# Mystery Black Substance: Not Mold, need help ! **URL:** \ **Category:** General Inspection Discussion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608 "2018-04-25T17:05:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![malston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@malston](https://forum.nachi.org/u/malston)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 5:05pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/1 "2018-04-25T17:05:05Z")
Not sure this is the right forum, but here goes! ![IMG_0803 2.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/e/4/e4a64cfe74d19a77ec279926f85c7d52eee0dd07.jpeg) ![IMG_0800.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/1/6/16d24edf3519209567e32a3024b26df1bfc6debc.jpeg) ![IMG_0802.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/e/a/ea83b46ad0f4f24269abbf3c03b366886660a17f.jpeg) I have several more pictures There is a black substance coming out of the following areas: Inside the dishwasher from the outlet sockets from the smoke detectors out of havc vents There is black substance that boarders all the 2 X 4 studs and nail heads it also on the carpet in various areas The HVAC filter turns black over a two week period. Description: Built in 2014, homeowners bought it in 2016 in the South Georgia area. It is in a residential neighborhood and is not close to any industry or dirt roads. Homeowners say they haven’t used the fireplace scene they moved in in 2016, they do not use candles. Mold Test and HVAC have been evaulated with no issues. Things to consider: Spray Foam Insulation in Attic if anyone has seen this before please let me know! ---
**Author:** ![rcooke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rcooke/32/57038_2.png) [@rcooke](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rcooke)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/2 "2018-04-25T17:30:00Z")
Have seen it frequently . Its called ghosting . [ghosting in the house - Google Search](https://www.google.ca/search?ei=hLrgWrS2LJ2vjwS8vbq4CQ&q=ghosting+in+the+house&oq=ghosting+in+the+house&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30k1.15276.19896.0.22737.13.13.0.0.0.0.166.1862.0j13.13.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.13.1846...0j0i67k1.0.NY1Ow0Mtw4w) ---
**Author:** ![mtimpani](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mtimpani/32/58543_2.png) [@mtimpani](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mtimpani)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/3 "2018-04-26T01:48:29Z")
but the dishwasher? ---
**Author:** ![rcooke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rcooke/32/57038_2.png) [@rcooke](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rcooke)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/4 "2018-04-26T01:54:11Z")
> [@mtimpani](#): > > but the dishwasher? [Home Energy Magazine - Indoor Air Quality :: Black Stains in Houses: Soot, Dust, or Ghosts?](http://www.homeenergy.org/show/article/id/1360) ---
**Author:** ![wwilson3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wwilson3/32/58197_2.png) [@wwilson3](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wwilson3)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:50am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/5 "2018-04-26T11:50:19Z")
Any history on the home having a fire ? perhaps trapped soot in the walls . ---
**Author:** ![abellanca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@abellanca](https://forum.nachi.org/u/abellanca)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/6 "2018-05-02T20:56:20Z")
To expand on Wayne’s idea it’s possible the spray foam could be concealing fire damage or charing in the Attic. ---
**Author:** ![dcossar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/dcossar/32/1880_2.png) [@dcossar](https://forum.nachi.org/u/dcossar)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/7 "2018-05-02T21:06:20Z")
Chinese drywall? ---
**Author:** ![blee2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@blee2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/blee2)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/8 "2018-06-03T03:04:47Z")
That’s thermal bridging from outside which makes that area a little colder and it will condense water vapor which collects dust, ash and debris. ---
**Author:** ![jjonas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjonas/32/301755_2.png) [@jjonas](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjonas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/9 "2018-06-03T20:39:09Z")
Again… inside the dishwasher??? Recommend: Industrial Hygenist for consultation and advise course of action. Note: Although IH’s are not typical for Residential situations, they are often consulted for difficult to determine situations. Based on the information thus provided so far, I deem this to be one of those situations. [IH Defined | American Board of Industrial Hygiene](http://www.abih.org/content/ih-defined) ---
**Author:** ![mcholewa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mcholewa/32/179116_2.png) [@mcholewa](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mcholewa)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/10 "2018-06-04T22:47:35Z")
Lack of insulation and lots of candles being burnt (or a wood stove/fireplace). I get the black soot marks over my baseboard heaters whenever they’re on and my wife burns candles. Huge pain in the \*\*\* to get off the walls. ---
**Author:** ![wogletree](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wogletree/32/58250_2.png) [@wogletree](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wogletree)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/11 "2018-06-04T22:54:03Z")
The walls - ghosting. Brett offers a very good condensed explanation (see what I did there?). The dishwasher. Weird. Never seen it. Mildew (which is just another word for mold, so I am told)? ---
**Author:** ![mcholewa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mcholewa/32/179116_2.png) [@mcholewa](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mcholewa)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/12 "2018-06-05T21:41:45Z")
> [@wogletree](#): > > The walls - ghosting. Brett offers a very good condensed explanation (see what I did there?). > > The dishwasher. Weird. Never seen it. Mildew (which is just another word for mold, so I am told)? The owners may leave the dishwasher open, which would let the soot condense on/in it… There’s no telling. ---
**Author:** ![eschmidt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/eschmidt/32/89375_2.png) [@eschmidt](https://forum.nachi.org/u/eschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:14pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/13 "2018-06-06T13:14:13Z")
Four year old house? It looks more like a hundred. There is something very peculiar going on there, not ordinary ghosting. ---
**Author:** ![asinger](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/asinger/32/100152_2.png) [@asinger](https://forum.nachi.org/u/asinger)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/14 "2018-06-06T13:19:24Z")
Only time Ive seen anything that bad was a bad heating system running on oil sooted the whole house out. ---
**Author:** ![jjonas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjonas/32/301755_2.png) [@jjonas](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjonas)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/15 "2018-06-06T13:23:35Z")
[https://www.nachi.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=201376&d=1524674675](https://www.nachi.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=201376&d=1524674675) ---
**Author:** ![jmckee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jmckee/32/211009_2.png) [@jmckee](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jmckee)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/16 "2018-06-06T15:54:57Z")
did You notice the dishwasher Jeff ? ---
**Author:** ![jjonas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jjonas/32/301755_2.png) [@jjonas](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jjonas)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/17 "2018-06-06T18:57:59Z")
> [@jmckee](#): > > did You notice the dishwasher Jeff ? Are you inferring I’m racist due to all the black in there? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![wogletree](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wogletree/32/58250_2.png) [@wogletree](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wogletree)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/mystery-black-substance-not-mold-need-help/123608/18 "2018-06-06T19:11:00Z")
> [@mcholewa](#): > > The owners may leave the dishwasher open, which would let the soot condense on/in it… There’s no telling. Maybe, but who does that with any regularity?