Quote:
Originally Posted by merlin
I've been thinking of putting in a new carpet in our basement, but a few friends have told me that new carpets have some chemicals in them that may be harmful. They recommended me have them installed during the spring so I can open the windows and let the basement ventilate. However, it seems rather odd that carpet manufacturers would put in something harmful so you would need to ventilate the room...don't they want people to buy carpets during the winter as well?
I'm just wondering if there is any truth in the theory put out by my friends.
Thanks,
Merlin
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New carpet is treated with a formaldehyde-like product for storage purposes. Even if you wait until spring or summer to install new carpet, you should insist that the carpet be unrolled to "air" before bringing it to your home. The chemical "flashes" (evaporates) over a short period of time, but why should you have to be subjected to those odors?