Picture

​We often see new marks or discoloration on the walls of our homes.  While this could be a sign that moisture is a problem in the house or that mold is starting to form, it is not always something so serious.  It might just be something called ghosting.  Let’s look at where we might see this and why.
 
Ghosting is discoloration that forms in areas of the home, they are not just black but also grey and even yellow looking.  Where might we see ghosting around the house? We would commonly see these shadowy markings in the kitchen behind the stove, surrounding the fireplace just outside of the firebox, in the bathroom or even next to a vent or heater in the house.  You might also find this marking start to appear on the ceiling or on walls in the form of straight lines.
 
Why does ghosting happen in the house?  There are a variety of reasons and causes for this.  In every house minute particles form from multiple sources, which for some reason begin to adhere to certain parts of the house.  For example, In the kitchen, if there is not sufficient ventilation, grease particles will start to stick to the wall behind the stove.  Soot marks may start to develop around the fireplace because the smoke is not being adequately drawn out of the chimney.  Marking can also form around a baseboard heater because the heater is drawing dirt particles from the floor which then start sticking to the wall.  Uneven insulation could also be a reason you see marks on the ceiling or walls.
It’s important to check that any discoloration is not due to mold etc. but also realize that it could just be ghosting.