I have black residue(?) building up on my carpet around my baseboards, around electrical outlets and appliances, in my frige, around air vents, on the blinds, IT"S EVERYWHERE!!!!! It's not mold, it's odorless, not greasy and no one smokes in the house. No one can tell me what it is. Has anyone else had this problem???? Any info would help.
2006-09-10 05:59:23 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I tried to wipe it off the walls around my smoke alarms (used bleach). It won't come off
2006-09-10 06:13:36 · update #1
Hire a professional home inspector to come to the house asap. My guess is 1-MOLD 2-SOOT from oil burner 3-SOMETHING IS BURNING when you are not around to see it or when it periodically turns on i.e. water heater.
2006-09-10 07:49:19 · answer #1 · answered by Jack 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. if it's a really really old house, then it could be coal dust (we had that issue when we did some remodelling in a bldg built in the 1920's).
2. Do you use candles? Believe it or not, candles give off more smoke (blackness on outlets, etc) than cigs.
3. Mold doesnt have to smell. I'm thinking mold, but if you already had it tested...
2006-09-10 06:23:10 · answer #2 · answered by Munya Says: DUH! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to agree with the answer from staybz. Only, after doing as he/she suggested I'd be sure I had plenty of attic ventilation. (eg: soffit vents, gable vents, roof cap or other roof vents) If there has been blown-in insulation added to attic make sure there is so sort of open channel from the soffit vents to the open attic space through the insulation. They make a plastic trough which nails to your rafters to hold insulation away from these vents. Without attic vents, both in and out, the wind can blow down thru walls ect. and it will do exactly as you described. Have you had any problem with your furnace? If it's gas, that is. Problems with proper ventilation can affect flow of flu gasses and or flue problems can be a cause of improper ventilation. Hope this helps.
2006-09-10 06:55:45 · answer #3 · answered by Ibeeware 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the same. It is soot coming in from the attic where there are voids. When I replaced the carpet we sealed the base board 100%. Seal all these areas as much as possible. Windows too.
Your question just made me make an inspection and where we sealed its good but the closets were not. Thanks for bring that to my attention. Now I have another chore.
2006-09-10 06:06:44 · answer #4 · answered by StayBeZe 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How do you know that it is not mold? Mold doesn't have to have a smell. Can you wipe it off?
2006-09-10 06:06:16 · answer #5 · answered by Mint 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hi there, it sounds like damp to me, my freind had it in her house a few years ago, when she called out her landlord he told her it was damp caused by condensation, hope this helps
yvonne
2006-09-10 06:05:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's cockroach poop!
2006-09-10 06:05:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