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InspectAPedia ® Home ACOUSTICAL SEALANT CHOICES AIR BYPASS LEAKS AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION AIR LEAK SEALING PROCEDURE AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY ALLERGEN TESTS for buildings ALLERGENS in BUILDINGS, RECOGNIZING ALLERGY & MOLD IAQ PRODUCTS ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & MOLD ATTIC VENTILATION BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER BASEMENT HEAT LOSS BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM VENTILATION BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE Best Interior Finish Practices BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BOOKSTORE - INTERIORS BRICK LINED WALLS BRICK VENEER WALL AIR LEAKS BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION? BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE BUILDING SETTLEMENT CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPENTER ANTS CARPENTER BEES CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CASEWORK, CABINETS, SHELVING INSTALLATION CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION CEILING FINISHES INTERIOR CEILINGS, DROP or SUSPENDED PANEL CEILINGS, PLASTER TYPES CEILINGS, PLASTER, LOOSE HAZARDS CEILING TILES - Asbestos-Containing CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT buildings CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS CORROSION & MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS CRAWL SPACES CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DIRECTORY of MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DOORS, INTERIOR DRYER VENTING DRYWALL HAZARDS, CHINESE DRYWALL INSTALLATION Best Practices DRYWALL MOLD DRYWALL MOLD RESISTANT EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits ELDERLY & VETERANS HOME SAFETY ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOOD DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS FLOOD VENTS & FLOOD PORTS FLOODS IN buildings-mold FLOOR DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRENCH DRAINS FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES FRAMING METAL STUD PERFORMANCE FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC GAS DETECTION INSTRUMENTS GAS EXPOSURE LIMITS & STANDARDS GLARE, Sunlight/Lighting Control HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INDOOR HOUSE DUST & DEBRIS INSECT INFESTATION / DAMAGE INSULATION CHOICES Insulation Air & Heat Leaks INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION MOLD INSULATION R-Values & Properties KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN GUIDE KITCHEN VENTILATION LIGHTING, EXTERIOR GUIDE LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE LOG HOME GUIDE METAL LATH, PLASTER & STUCCO MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE OIL, HEATING, EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS OIL HEAT ODORS OIL SPILL CLEANUP / PREVENTION OIL TANK LEAK ODORS OIL TANKS INSPECT LEAK TEST ABANDON REGS OUTHOUSES & LATRINES OXYGEN - O2 OZONE HAZARDS OZONE for MOLD OR ODORS PAINTS & COATINGS ODORS IN BUILDINGS PARTICLE SIZES & IAQ Particulates & Allergens Indoors Pesticide Exposure Hazards PET ALLERGENS / PET DANDER PET STAINS on FLOORS PET STAINS on WALLS PLASTIC CONTAINERS, TANKS, TYPES PLASTIC HEATER VENT PLASTIC ODORS-SCREENS, SIDING PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS Pollen Photos PVC - VINYL BUILDING PRODUCTS RADON HAZARD TESTS & MITIGATION SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in BUILDINGS SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWER GAS ODORS SIDING VINYL SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SOUND CONTROL in buildings STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG STAINS on & in BUILDINGS, CAUSES & CURES STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STONE VENEER WALLS STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES STRUCTURAL DAMAGE PROBING STRUCTURAL WOOD ASSESSMENT SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TERMITES TEST KITS for DUST, MOLD, PARTICLE TESTS Thermal Expansion Cracking of Brick THERMAL IMAGING, THERMOGRAPHY THERMAL IMAGING MOLD SCANS THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS THERMAL TRACKING & THERMAL BRIDGING TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF TRUSSES, Floor & Roof VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in BUILDINGS VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO VINYL SIDING VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WALL CONSTRUCTION BARRIER vs CAVITY WATER ENTRY in buildings WIND WASHING INSULATION At EAVES WINDOWS & DOORS WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD, COAL STOVES & FIREPLACES WOOD STOVE SAFETY ZONE DAMPERS ZONE VALVES More Information |
This article describes & diagnoses burning candles, scented candles, fireplaces, woodstoves, kerosene lamps, as the cause of dark interior wall and ceiling or floor carpet stains. We explain how to recognize these stains and the role in their creation of thermal tracking, thermal bridging, building air leaks, and building insulation defects. Often these fire or candle stains are mistaken for toxic indoor mold. Review these causes of dark indoor stains to learn recognize non-fungal materials or even possibly harmless cosmetic "black mold" often mistaken for "toxic fungal growth." Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman. How to Recognize Wall or Ceiling Stains due to use of Candles, Woodstoves, or Fireplaces
Also see AIR SEALING STRATEGIES and AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS as well as AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION. Smokers or scented candle hazards: In buildings where occupants are or have been smokers, or where occupants burn candles, especially scented candles, thermal tracking will often be still more distinctly visible as soot stains in the thermal tracking patterns we've already discussed. Since scented candles can be a source of indoor air quality problems including toxic lead deposition and perfumes which are respiratory irritants to some people, thermal tracking on buildings combined with this evidence can also be a clue useful in diagnosing indoor air quality complaints. In these photographs, all of the stains visible appear due to use of candles. Note the absence of framing-interval staining (16" or 24" on center) which would have been characteristic of thermal tracking, even of the candle soot, had the building surfaces been cool due to poor insulation. You can spot indoor stains to candles most easily by noticing the location of stains in relation to candles - see our photo at above right. Similarly, fireplace smoke or soot stains indoors tend to be deposited on walls and ceilings or even the mantle and hearth face right above the fireplace. So start where the stain is most dark and look for the nearby source. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaQuestions & answers or comments about how to diagnose and prevent indoor wall, ceiling or floor stains due to burning candles, woodstoves, or fireplaces. Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below. Technical Reviewers & ReferencesRelated Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
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