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Thermal tracking on ceiling where candles were burned (C) Inspectapedia.com EmilyThermal Tracking & Bridging FAQs-2
Q&A on Indoor Ghosting or Thermal Tracking #2

More Q&A about Indoor stains in buildings traced to black or dark thermal tracking or ghosting lines:

These bridging or ghosting stain FAQs help provide answers about the pattern, location, & causes of indoor stains explained by thermal tracking, ghosting, or bridging.

This article series describes & diagnoses the cause of various interior wall and ceiling stains and explains how to recognize thermal tracking, (also called ghosting or ghosting stains or thermal bridging stains), building air leaks, and building insulation defects. Often these stains are mistaken for toxic indoor mold.

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FAQs on Bridging, Thermal Tracking, Ghosting, Sooting, Thermophoresis, Electrostatic Deposition, Plating-Out Stains

Thermal tracking black stains on wall over heating basebaord, Montville NJ, (C) InspectApedia.com readerThese replies to reader questions about Bridging, Thermal Tracking, Ghosting, Sooting, Thermophoresis, Electrostatic Deposition, Plating-Out Stains were posted originally at THERMAL TRACKING BRIDGING GHOSTING - home (or its companion articles) - please be sure to reviewe the causes, effects, and cures of ghosting stains starting at that page.

Question: Are the stains in this house in Montville Township NJ thermal tracking?

[Click to enlarge any image]

Shown in the photo: black stains on an interior wall, rising above hot water heating baseboards in a Montville NJ home, reader submitted.

2016/03/11 Anonymous said:

Are the stains in this house in Montville Township N J thermal tracking?

This may be a bit of a stretch but in looking to buy a house I'm wondering if from the pictures in the link provided it can be determined that the satins on the wall are indeed Thermal Tracking.

The house has been vacant for some time, I'd say at least 6 months. Any opinions on what i'm seeing here?

[Reader provided link to online photographs of the home in question]

Reply: yes. These photos include examples of thermal tracking stains, suggest possible stain causes, and also include a photo of shadows that are probably not thermal tracking

I went back to your original link and saw that there were additional photos. Certainly there are thermal tracking stains on the house interior walls in several of the photos.

The black stains along a light-yellow interior wall and found above the heating baseboard are classic examples of thermal tracking: soot and indoor air particles deposited by air movement across the wall surface.

But a closer look at the photos you submitted tell us more useful information that explains the patterns of thermal tracking found in this home as well as some of the possible sources of soot and debris on the walls.

Watch out: keep in mind that while we list some opinions based on the photos, a professional inspection of the building should permit a more accurate description of the causes of these interior stains and should include addressing potential IAQ and heating system safety questions that should be considered when evaluating in door stains.

Some possible sources of the dark particles that form these stains, besides the usual components of house dust, are suggested by two more of your photographs:

Wall & ceiling stains suggested caused by fireplace (C) InspectApedia.com reader


Dark stains on kitchen ceiling may be from insulation defects, drafts, heat loss - plus a soot source in the kitchen (C) InspectApedia.com - reader photos

Parallel dark stains on walls that are just shadows (C) InspectApedia.com reader photo

 

Vertical black stripe stains on walls are most likely thermal tracking or ghosting (C) InspectApedia On 2018-04-06 by (mod) - thermal tracking stains after roof damage & high winds

I can think of some reasons that such lines might appear in a short time and very unusual conditions including the ones that you described.

Please use the picture frame icon next to the comment button and attach photos, one for comment, to let me take a look at your situation.

On 2018-04-06 by Megan

We recently had a nor’easter with extremely high winds. The winds tore a good portion of shingles off our roof and sucked all the attic access doors into the attic. We noticed vertical lines from ceiling to floor on the interior of every external wall after the storm.

All the drywall nails are also dark and the majority are now popped. I should maybe mention it’s a large house with a pellet stove in the basement which was put out by the winds during the storm. We also have a heat pump with oil back up and a gas fireplace.

I read these lines usually appear overtime but they were not there prior to the storm. These lines look identical to pictures posted of thermal tracking. Is this possible?

On 2018-04-03 by (mod) -

Gwendolyn you can if you like use the picture frame icon next to the Comment button to post one photo per comment - pending moderator approval they'll appear.

