Strange fungus or algea growing in my new bathroom sink pipes

[tilesandleaves]

Hi experts,
I had a new bathroom installed and a few weeks after I noticed a strange fungus or algea growing in my new bathroom sink pipes. It is solid and grows inside the pipes, up to the plug and blocks the pipes. The only way to get rid of it for a while is to pour in loads of chemicals and perform some heavy plunger activity. but it soon grows again.
My plumber said he has never seen anything like that before.
Has anyone an idea what this could be? And how to get rid of it for good?
THank you!

 

[blup]

Were the waste trap and pipes all new?

 

[tilesandleaves]

Were the waste trap and pipes all new?

thanks, yes the plumber said he put new waste trap and pipes in and they do look new. They're plastic.

 

[Mister Banks]

I get that in my bathroom basin drain, I just clean it out every 6 months. I think it is just general gunk that forms by brushing teeth, and washing hair etc.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Is the folk there because you were going to eat it?

Andy

 

[tilesandleaves]

I get that in my bathroom basin drain, I just clean it out every 6 months. I think it is just general gunk that forms by brushing teeth, and washing hair etc.

thanks but definitely not just usual gunk. This stuff is solid and texture is like morels! and it grows from the pipe walls in and up and doesn't just flush away, you have to scrape/heavily plunge to get some of it off.

 

[Mister Banks]

thanks but definitely not just usual gunk. This stuff is solid and texture is like morels! and it grows from the pipe walls in and up and doesn't just flush away, you have to scrape/heavily plunge to get some of it off.

Mines the same.

 

[Lower]

Regular bleach down the plug hole and change the bathroom products you're using one by one until the problem goes away.

 

[Stivino]

It just looks like soap gunge to me.

 

[JonathanM]

thanks but definitely not just usual gunk. This stuff is solid and texture is like morels! and it grows from the pipe walls in and up and doesn't just flush away, you have to scrape/heavily plunge to get some of it off.

Is it an internal bathroom without natural ventilation?

 

[jj4091]

In years gone by you could have asked your environmental health office to analyse it to see if it is a health hazard. Not sure if the same service is available today but might be worth asking your local office.

 

[polesapart]

Caustic soda* solution will shift it.



* H&S warning: dissolves skin, eyeballs etc, handle with due respect.

 

[tilesandleaves]

Is it an internal bathroom without natural ventilation?

thanks, no has a large window that is open several times a day for long periods

 

[tilesandleaves]

Caustic soda* solution will shift it.



* H&S warning: dissolves skin, eyeballs etc, handle with due respect.

great, thanks, will try!

 

[tilesandleaves]

In years gone by you could have asked your environmental health office to analyse it to see if it is a health hazard. Not sure if the same service is available today but might be worth asking your local office.

thank you, that's a good idea. Will try!