Black specks in the basement

Hello. In the past month or so, we’ve started getting these small black particles all over the floor in our finished basement. They are spherical and have a metallic gloss. They vary in size, the largest ones look like poppy seeds. The smallest are very fine, like sand. We have red and black tile floors, and sheetrock walls and ceilings. The stuff seems to be concentrated near our home gym, were we have a treadmill, stationery bike, benches, free weights, etc. We also just got a new exercise mat, but supposedly it’s made of foam, so that doesn’t seem to be a lead. We sometimes have water issues down there, but not in the last couple of months. No obvious insect activity. We are mystified. Does anyone know what these are? Thank you for any ideas. Doug

dougj99

in Roofers 11 years and 6 months ago

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dougj99 | 11 years and 6 months ago

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We have a winner! Thank you so much, nalasurf. I didn’t think of the ankle weights my wife uses. And I should have- she kept insisting that the stuff falls on her from the ceiling when she exercises, but in fact she was doing leg lifts with these ankle weights on! Brilliant.

est | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Could be something from the treadmiill. I bought a used one a few years back and black round pieces came out of it after using for a few months. Don’t know if they came off the rubber belt, or engine. Luckily I didn’t have to use for very long as I started running outside again. That could be where your issue originates. Look at the belt.

Arkady | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Are they in little mounds or piles? Concentrated in one place? Light-weight or somewhat heavy? Could be insects of some kind.

Master Plvmber | 11 years and 6 months ago

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I’m going to blame your boiler and flue piping, or chimney.

nalusurf | 11 years and 6 months ago

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What other type of exercise equipment do you have? This material sounds similar to what is used to fill ankle weights (a sand filled pouch with velcro straps). Do you have any such weights or equipment that may have a small hole and could potentially be leaking this material? I would check that first.