Can Someone Please Tell Me What this Is? (Kinda Creepy)

frisk

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I was getting into bed around 3:00am last night. Dave was sitting at the computer, and turned to me to say "good night," when something caught his eye... He said "What is that red stuff dripping from the wall?!"
He went to investigate it, wipping it with his finger. It was fresh. I had a quick look at it, but I didn't get out of bed because I was too tired. I wanted to get some sleep, and check it out in the morning.

Well, this morning I discovered the "stuff" is all over the wall! It drips down from one end to the other. What the heck is it and how did it get there?!


Here are the pictures.. These are just parts of it, I couldn't get the whole wall in.


http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9484/creepy1ee1.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2381/c1al5.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7122/c2cz3.jpg

 

pookie-poo

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How high is the humidity in your house? I had the exact same problem when I was running my humidifier in my house. The walls were cold and the warm air condensed on the walls and ran down, just like in your photos. The dirt (which often doesn't really show) is dissolved in the water and makes it turn color. The color is especially noticeable when you burn candles or smoke, as the soot from candles and the gunk from cigarette smoke is all over the walls.
 

gingersmom

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Yup, that looks like nicotine stains that were lifted as the wall "sweats." Are you smokers?
 
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frisk

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No, niether of us smoke (yuck). But it is definatly possible that there were smokers that lived here before us (we live in an apartment).

It does get hot here sometimes, but lately it's been cold.
 

lunasmom

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I've seen that before and just attributed that to leftover sap from the wooden beams that may be within the house.

You may want to call for maintenance and have them check things out and make sure there isn't a leak in the roof.
 

crazyforinfo

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Originally Posted by Frisk

No, niether of us smoke (yuck). But it is definatly possible that there were smokers that lived here before us (we live in an apartment).

It does get hot here sometimes, but lately it's been cold.
How long ago did you move in? Nicotine stains aren't usually that dark(we are smokers).
 

carolpetunia

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Woah! You've got your own little Amityville Horror there!
In the photos, I couldn't see any stain on the ceiling at all -- just the wall. Is that correct? If so, that would seem to support the "wall sweating" theory. And the fact that the area where it's occurring is only toward the top of the wall would seem to suggest smoke as the source, since smoke would rise and attach itself up there.

Is the wall at all damp down below?
 

swampwitch

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We had something similar happen when there was a leak in the balcony upstairs. The water collected above the living room ceiling and dripped down one wall. It could also be a water pipe leaking, they tend to have of rust and deposits that can come out.

Definitely I could call maintenance.
 

mowwuck

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Not sure if it could be the same thing but such mysterious appearances has happened in the front room of 'parents house to [room PC is in and where spend most time when there],got the blame for flinging tea on the wall,when had not been flinging tea,had accidentally dropped it on the carpet a lot but that's another story,it looked exactly the same colour and size of those dropplets that are in the photos.
 
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frisk

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How long ago did you move in?
We moved in August.

I've seen that before and just attributed that to leftover sap from the wooden beams that may be within the house.

You may want to call for maintenance and have them check things out and make sure there isn't a leak in the roof.
The ceiling isn't leaking so the wall must be sweating. Now that it's dry, it's more of a yellow color which means people who lived there before us probably smoked.. The walls were suppose to be cleaned though? I'll get it checked out
I don't think it's a leak in the roof, but it's possible since we are on the top floor. We will be getting it checked tonight.
Woah! You've got your own little Amityville Horror there! In the photos, I couldn't see any stain on the ceiling at all -- just the wall. Is that correct? If so, that would seem to support the "wall sweating" theory. And the fact that the area where it's occurring is only toward the top of the wall would seem to suggest smoke as the source, since smoke would rise and attach itself up there.

Is the wall at all damp down below?
Lol, it did look quite creepy at 3 in the morning.


The wall is not damp below, just a few inches down from the ceiling, from one end of the wall to the other.

Not sure if it could be the same thing but such mysterious appearances has happened in the front room of 'parents house to [room PC is in and where spend most time when there],got the blame for flinging tea on the wall,when had not been flinging tea,had accidentally dropped it on the carpet a lot but that's another story,it looked exactly the same colour and size of those dropplets that are in the photos.
Well the wall doesn't seem so mysterious now, but a couple months ago there was a bunch of little water dropplets all over the inside of our door. I have no clue how it got there, nothing could have splashed on it.
Anyway, I just cleaned it up and never thought of it again until now.

--------

So from all the info. I've gathered from everyones posts, I'm thinking it's either nicotine stains from people who have previously smoked here (even though the walls were suppose to be cleaned), or rust.

Thanks all.
I'll let you know what the landlord says.
 

alleygirl

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Originally Posted by Frisk



So from all the info. I've gathered from everyones posts, I'm thinking it's either nicotine stains from people who have previously smoked here (even though the walls were suppose to be cleaned), or rust.

Thanks all.
I'll let you know what the landlord says.
Either that or your house is bleeding.....
 
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frisk

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Well we got our wall checked last night. There are no leaks in the ceiling, so it must be moisture from hot showers.
 
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