Black on Walls

Mark Berry

This apartment was painted in Fall 2003. Previous tenant burnt candles, but the new tenant says he has not burnt candles since he moved in. So the walls are black, especially above electric heaters. The new tenant has not burnt candles in 7 months. There are six units in the apartment building and this is the only one that is black. It is on the second floor.

DanHolohan

Look in

Hot Tech Topics under "Ghosting."

Constantin

Hmmmm

When they painted the apartment, did they also clean the coils in the baseboard? The pattern looks like something evaporating from the baseboard and then condensing on the wall, with preference given to colder areas.

Weezbo

paint dont cover everything:)

Bud_14

I have had a call two years ago with this same problem and after being told I was the third person they called in, I decide not to get involved. I was told that a possibility of less expensive carpeting with rubber backing breaks down and with the wear and travel kicks this up..not noticiable but gets into the air current...many of these apartmant buildings save on using less expensive products and this may be the result. I did do a serach on this and found the same information, it is not an isolated problem. The base board was electric and not water. Also I remember that it was only in a coulpe of the units this person owned...she wouldn't elaborate on if the units had tennets that paced back and forth..how long were the other units occupide which may all have an effect on how fast carpeting breaks down

I'm glad I stayed out of that one...

Bud

Jim Davis

Simple test

When the tenant wipes the walls does it smear or come right off. If it comes off fairly easily it is most likely from dirt infiltrating from under the walls and becoming discolored from the electric baseboard. If it smears it is most likely chemicals being released from the paint or new carpeting and then blackened. Have seen this with hot water baseboard also, if fact just got a call today. No candles were present and the "Ghosting" article talks about candles as the major cause. If it is dirt caulk the walls under the baseboard. If it is soot(smears) the chemicals need to be destroyed.

Dale

temp difference

I wonder if the surface wall temp under that window is lower than in the other apts. Facing the prevailing wind in the winter? Is this tenant one of those people who like to keep a window open? I would caulk the outside of that window and pull up the trim on the inside and inject some expandable foam to lower the delta T. Also that carpet looks pretty tight against the bottom of the elect baseboard, does it look that tight in the other apts? Perhaps the carpeting is causing a different airflow.

Nron_9

dirty under the window

does the window sill leak is this a mold from inside the wall comeing through the wall , get a probe and do a test for moisture it might help