Baseboard heater Causes Dirty Wall?

[Lee]

There is an area of dark gray dirt film on the wall over an 8' electric baseboard heater in my dining room. Was this caused by the heating unit? How? It doesn't burn carbon.

Thanks,

Lee Ireland

[hallerb]

air flow over this area causes it happens to steam radiators too, dont worry about it just clean occasionally

[Edwin Pawlowski]

It does no cause dirt, it takes the dirt that already exists and deposits it on the wall. Baseboard heaters get hot, heat the surrounding air, the air rises and carries with it any dist and dirt in the air as it draws the cooler air from under it.

Vacuum and dust more often and consider an air cleaner if it is very bad.

[Joseph Meehan]

It only causes it to show up there. It does not make it, it only works with what is already in the air of your home.

The warmth causes air to rise and move up the wall. Since there is dust in the air some of it gets deposited on the wall. Otherwise it likely would have ended up on your floor. The only way to prevent it is to get your air super clean and that is a lot harder than you might think.

BTW the same thing will happen where cold air flows down a wall.

I would guess that some slight static builds up between the air and the wall that causes some of the dirt to be attracted to the wall as it is in an electrostatic air cleaner, but less effectively.

[ransley]

When was it painted last, as all said, it may be you.

[Phisherman]

The change in air movement will cause deposit of air particles. 409 spray and a damp sponge should remove it.