A renter noticed black staining above a boiler and turned to Reddit to find out whether they should worry about what was coming out of it.
Here's what to know
According to a post shared on Reddit, the apartment's hot water setup relied on a "very old Boilermate system" that kept it at 77 degrees Fahrenheit "all year, even with no heating on."
The renter said they also noticed that "the ceiling above our hot water boiler is marked with dark soot/smoke marks."
"My wife is expecting, and I have a headache," they wrote. "So I'm panicking. This is not normal, right?"
Many commenters said it was nothing to worry about, with one person explaining it's "just dust carried in convection currents and deposited onto the wall and ceiling."
However, many urged the original poster to take some precautions just in case.
"I reckon it's dust too," one person wrote, adding, "Always good to have a smoke/carbon monoxide detector installed too."
More background
Soot or dark residue above a gas appliance can point to poor ventilation, dust buildup, or a more serious malfunction.
Save $10,000 on solar panels without even sharing your phone number Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area. To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner. Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn't that worth an email or two? |
Renters are especially vulnerable when heating and hot water systems are old. In many cases, tenants cannot approve major replacements themselves, even when the equipment is uncomfortable, expensive, or concerning.
What can be done?
When a gas appliance shows black marks or seems to operate abnormally, the first step is to get qualified help. For renters, that usually means reporting the issue to the landlord or property manager immediately, asking about inspection records, and confirming that a working carbon monoxide detector is installed.
If housing rules are getting in the way of commonsense upgrades or other money-saving changes, it may help to review tenancy agreements or HOA bylaws before having conversations with landlords or building managers.
For homeowners who do have the option to replace older equipment, Cala offers smart heat pump water heaters designed for more efficient hot water use. Its customizable smart heat pump water heaters help homeowners decrease their energy bills by heating water exactly when needed. That means less wasted energy compared to older systems that keep cycling and heating unnecessarily.
Smarter systems also give households more control over comfort and cost. For people planning a long-term upgrade, Cala is one example of how modern water heating can be cleaner, more efficient, and less stressful.
Where can I learn more?
Possible combustion problems, indoor air concerns, and landlords who may not act quickly on a safety complaint can increase tenant stress.
• A tenant said a landlord answered a leaking carbon monoxide fireplace with a baffling replacement.
• A renter warned that a super dangerous gas leak from a stove was being dismissed.
• A renter kept having asthma symptoms after finding concerning wildfire smoke mitigation efforts from a landlord.
Renters should treat unusual soot, odors, and headaches as urgent concerns, not minor annoyances. Safe, efficient equipment depends on landlords taking complaints seriously.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
