Did you know that candle soot can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage to your home? According to insurance companies, damage from soot has become an epidemic.

You probably know that a flickering candle flame results in many times more soot than a steadily burning flame.

Did you know that a smoldering wick can result in many times more soot than a flickering candle flame?

Always clip off the burning wick in order to put out the candle. When lighting a candle, make sure the wick is less than 1/4 inch long. Trim the wick after a couple of hours.

And, while your at it, avoid scented or heavily scented candles. They produce far more soot than non scented candles.

Look for low soot producing candles. They can produce one percent of the soot of non low soot producing candles.

Lead wicks have been illegal for over a decade. You can check an old candle by upbraiding the wick and checking for a metal strand. If the metal can leave a mark on a piece of paper, it’s lead.

And avoid incense or make sure you have good ventilation.