Candles May Be The Cause Of Sooting

Candlemaker pays for soot damage

BROOKHAVEN, PA - We’ve all burned candles in our homes before. But there could be a hidden danger, and it doesn’t have anything to do with fire. News 10’s Tracy Davidson has the details on the ConsumerWatch.

Pat Morrison of Delaware County had a mystery on her hands that was destroying her home.

Right above the heater vent in these curtains, they were all black, Morrison said. I had no idea.

Her first clue was when she removed a hanger that had hung on a wall, and she saw the outline. On this vent, there were black cobwebs and white lampshades had cobwebs, she said. It just gradually got worse. Morrison had her heater inspected. It was fine. Then an engineer visited. I learned it was from the candles I was burning, Morrison said. Smoke will cover the walls but you won’t see it until you move a picture from the wall, said Paul Lutz, a chemical engineer. Lutz told Morrison the culprit was three candles on her living room table she’d been burning. But she’d only been in her house four months. That is why her insurance company decided to pay for the damage that totaled $18,000.

Everything needed to be dry cleaned, chemically cleaned or thrown out. This is atrocious for this to happen, Morrison said. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Morrison’s insurance company went after the maker of the candle: Candle-Lite. And in Delaware County Common Pleas Court, Candle-Lite agreed to pay $17,277 to the insurance company. News 10 contacted Candle-Lite. The company had no comment on the case.

So how can you check your own home for potential damage and how can you protect your home and belongings from candle soot damage? Find out Thursday, Oct. 28th 1999 on News 10 at 5.

( Minneapolis Star Tribune )

Q: I've noticed gray and black marks on the carpeting under doors, near table legs on walls and windows in my house. It's really noticeable in the winter. I have a fireplace but rarely use it, and it has been cleaned. What is causing these dark stains?

A: ''The likely culprit is the casual burning of candles in your home,'' said energy specialist Phil Smith of the Minnesota Department of Public Service. The stains you see are the result of accumulated soot from candle flames.

A burning candle may appear to be clean, but it isn't. Combustion that takes place at the flame is incomplete so candles produce tiny particles of soot invisible to the eye.

Smith said doubters should try this simple experiment: Hold a small mirror or sheet of aluminum foil a few inches above a candle' s flame for a minute or so. Look at the accumulation of soot on the surface.

The use of candles has proliferated in recent years. Especially popular are scented or aromatic candles, which produce the most soot. Research indicates that just a few candles a month may be enough to cause the stains you describe. The areas where you observe stains are significant clues. Sooty stains under doors, windows, at bottoms of walls and around table legs are telltale signs of air movement from naturally occurring convection currents in your home, Smith said. The heating system warms air, causing it to rise. When it cools, the soot is deposited.

Sometimes the soot will accumulate on walls right where the studs run, leaving shadow stripes called ghosting.

Smith said that accumulations in the winter are natural. The house is closed up, reducing the amount of ventilation and dilution of air. Also, end-of-the-year holidays often mean that more candles are being burned.

Keep in mind that there may be other sources for soot stains in a house. Any combustion device (water heater, furnace, gas log and cookstove) can produce soot, given the right conditions.

Have these appliances checked by a heating contractor to make sure they are burning clean and don't backdraft, even when household exhaust fans or the clothes dryer are in use.

Even automobile exhaust from an attached garage can contribute carbon to a house. For more information on testing for that, contact the Minnesota Department of Public Service's Energy Information Center at 651-296-5175 or 1- 800-657-3710.

Removing soot stains can be difficult, Smith said. If ordinary household cleaners don't work, you may have to use cleaners designed for petroleum stains.

Fixit // What causes those dark `ghosting' marks on walls? ( Minneapolis Star Tribune )

Question

My wall studs are beginning to appear as dirty marks on the walls. What would cause this? I suspect it might have to do with the fact that I am a smoker or that I burn candles. If I repaint, will the problem reappear?

