Spotlights leaving black marks on ceiling

[Arbu]

Is there a way to prevent ceiling spotlights from causing black marks to appear above them on the ceiling? I can't even understand why they should make these marks - it looks like soot - does it come from the lightbulbs themselves or is it the heat from the lightbulbs on the fitting causing this?

 

[RF Lighting]

It is caused by dust, which could possibly be soot, or dust from the slates on your roof, and a draught blowing through the gap where the downlighter doesnt quite fit tight to the ceiling.

You could try using a small amount of sealant around the fitting, but don't use too much as the fitting may need to be removed if a transformer etc were to fail, and too much sealer would cause damage to the decorations when trying to remove the fittings.

 

[Arbu]

Sorry, perhaps I should have been clearer. These aren't recessed lights, but spotlights suspended from a strip. So there's a gap of 10cm or so between the top of the light and the ceiling.

 

[JohnD]

do people smoke in your house?

 

[breezer]

actually it happens quite often regardless if anyone smokes or not, but i have no idea why

 

[Arbu]

do people smoke in your house?

No, not at all. The sooty marks are also on the part of the light fittings above the bulbs and are more intense there, but I don't mind that so much.

I have two sets of spotlights. On one (in the sitting room) the problem occurs. On the other (in a bedroom) there is no problem. I guess it must be something to do with the fittings.

 

[plugwash]

has anyone smoked there in the past and it been painted over, if so then over the years it tends to leach back through.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I'm not going to imply that that your house is dirty, or anything; but any fine dust, particles (especially from vehicles) will float around in the air and get to your hot lamps. Hot air rises and the (now hot) dust will zoom upwards and stick on the ceiling.

Time to get out the Flash (or sugar soap)!

 

[Arbu]

has anyone smoked there in the past and it been painted over, if so then over the years it tends to leach back through.

The ceiling is almost twelve feet high. The marks occur just above each of the spotlights, are round and about 5cm across. Unless someone smoked in room in the past, climbed a step ladder when doing so, and held their cigarette just above each of the spotlights in turn, it isn't feasible that the marks are from smoking.

 

[HeadStAtE!]

Could the fact normal spots create a lot of heat be adding to the issue? Whilst not as bright I'm changing my spot lights where I can to LED ones, they take far less electricity, last longer, and generate almost no heat. They're more expensive though... There's a few few on-line shops and ebay that sell them, both 12v and 240v ones exist.

 

[Arbu]

I'm not going to imply that that your house is dirty, or anything; but any fine dust, particles (especially from vehicles) will float around in the air and get to your hot lamps. Hot air rises and the (now hot) dust will zoom upwards and stick on the ceiling.

Time to get out the Flash (or sugar soap)!

You may be right. The flat is right on the road, has sash windows at the front, and quite a bit of vehicular dust does get in. Thing is, the dirt is very stubborn. If you use detergent you have to rub so hard to get it off that the paint starts coming off as well. Maybe I should try sugar soap next time.

 

[JohnD]

The particles are so small they they won't readily come off. Some of them seem to mix into the paint and stain it rather than lying on the surface as "dirt".

I have heard that microfibre cloths can lift it, but haven't tried.

Any chance of some kind of "shade" above the lamps to break the hot stream?

 

[Arbu]

Definitely something to do with the heat rising from the bulbs. Not really any possibility of putting a shade above them. However the lights are probably a good 20 years old and maybe if I replace them with something new (with halogen light bulbs?) I wouldn't have the problem. I just looked into LED lightbulbs but they seem to be more for recessed lighting.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

LED lamps 12' up will be pretty to see when you look up at them.

They will do b****r-all in terms of illuminating your room though..

 

[Steve]

Could the fact normal spots create a lot of heat be adding to the issue? Whilst not as bright I'm changing my spot lights where I can to LED ones, they take far less electricity, last longer, and generate almost no heat. They're more expensive though... There's a few few on-line shops and ebay that sell them, both 12v and 240v ones exist.

How are you finding them?