Possible damage caused by candles
Watch this postI have developed staining to my ceiling and know it is affecting my walls and even my fridge and microwave has been discoloured internally together with a new Coffee Maker bought for me as a Christmas present. The black covering will not come off. I live in a one bed supervised Housing bungalow and have been here just under 6 months since my wife left me. The staining started about three months ago just on the ceiling and repairers originally thought it was damp. After a meeting with them on Thursday this week they one suggested my nebuliser and two the burning of candles. I occasionally burn only Yankee candles as I prefer these but cannot afford them being disabled and a small pension having to stop working in 2011 through increased ill health. I know Yankee candles can smoke if the wick is too long and I have ensured that this has never happened by cutting the wick in accordance with the instructions given. The damage has affected every room, that is the Kitchen and Living Room which are combined, Wet Room, Bedroom and small Hallway leading from the front door. The Housing Association Repairs are now saying it is my responsibility. I have asked them to carry out sampling but I will have to pay £750.00 plus VAT. I was hoping that someone may have come across this situation and help me in showing the Housing Association as to if this is the case. May I say that I have only burnt a candle in the combined Kitchen and Living Room. I hope someone can help as it is affecting my breathing and enhancing other conditions.
Log in to comment
You need to be logged in to interact with Silversurfers. Please use the button below if you already have an account.
LoginNot a member?
You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!
JoinCommunity Terms & Conditions
Content standards
These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.
You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.
Contributions must:
be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.
Contributions must not:
contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.
Nurturing a safe environment
Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.
We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!
Get help from your local CAB or local authority environmental health department. Tell them your landlord is refusing to investigate and/or fix the issue.
Black mould can have severe health implications - call in all the help you can think of to get it sorted out.
Best wishes.
Even though you may only be burning one at a time they will cause a lot of carbon mist. This has got to settle somewhere and if your flat is small then it will be noticeable and cause the problems you describe.
I think your housing association are pulling a fast one! There is NO way candles can make the ceiling go black! I have LOADS of CANDLES burning ALL year round - especially Friday evenings (Jewish!) I have been in this house for 19 years & still no damage to any ceilings! I often burn a small candle (Tea light) in my bedroom as I find the Lavender helps me drift off to sleep faster!
It really DOES sound like BLACK MOULD! That WOULD Make you have breathing problems, & it is up to the housing association to resolve it. If you don't have enough ventilation, or heat to "dry" up the dust in your rooms then mould appears and gradually spreads. It's a nightmare to get rid of, & it means them getting specialists in to strip the walls & ceilings back, apply a special compound, then repaint - which is why they are saying you will have to pay £750:00+VAT!
As you are disabled you may find that you are also VAT exempt from lots of things.
1. No Asthma medication will cause blackness on ceilings
2. unless you are burning 6foot candles they are not going to cause blackness either
3. If the rooms are not dry, are cold & damp - Then THAT is the problem.
Go to them, tell them you have asked around, Don't let them bully you!
All the very best
Of course this is a guess but it sounds more like mold. It doesn't take long for mold to grow and can certainly take over in 6 months. Black mold can be a serious health hazard especially with someone with compromised lungs. Here in North America there is all kinds of info and warnings about the dangers of black mold which has been blamed for some untimely deaths. Personally I don't think deaths caused by black mold is a common thing so I wouldn't worry overly about it.. If your place has a lot of moisture in it you may well have a mold problem. A dehumidifier can help to remove a great deal of the moisture. The mold that is present will have to be removed usually by professionals and all your belongings will have to be carefully washed as mold spores can stay on any surface.
I could be wrong and I hope I am but it is my best guess and or opinion. good luck hope this helps.