Answer

Unless conditions change in your home, the stains will reappear. The dark areas revealing the wall studs is a phenomenon called ``ghosting.'' It's part of a larger problem called sooting, where people notice that black, grimy dirt (not the typical dirt or dust) is accumulating on the walls, furniture, TV and computer screens, drapes, carpet and furnace filters in their homes. In some cases, only certain areas of the house are affected; in other cases, homeowners describe a generally dirty house. As the incidence of ghosting and sooting increases so does the concern of home builders and heating contractors, because they are being blamed for the problem. But they may not be to blame. Most experts agree that ghosting is caused by an accumulation of soot, but they don't agree on where it's coming from. The obvious suspect is candles. The use of candles has proliferated in recent years, especially the popular scented or aromatic ones. A burning candle may appear to be clean, but it isn't. Because the combustion that takes place at the flame is incomplete, candles produce tiny particles of soot invisible to the eye. The addition of fragrance oils to candles contributes to the sooting. Any combustion appliance (water heater, furnace, gas-log fireplace and cookstove) can produce soot, given the right conditions. In one ghosting case, a homeowner's water heater was found to be backdrafting. That means carbon-loaded exhaust from the burner flowed into the house instead of out of the house through the vent pipe. Even automobile exhaust from an attached garage can be a source of carbon or soot that can cause a dirty house. In one sooty-house case, the attached garage was found to be the source. Although the attached garage appeared to be completely separate from the house because the walls appear solid to the eye, they aren't to a gas. Garage air can move freely into the house through unseen cracks and penetrations. These natural drafts are loaded with minute carbon particles from the car's engine. No matter what the source of the soot, the problem can exhibit itself far from the original source because the forced-air heating system picks up the microscopic particles and circulates them throughout the house. The airborne particles are attracted to and coalesce on cooler surfaces, such as the stud area of walls. That area tends to be cooler than the surrounding wall because studs, unlike the wall next to them, are not insulated. The accumulation of the microscopic particles gradually turns the areas gray or black - ghosting. The soot particles also appear attracted to charged surfaces such as TV screens and some plastics such as coffee makers and counter tops. Eliminate the source of the carbon to solve the problem. In your case, it appears likely to be candle-burning. (Smoking generally deposits yellow residues, but eliminating indoor smoking is not a bad idea.) But don't forget about the fuel-burning appliances in your home. Have them checked immediately by a heating contractor to make sure they are burning clean and don't backdraft, even when household exhaust fans or the clothes dryer are in use. And install a digital electronic carbon monoxide detector right away. Like soot, carbon monoxide is a byproduct of combustion. Monitoring your house for carbon monoxide levels can protect your life and health as well as help detect the source of your sooting. If you take these steps and still have a sooting or ghosting problem, consider contacting a house diagnostician to determine the cause. Call the Minnesota Department of Public Service at 651-296- 5175 or 1-800-657-3710 for a list of diagnosticians. Visit its Web site at www.dpsv.state.mn.us. for information on house diagnosis and fuel-burning appliance checks.

For more information about ghosting and sooting, read an article at the Web site www.homeenergy.org/198ghost.html. Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at http://www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies. Fixit appears every day except Friday.

http://www.life.ca

Natural Life

May 24, 1999

Candles - A Burning Air Quality Issue

by Wendy Priesnitz, Editor

I’d never allow someone to smoke a cigarette inside my home or office. And yet, until recently, I never thought twice about burning candles...scented or otherwise, for romance or for stress relief. However, an increasing number of indoor air quality scientists are sounding the alarm about the ability of candles to emit pollutants like benzene, styrene, toluene, acetone and particulate matter. Some core wicks on imported candles have even been found to be made of lead.

Although in the past, specialists in environmental medicine have occasionally noted problems resulting from candle use, indoor air pollution and related health problems appears to becoming more common due to the popularity of scented and aromatherapy candles. If candles are not properly manufactured, or contain too high quantities of fragranced oils that are not suitable for combustion, the result could be an indoor air quality problem.

In the U.S., the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has been receiving an increasing number of reports about black soot deposition. A prime suspect is the increased use of candles and other indoor combustible materials including incense, potpourri and oil lamps. The problem is so severe that North America’s largest indoor air quality conference, held in Texas in mid April, featured a workshop that presented the latest research and case studies on the effects of black soot from candles.

Soot is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, usually petroleum-based. The soot not only discolours walls and furniture, it can also contaminate your home’s ventilation system. Although the problems resulting from burning candles can be minimized, the basic problem is that candle flames must contain soot or they will not be bright. Soot is the source of the bright white/yellow light that candles emit. A flame without soot will burn blue, like the flame from a gas stove.

While little or no research has been conducted into the health effects of exposure to candle soot, studies into the risks of exposure to soot from diesel exhaust and factory emissions suggest candle soot can be harmful. Since soot particles are typically very small, they can potentially penetrate the deepest areas of the lung. Researchers caution that the very young, the elderly and those with respiratory diseases like asthma should avoid exposure to candle soot.

For more information, go to the website Candles and Indoor Air Quality at http://www.fiscorp.net/iaq.

AVCS
Air-Vent Cleaning Specialists

Candles can be the Culprit!

Candles add to the warmth & atmosphere of a home. Some candles can contribute to an indoor air pollution problem by emitting particulate matter (candle soot) into the air. Candle pollution not only discolors the walls, ceilings and contents of a home it can also contaminate the ventilation system's ductwork. This is especially true of ducts constructed from fiberglass "duct-board". It appears that scented and/or aromatic candles are the worst offenders.

