Candle Soot Can Cause Poor Indoor Air Quality
Candle burning has always been a pastime in the World to create a sense of harmony or ambiance
through scent and tactile sight. The use of candles has a longhistory going back thousands of
years. If you visit an old Cathedral in Europe or South America, you will see the signs of soot staining on the
walls and ceilings. The first Indoor Air Quality Program was instituted by King Charles I of England in the 1600's.
It stated that no home could be built with a Ghosting and Black Staining
Soot is a form of black carbon due to the incomplete burning of the candle. These particles can remain in the air for hours after burning candles before settling down on horizontal surfaces. It can contaminate a clean Air Conditioning system by depositing this carbon and particles of unburned wax on the coils, filter and ductwork. It can also be mistaken for mold growth in coils and ductwork. From personal experience, we have seen some units that cannot be cleaned due to this depositing of soot on the coils. One unit and ductwork had to be removed and replaced due to candle burning. Burning candles can cost the average homeowner thousands of dollars if you are not careful. It will damage property and can become a heath concern. See:Candles-American Lung Association
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ceiling
height of less than 10 feet and windows had to be higher than they were wide. Candle Sooting was a problem
then as well as now. That is one of the reasons that the old buildings had high ceilings to prevent an Indoor
Air Quality problem. They knew then what we are slowing learning about now in the 21st Century.
Ghosting or black staining on the interior of houses and buildings is becoming a new source of Indoor Air Quality
problem. Candles, when burnt, release soot which can outline furniture, carpets under closed doors, stain walls,
fabrics and event damage some types of artwork..
We are not advocating not having a candle lit dinner for two with your sweetheart. What we
are saying is use caution and not burn them all the time. Use due care to prevent problems in
future.
