RE: Strange black powder or soot problem
(11-12-2012, 08:56 PM)2Tim215 Wrote: Sorry you had to endure this issue but the good news is that you just gave me the evidence I need to order nothing but the hypoallergenic filters! That was an impressive difference to say the least. Glad you figured it out now, I'm sure tonight you will sleep better!
I was thinking the same thing. Just ordered more hypoallergenic ones myself. There was a definite difference between the two. The hypoallergenic one was under the regular one, meaning the regular filter let all of that through.
Better sleep tonight, definitely!
RE: Strange black powder or soot problem
This EXACT thing happened to me recently! I'm a bit freaked out by it. This thread is very old. If you're still here and want to talk about it, let me know.
RE: Strange black powder or soot problem
Candle wax contains paraffin. This is the 'fuel' that produces the flame and, when it is burning, you are essentially burning paraffin while the wax melts and flows down into the candle holder. On top of this, the wick material is combusted.
So, whenever a candle is burned, soot from both the burnt paraffin and the wick is produced and distributed into the room by virtue of heated air sweeping up the sides of the candle and being 'ejected', like a low-power jet engine.
You only have to hold a white card a few inches above a lit candle to see how much soot is produced, and it can be a lot. Not healthy! Incense sticks are similarly-unhealthy polluters, and have been linked to respiratory disease and cancer.