Tankless water heaters (TWH) can cause thermal expansion too. Purchase a relative humidity gauge and try to keep the RH below 55%. The same conditions that cause ghosting (condensation, high humidity, etc.) In most major cities, transverse or thermal cracking in asphalt is a very common problem and a safety hazard because the roads are constantly in use; this is why it is important to hire companies that specialize in transverse crack repair in Toronto.. What Causes Transverse Cracking in Asphalt? Transverse asphalt cracking usually occurs when the asphalt is exposed to … Ghosting is the slow buildup of air-borne dust, dirt, and soot particles on walls or ceilings. Possible Causes Dry arc tracking can occur without a liquid and may begin by the thermal degradation in the vicinity of a poor connection, such as that seen in Photo 1. Thermal Splitting and Cracking. Asphalt, the material used to pave roads, can crack and degrade in extreme cold. Thermal bridging is the movement of heat across an object that is more conductive than the materials around it. We have not painted since then. The conductive material creates a path of least resistance for heat. Recently on a commercial backflow preventer installation job, the customer asked me, “Do I need a thermal expansion tank? I previously touched on the consequences of not controlling thermal expansion, and this is an update to that post.. The crack has subsequently been patched as a temporary fix. Keep it in mind when thinking about the heat loss (and the heating bills) at your home. Thermal bridging can be a major source of energy loss … Another transverse crack caused by thermal contraction during cold weather. This was a big addition, family room, Master Bedroom, about 1300 square feet. A large transverse crack caused by the pavement's contraction in cold weather. What Causes Ghosting? Also known as “ghost stains,” “bridging,” or “thermal tracking,” ghosting creates strange patterns along exterior walls and ceilings. The term thermal splitting or cracking is a bit of a misnomer as, in most cases, the result of thermal splitting is a tearing of the shingles. Erik North, the owner of Free Energy Maine, is an energy auditor and home performance specialist in Westbrook, Maine. Allows moisture infiltration, roughness. Thermal bridging is one of the hidden heat-loss paths that a home energy audit can uncover. Usually a type of thermal cracking. Unmanaged, thermal throttling can have a big impact on performance. Thermal cracking in concrete and similar materials is a cause for concern in very cold environments, especially when the material is being used for structures such as bridges and buildings, where failure could cause a catastrophe. Ghosting typically causes black, not great lines. Anyway, in my house we did an addition about 12-13 years ago. 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