Painting - Dirty Walls
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rlrcstrs
02-22-03, 11:29 PM
My family room was repainted four and a half years ago and I thought the shading I had begun to see in the corners was shadows but it is dirt!
One wall in particular is much dirtier than the others and I don't know why. My family room is 16 x 23 and one of the long sides faces the patio which faces a main road. On this wall there is a set of French doors leading to the patio, then a fireplace with a gas fire, and then three vertical windows. That pretty much takes up that entire wall - and that's the wall that is dirtier than the rest. The horizontal blinds also are dirty.
The dirt is also leading up on the ceiling about a third of the way in.
I can only think of three things that might cause this - but which one.
1 - Two years ago my gas fireplace burned off the on/off switch and so the fire was on for two months and I had to have the gas company turn off the gas.
2 - Last winter I burned a lot of oil lamps (before I learned they left residue in the air)
3 - I have and still do burn quite a few candles in the hearth. When I blow them out there is a lot of smoke.
Which of the three is the culprit - or is it that I need to get my air vents cleaned?
One wall in particular is much dirtier than the others and I don't know why. My family room is 16 x 23 and one of the long sides faces the patio which faces a main road. On this wall there is a set of French doors leading to the patio, then a fireplace with a gas fire, and then three vertical windows. That pretty much takes up that entire wall - and that's the wall that is dirtier than the rest. The horizontal blinds also are dirty.
The dirt is also leading up on the ceiling about a third of the way in.
I can only think of three things that might cause this - but which one.
1 - Two years ago my gas fireplace burned off the on/off switch and so the fire was on for two months and I had to have the gas company turn off the gas.
2 - Last winter I burned a lot of oil lamps (before I learned they left residue in the air)
3 - I have and still do burn quite a few candles in the hearth. When I blow them out there is a lot of smoke.
Which of the three is the culprit - or is it that I need to get my air vents cleaned?
chfite
02-23-03, 07:24 PM
The oil lamps and the candles are prime suspects, with the oil lamps in first place. Guttering flames of these sorts will leave residue floating in the air. Natural gas burns cleanly in a properly adjusted burner, so it probably has nothing to do with it.
Be sure your HVAC filters are clean. It seems unlikely that cleaning your ductwork would accomplish any useful end.
The exterior wall is probably a bit cooler than the others causing the residue to condense there moreso than others.
Be sure your HVAC filters are clean. It seems unlikely that cleaning your ductwork would accomplish any useful end.
The exterior wall is probably a bit cooler than the others causing the residue to condense there moreso than others.
rlrcstrs
02-23-03, 08:14 PM
Originally posted by chfite
The oil lamps and the candles are prime suspects, with the oil lamps in first place. Guttering flames of these sorts will leave residue floating in the air. Natural gas burns cleanly in a properly adjusted burner, so it probably has nothing to do with it.
Be sure your HVAC filters are clean. It seems unlikely that cleaning your ductwork would accomplish any useful end.
The exterior wall is probably a bit cooler than the others causing the residue to condense there moreso than others.
Yes, the exterior wall is much cooler than the others. The windows are also drafty.
I am not too good at changing the HVAC filter on time and I do have pets. I probably change it once every three months.
As for the candles and oil lamps, out they go!
The oil lamps and the candles are prime suspects, with the oil lamps in first place. Guttering flames of these sorts will leave residue floating in the air. Natural gas burns cleanly in a properly adjusted burner, so it probably has nothing to do with it.
Be sure your HVAC filters are clean. It seems unlikely that cleaning your ductwork would accomplish any useful end.
The exterior wall is probably a bit cooler than the others causing the residue to condense there moreso than others.
Yes, the exterior wall is much cooler than the others. The windows are also drafty.
I am not too good at changing the HVAC filter on time and I do have pets. I probably change it once every three months.
As for the candles and oil lamps, out they go!
chfite
02-23-03, 08:53 PM
They make a 3 month filter from filtrete.
rlrcstrs
02-23-03, 08:59 PM
Originally posted by chfite
They make a 3 month filter from filtrete.
Is Filtrate made by 3M? I think that is the one I bought last time. It cost about $12. I also have bad allergies so I thought it was worth the extra cost.
Come to think of it, it is almost the end of Feb. and I think the last time I changed it was October. I must do it this week.
Does that air filter REALLY have a big impact on dirt and the quality of air?
I'd like to get a sort of built-in one put on the furnace so I only do it once a year but I don't know what that would cost.
They make a 3 month filter from filtrete.
Is Filtrate made by 3M? I think that is the one I bought last time. It cost about $12. I also have bad allergies so I thought it was worth the extra cost.
Come to think of it, it is almost the end of Feb. and I think the last time I changed it was October. I must do it this week.
Does that air filter REALLY have a big impact on dirt and the quality of air?
I'd like to get a sort of built-in one put on the furnace so I only do it once a year but I don't know what that would cost.