Cleaning Sooty Walls

Soot upon walls will indicate an issue somewhere within your home, and you oftentimes do not detect soot until it has become a big issue. Prior to addressing cleanup, let us discuss the cause:

Wood Stove or Fireplace

If your stove or fireplace includes a vented unit, the issue is with the venting system, and not your appliance, venting elements, chimney liner, connector pipe, or chimney design. Get the piece cleaned up; then serviced, and have your chimney inspected and cleaned.

Water Heaters and Furnaces

A correctly maintained and installed furnace attached to well-designed chimneys and venting systems ought to display no signals of soot. If some soot is viewed close to your furnace, get it tuned and cleaned for maximum performance, then get your venting system and chimney inspected. Also, consider the necessities of water heaters, particularly if a water heater shares a furnace flue.

Be alert to the fact that soot that’s caused by a burning fuel (coal, wood, gas, oil) will indicate an additional potential safety and health threat of exposure with CO (carbon monoxide). You see, soot includes carbon. Where carbon stains are present, carbon monoxide also has been present. Exposure to carbon monoxide could lead to symptoms similar to having the flu. Some exposure to long-run low concentrations or high concentrations could cause long-term health degeneration and may result in a fatality.

Candles

Many candle makers advise keeping wicks cut to ¼-inch, as it’ll promote a more balanced burning time, resulting within less soot. Additionally, keep a candle away from a draft which visibly affects a flame. Avoid blowing out candles as it’ll produce smoke and soot. Instead, put out the flame using candle snuffers or you can suffocate fires by placing the top upon jar candles.

Cleanup

Various consumer-grade cleaners are obtainable claiming to clean up soot stains. They are worth a try, yet commercial cleaning agents and an expert cleaning staff might be needed in serious cases.