Claims By Candlelight: Minimize Candle-Related Risks to Your Health and Home

If protecting one's home isn't complicated enough, it appears that the soft, soothing glow of a candle's flame may obscure some dark problems.

Specifically, the use of candles may result in:

• reducing the internal air quality of your home
• increasing the chance of fire losses
• damages by particulate deposits on interior and exterior walls, carpets, furniture, appliances, window treatments, floors, and other surfaces.

Further, candles may also contribute to health problems by inhaling particulate matter or ingesting harmful chemicals.

Defining the Candle Problem

There are several problems, and they have been accentuated by a change in the market for candles. The last few years have seen explosive growth in the popularity of candles. They are increasingly used for their traditional, decorative purpose, but the actual surge in use has been due to their being marketed as scented candles for deodorizing and for a health-related purpose called aromatherapy.

Candle-makers have had to offer products with more intense scents in both of the above sales-boosting instances. This is accomplished by adding scented oils into their wax mixture.

A Sooty Situation

It looks like soot, a carbon residue produced by burning, can create a significant, expensive problem. Since soot is particulate matter that can be carried through the air, it can seriously stain walls, carpets, and personal property. Studies show that electronic and plastic components are also vulnerable to soot damage. Unfortunately, soot produced by poorly burning candles bonds very strongly, making it difficult to impossible to clean. Further, soot may contaminate a home's heating system, including ductwork. The soot can then be spread throughout a home, creating widespread damage that is difficult to repair. Property stained by soot may have to be cleaned by professionals, and, often, the property has to be replaced.

Troublesome candle ingredients

You may have assumed that the only materials found in candles were the wick and some type of wax. Surprise! Here's a list of ingredients that may either be found in a candle or may be created during combustion:

• Acetone Benzene Trichlorofluoromethane
• Carbon Disulfide 2 Butanone 1 1- Trichloroethane
• Trichloroethene Carbon Tetrachloride Tetrachloroethene
• Toluene Chlorobenzene Ethylbenzene
• Styrene Xylene Phenol
• Cresol Cyclopentene Lead

Another surprise is that the candle-making industry is not required to tell consumers about the ingredients used in their products, including when a wick contains a lead core.

Poor candle design or practices

Besides the use of oils and chemicals, candle-makers sometimes create problems because they commit other mistakes. Candles may burn improperly (causing soot) because a candle's wick may be off-center, or there may not be a proper amount of air in the candle mixture. A candle may have a higher likelihood of causing a fire loss due to:

• an improper candle mixture that results in intense heat or high flames
• improper holders (glass that shatters or spills flammable liquid)
• wood holders that catch fire
• flammable items imbedded in the candle mixture such as potpourri

Coverage Under a Homeowner Policy?

Damage to a home or personal property due to soot can create serious problems for both an insurer and a homeowner. Losses involving soot can create thousands of dollars in damages. Depending upon the details surrounding a loss and the wording of the particular homeowner policy, coverage for the damage may not be available. Why? Because the source of loss might be considered the result of pollution, which may be excluded. Another reason for rejecting a claim may be an assumption that the damage was gradual instead of sudden, so it wouldn't be considered accidental and sudden damage. A claim could even be affected by the knowledge of the insured. For instance, even if the policy covers soot-related losses, a claim could be denied if a homeowner knew that the type of candle they used could cause damages.

Since the damage is caused by invisible matter to the naked eye, it could be challenging to prove that the loss was sudden. Tests can be used to determine the cause of stained or discolored property, but the testing can be expensive, and the cost may have to be handled by the homeowner.

What To Do?

It's all up to you. If you use candles frequently, you may also want to check your home thoroughly for any stains or discoloration, including any contamination of your heating system. You might wish to ask more questions about the type of candles you use or curtail your use. You can also discuss whether coverage is available under your homeowner policy with an insurance professional at Williams Insurance. With over 80 years of expertise, we’re here to help.