Organism in bathroom Drainage and wastage systems and plumbing help, advice and answers

[jonathanlh]

Hi,
Please can anyone advise on the organism that is invading my bathroom, 3 photos attached.

The soil pipe from the toilet is boxed in to make a seat and the photos are taken inside that, showing the brown pipe and the stringy-looking organism which looks a bit like a cobweb. This thing gives off a very fine brown powder which spreads across the bathroom floor in the breeze.

It is quite dry in the boxed housing, no signs of damp in there at all as it is pretty well sealed from the bathroom which gets a bit of condensation; and there is a draught from outside into the boxing which blows the powder through small gaps in the boxing into the bathroom. I guess it is some kind of fungus or rot but I need to identify it, know how dangerous it is and treat it.

Any helpful advice gratefully received.
-Jonathan

[paulinz]

I am not sure but it seems to the spider web or something like that.

[brixhill]

Hi,
I am really sorry to say that I have been researching the same problem and the most likely answer is dry rot from prior damp.
When the fungus 'flowers' it produces spores that give off a brown fine powder.
I would suggest a surveyor to find the extent of the problem asap.
Good luck.

[jonathanlh]

Thanks Brixhill I appreciate your input, though that is just what I did not want to hear.

[brixhill]

DON'T PANIC... IT IS NOT HOUSE CANCER the fruit that gives off the spores is the last stage of thr fungus life.
The fungus requires 20-30% moisture to start living then 15-20% moisture to survive.
Don't get certain large firms in that say rip everthing out, the main thing is to expose it and stop the source of the water, without that it cannot live.
Further treatment with chemicals and replacement of any rotton timbers can be done by specialist companies on insurance, but do not let them start ripping back and taking drastic action, it is not necessary, with environmental control and solving the problem then only minor treatment should be necessary.
I have a local company in to do mine as have rotten joists under the floor from a prior major leak from upstairs but for the areas with dry rot they are mearly exposing, drying out, and treating with chemical so what I thought was to be awful...not so bad :-)
good luck but honestly I think it should not be that bad in the end..

[jonathanlh]

That's very encouraging, thanks. You are right that dry rot has that reputation so I it has eased my mind to read your comments. I will take your advice and get a local guy in to take a look.
Many thanks again!