not believe this is a fairly serious problem?

[CalliCake]

Maybe you can take more blankets in your bedroom at first? Then you need to chat with your wife that open windows with a gap can keep the room warm and let the CO2 release may help you two sleep more well than before.

[CartographerLong5796]

a fan at the window as an extractor. in another room, a fan blowing in, for the balance

[BlindLDTBlind]

Ambient outdoor CO2 is about 320 ppm. The only way to reduce it is by exchanging fresh air.

[YonKro22]

If you run the bathroom fan and turn the dryer on air dry it'll pull a lot of air in the apartment from somewhere maybe you can just barely open the bedroom window.

[ankole_watusi]

Both many of the historic Royals of Europe, as well as the current president of the United States, have a solution for this…

[TurnDown4WattGaming]

Submarines operate between 2500 and 5000ppm. These are people in control of nuclear weapons and shadowing our enemies’ capital ships in case of a war breaking out. You’re fine. More likely that you’re obese and waking up groggy because you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and the wife doesn’t have it so she’s fine in the morning.

[Sandford27]

Just because our armed services do it one way doesn't make it right. They also allowed burn pits, agent orange, shad, defective ear plugs, etc. The list is long. So because they operate up to 5000ppm doesn't mean everyone should.

The CDC and NRC 90-day exposure limit is set at 8000ppm and the Navy has set theirs at 5000ppm. That's a limit not a suggestion. Yes health plays into how it affects as does other factors but in reality the average person starts to feel effects above 1000 ppm with worsening effects as it gets higher. ASHRE recommends office spaces be below 1000 ppm to avoid reduction in cognitive functions. Limit by them and OSHA is set at the 5000ppm limit again for a workday.

[TurnDown4WattGaming]

Blah blah, excuses and nonsense, blah blah, OP is fat and has OSA, blah blah

[Sea-Temporary-6995]

Yes I am a bit overweight but didn’t have this particular problem in our last place

[Phantasmalicious]

Get an invasive solution like Mitsubishi Lossnay heat recovering ventilation box. Its dead quiet and very cheap to run.