On 2018-04-02 by Gwendolyn A. Young

I live in a newly developed senior citizen apartment building. It has four floors and a basement. There is a access door panel in the hall wall and one in the ceiling. The one on the wall near the floor when opened has a lot of debris in the cavity. There is a piece of equipment that I would like identified, and its purpose.

Is it part of a ventilation system or the HVAC system? There is always air moving inside there. I also hear movement inside and sounds of water dripping. Some of the wood looks to have white growth on it and loots rotten.

The ceiling access door panel duct looks to have a tear in it and an unsealed opening going through the joist. Is there something messing here to seal the opening?

Thank you in advance for any information you can give. I do have photos of both areas.

On 2018-02-20 by (mod) - thermal tracking in our rental apartment due to probable candle burning

Thermal tracking bridging stains traced to burning candles (C) InspectApedia.com EmilyThank you Emily

That's a classic photo that will help other readers recognize thermal tracking patterns.

In this stained ceiling the wide dark areas suggest areas of extra heat loss, perhaps because of a paucity of insulation.

Click to enlarge the image and you can also see dark spots that mark drywall screws or nails in the ceiling joists.

On 2018-02-20 by Emily -

Example of thermal tracking in our rental apartment due to probable candle burning in the bedroom. Stud nail pattern visible.

On 2017-12-11 by Cindy D

We are interested in purchasing a house in the Phoenix area, but see significant thermal tracking on the ceiling, especially under what appears to be the HVAC ducts

. Is that normal due to cool air flowing through the ducts? What questions should we be asking

On 2017-10-28 by Worried employee

Work in an enclosed kitchen lab with 5 home ovens running 5 hours a day testing food products.

There is black soot streaking marks on anything of plastic materials spoon forks plastic bags etc and the ceiling titles are black where air returns are located.

Air purifier after 2 months totally black filers. Is this black material dangerous?

On 2017-05-04 by (mod) - brown stain forming on the wall behind our tv.

If your TV produces heat as certainly many do, that may be causing a convection current and dust deposition.

Also look once more with care outside for fine points or openings in the brick that might admit water. You might also try borrowing a moisture meter to survey the wall from the inside.

On 2017-05-04 by Steven Wright

There has been a brown stain forming on the wall behind our tv. It does feel cold to the touch. On the outside of that wall is brick which I don't know would cause anything but it could be relevant.

On 2017-02-26 by (mod) - at night their is a dark line on the ceiling

I can't guess, Kathy. Perhaps only at night - has to do with the lighting properties in the room?

On 2017-02-26 by KATHY WARD

I do not have a leak in the kitchen ceiling but at night their is a dark line on the ceiling that you see only at night is this thermal tracking

On 2017-02-25 by (mod) - yellowish stains on one of my bedroom ceiling

More likely leak stains.

On 2017-02-24 by Terry

I have yellowish stains on one of my bedroom ceiling, It is not streak lines some are circular in different areas on the ceiling. Would this be Thermal tracking?

On 2016-12-22 by (mod) -

Trudy,

Naturally we can't know by e-text just what's in your air or on the carpeting. I'd like to see photos of the carpet as well as photos of the areas where the color has changed.

It certainly sounds as if something (it could be moisture, acidic moisture, or something else in the air) causing the symptom you describe.

Do you have neighbors who are on the same HVAC system and whose carpets are affected? That might be diagnostic.

You'll want to

- document the conditions

- hire an expert building inspector, home inspector, environmental test inspector or HVAC system expert to make a visual examination, if appropriate collect a few test samples of the HVAC air supply and the carpet surface, and thus report in writing on what they found, cause and cure.

Keep us posted; what you learn will help others.

On 2016-12-22 by trudy - pink carpet stains in Chicago condo

I live on the 34 th floor of my condo bldg in Chicago.

The carpet below the HVAC vents has turned the blue to pink. It is most noticeable on the top floors and decreases as you go down to the 29 th floor.

The carpet supplier has denied any problem with the materials of the carpet, which leads me to believe the air flow hitting the carpet only in front of the vents has something to do with the problem.

I am very concerned I am breathing in dangerous air.

Please advise me what to ask the condo board to do. Thank you

On 2016-11-27 by (mod) - Thermal bridges at metal studs

Thanks for the remark and question, Ron.

Indeed metal studs are more conductive than wood, mass for mass.

And I agree with your surmise that the woodstove was probably a source of extra doses of soot that combined with cooler areas of metal studs to promote the thermal tracking you observed.

