In some cases, soot will start to appear on your wall and this could be a sign of problem in your house. When you see soot, it is possible that you already have a big problem. The accumulation of soot on the wall could be undetected at first. You may try to move a picture and it is easy to see sign of soot. When you notice this, it is also possible that stains are detected on the drapes, carpets and various home furnishing. Your ductwork may easily pick up and distribute soot throughout the interior of your home. There are common areas where this may happen, such as wood stove or fireplace.
It is easy to find out that carbon is the byproduct of the fuel burning process. A good indication is if the venting system is extremely dirty. There could also be improper maintenance or a big blockage, such as a bird building a nest on your chimney. Your stove and fireplace should be properly maintained to reduce or eliminate the production of particulates, fumes and smoke. If your chimney is inspected and cleaned, you shouldn’t have soot problem in your house. Oil and gas furnaces in your house may also slowly soot out in the interior. You should find out whether the furnace is properly installed and maintained.
You should check the venting system to find out whether there’s sign of soot. Appliance needs to be tuned and cleaned for optimum performance. As an example, it is possible that the venting system is undersized or oversized. You need to immediately make the right correction. You should know that if your furnace doesn’t work at an optimum level, the situation can become somewhat dangerous. It is possible that the water heater is sharing flue with the furnace. Water heater should perform well in winter when draft is assisted by the rising flue glasses. However, during warmer months, is possible that the chimney doesn’t have the sufficient draft to fully expel the fumes.
You should be wary of soot that’s caused by the burning process of coal, wood, gas and oil. They may cause significant potential health risks, due to continuous exposures to harmful gasses, especially the odourless carbon monoxide. Light exposure to carbon monoxide can be indicated by symptoms that are similar to flu. High concentrations prove to be quite fatal and death may happen quietly. So, if you detect soot on the wall and you start to have unusual health symptoms, then there’s a good indication that you have problem that needs to be addressed. If you are burning something inside the house, it is important to have a carbon dioxide and smoke detector.
A quick examination should also determine whether there’s a flaw in the venting system. As an example, the flue can be too short or too small. This could cause inadequate degree of venting. In general, the chimney should be free of blockage and perfectly clean. The flow of draft in your house should be examined continuously.
