We purchased a brand new house in 1998, and we are finding black powered settling around all the walls. We had the ducts professionally cleaned as well as the carpets 6 months ago. The stains are quickly returning on all walls and vents. Can you help? Is there a problem with the gas furnace? I have the builder in to do a 1 year inspection and I would like to provide some input!
Answer:
This is something that has a more to do with the seal of the bottom plate of the framed wall than anything else. Removing carpets and baseboards and introducing a bead of a good caulking bead is about the only way you'll do away with the blackening problem. Use a caulking compound that remains quite elastic for many years.