If the light colored fabrics in your home begin to look rather dingy or gray, if plastic items in the house begin to accumulate a dark film, if your electronic equipment has discoloration's especially around vents (i.e. computers, disc drives, etc...), if the television or computer monitor screen is covered with a thin dark residue that wipes off with a clean cloth (this film will appear darker than regular household dust on a clean cloth) you could have an IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) problem resulting from candle soot.

If you suspect a problem:

1) Stop burning candles immediately!

2) Check and/or change the filter in your H/VAC system, save the filter if it is more discolored than you would normally see.

3) Continue to change the filter more frequently than usual, you should observe a gradual lightening of each subsequent filter.

4) Depending on the extent of property damage you may want to contact your homeowners insurance and/or the candle's manufacturer.

5) You may also want to seek the advice of an Indoor Air Quality or Building Science Specialist.

6) If evidence is compelling towards candles causing the problems, you may want to contact CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

Do the Simple Inexpensive unscientific Test just to make sure!

Here is an easy but convincing (albeit not scientific) way to determine if candles are the cause of the soot deposition.

You'll need some of those thin, plastic disposable plates (White), not paper or styrofoam (although styrofoam will work, just not as well). Obtain several of the candles suspected of sooting. Light the candles in a confined area, for example a utility or bath room. Right after lighting the candles, separate the plates into 2 or 3 stacks (this will create a static charge) & place them near or around the burning candles. Let the candles burn about an hour (depending on the carbon emission rates of the candles being burned, could be as little as 10 minutes). If the candles are responsible for the soot deposition, you will notice a thin dark film collecting on the top plate of each stack. This type of soot has a strong attraction to plastics especially when the plastic is charged. This test is a relatively simple & compelling way to demonstrate to a homeowner or tenant that candles are responsible for the soot deposition in their home.

IMPORTANT:

You should close or block all the H/VAC vents in the room where you are testing the candles to eliminate the H/VAC system as the cause of sooting and to prevent further contamination.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The emissions and soot produced by some scented and/or aromatic candles can not only damage a home, it's contents and the ventilation system but there is evidence that it also can present a health hazard from breathing sub-micron particulate soot emitted (sub-micron means < 1 micron). The EPA and the American Lung Assn. have determined that particulate matter 2.5 microns and smaller are the most detrimental to our health. The smaller the particle, the more dangerous, because it can travel deeper into the lungs. When particulate matter is breathed in, it can irritate and damage the lungs, causing breathing problems. People who have asthma or some type of lung disease are directly impacted by PM. The elderly and children are also especially vulnerable to the effects of PM. Many studies have shown links between PM and health effects. Increases in PM have been linked to decreases in lung function, increases in breathing problems and hospitalization, and early death. It is currently speculated (by Chemists, IAQ Specialist and other scientists) that the cause of this is due to candle manufactures adding more & more essential and fragranced oils (some of which are not even suitable for combustion) to candles in order to achieve a higher or more intense fragrance while burning. It also appears that many inexperienced & amateur candlemakers have jumped into the manufacturing of candles to capitalize on their current popularity without the proper training or expertise. The result is an abundance of inferior or poorly performing candles in a lot of homes.

Covering a 100 Mile Radius - Free Inspections - Free Quotes

(217)342-6002 or Toll Free at 1-888-808-VENT

P.O. Box 1436, Effingham IL 62401

e-mail us at:

AVCS@effingham.net

11/1999
Candle issues

Posted by Cathy on February 19, 1999 at 07:35:20

If you have "unexplained" ghosting or soot deposits in your home pay a visit to the following bulletin board & see if any of these incidents sound alittle familiar...

The Home Owner's Candle Soot Damage Bulletin Board http://disc.server.com/Indices/41692.html

Bear in mind candles are not the sole cause of soot deposits in a home; however, reports of soot damage from candle use are certainly on the rise. Other causes can include H/VAC & insulation problems, "puff-back", improper use/maitenance or malfunctions of fireplaces &/or chimneys, and even exhaust from an attached garage. But if all of these have been eliminated as the source & you are left scratching your head and use candles... it's quite possible that they are the cause.

Regards,
Cathy Flanders
IAQ List Manager & Moderator
Fax: 972-527-6608
rkfabf@aol.com
IAQ Listserve (to subscribe)
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/iaq
IAQ Listserve (to search archives)
http://www.onelist.com/arcindex.cgi?listname=iaq

Candles and Indoor Air Quality
http://www.fiscorp.net/iaq/
The Home Owner's Candle Soot Damage Bulletin Board
http://disc.server.com/Indices/41692.html

If you have had any similar problems or have information regarding this issue, please file a report we will add your comments to these.