It is possible that there are other factors at work - that we can't see without taking a peek into the ceiling cavity. For example poor insulation or a surprising volume and rate of air moving through the ceiling could be adding to the problems in this home.

Watch out: gaps around the door of a woodstove mean that the occupants do not have the normal woodstove control over draft. The result could be a runaway woodstove and a house fire. I would be sure to point this hazard out.

Research on thermal conductivity effects of metal wall studs includes these interesting articles - Thermal Bridges

On 2016-11-27 by Ron - ghosting along stud lines and at nail heads

Recently inspected a 2 story Colorado mountain home with exteme ghosting along stud lines and at nail heads in upper bedroom and hall walls. Using my thermal imager and upon further analysis It appeared that studs were metal and walls had minimal insulation.

Wood burning freestanding cast iron stove (located in mail level of home) had gaps in the door seal and gaps around flue connection with heavy soot build up on adjacent walls. ( Stove was used regularly to suppliment forced air propane heat system

My question...has anyone found instances where metal studs on an exterior wall act as an exteme heat sink attacting soot/dust/smoke.

On 2016-08-26 by Val B - 3 or 4 white spots with a wet or greasy-like looking area around them on my ceiling

I have 3 or 4 white spots with a wet or greasy-like looking area around them on my ceiling. I have an attic that I rarely go into. I don't think my roof is leaking because I believe the spots would be brownish in color. What could these spots be?

Question: thermal tracking on garage ceiling caused by car exhaust?

(Oct 2, 2014) Sam said:

Wow, what a great resource, thank you so much for all the info! Question: Garage ceiling has this tracking at all the drywall seams. I can see that the ceiling was insulated. Dark spots exactly correspond with the 12" joint compound finishing knife.

Could it be that the compound was simply not sealed properly when it was painted? Also, could exhaust from cars cause this-it's nowhere else in the house.

Thanks, I love this site!

Reply:

Sam

I don't think so. More likely the joints are over studs, pipes, or cooler surfaces that pick up a bit more moisture and thus particle deposits thus stains.

Yes car exhaust could be a particle source, also a moisture source. And if the car is burning oil and is left running for some time in the garage these effects would be increased.

Watch out: for potentially fatal carbon monoxide hazards if car exhaust can enter the home or accumulate in the garage.

Question: black graphite-like stains on vinyl and plastic windows, blinds, toys, bottles, all over our apartment

(June 20, 2016) Mike said:

We have black stains that look like graphite smeared. they appear only on vinyl and plastic, vinyl windows, window blinds, childrens plastic toys, plastic bottles of cleaner, etc. but all over the apartment? There is some on the thermal shadows that you picture here as well.

Could they be floating a dust around the apartment? It does not seem to be mold, it does not grow but only smears and stains and it only appears on plastic or vinyl. What could this stuff be, and is it dangerous?

Reply:

Could be dust on damp surfaces but finding those on toys suggests that you ought to look for an unusual soot source. Or look for something that adheres more noticeably on plastic surfaces but actually is elsewhere too.

A puffback at an oil burner or soot from a gas burner heating appliance are unsafe and need expert and prompt repair.

Question: soot material on plastic stuff in a test lab, breathing problems

(Aug 6, 2016) EHeid said:

Work in a testing lab with 5 home ovens on about 4 -5 hours a day. plastic forks knifes spoons plastic paper protectors, computer screen, plastic towel dispenser, plastic bags, baggies, plastic weight boats all have a black soot material on them. I am having breathing problems/issues.

What is this material? Where do I get this tested?

Reply:

EH
As you probably understand, we cannot know what comprises a black deposit by simply a text question.

You can certainly suspect that some soot or oxidized material is being produced by your test ovens but without a thoughtful investigation you still can't rule out other sources of dust and deposits. Check first that any gas fired heating equipment is working properly as soot from such appliances can risk fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Be sure that your facility has working and properly-installed CO and smoke detectors.

You can use the page top EXPERTS DIRECTORIES to find qualified expert investigators as well as testing laboratories, or you can simply search for ENVIRONMENTAL TEST LABS.

You should discuss your breathing concerns with your doctor and you might ask if the respiratory concerns are likely to have an environmental cause or aggravator, and if so, what sorts of causes ought to be included in any test plan for places where you spend the most time at home or work or both.


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