Efflorence on outside wall's

[hyte1]

Hello,

Since the warm weather I have notice a huge increase of a white powdery chalky substance on our wall, mainly but not limited to the area where we have two drains. I understand this substance to be efflorence?

Our house built in 1930's has a cast iron downpipe coming from the bathroom and goes straight into the drain.

My thoery is that one or both of the drains are leaking and with the hot weather over the weekend it has eveporated some of the water which has caused the increase of efflorence.

I washed it off on Sunday with a hosepipe and noticed it seems to be eating away at the brick and in some areas has completely disolved the cement between the brick. I have been intouch with our house insurance this morning and they have suggested I get it investigated and then contact them with the results.

I plan to have a look inside the drain this evening to see if there are any obvious cracks etc, also I think Ill need to lift the kitchen floorboards to check if there is any moisture inside the house.

I just wondered if anyone had come across this type of thing before.

[Tony McC]

It's not likely to be genuine efflorescence, given the age of the property. I'd guess it's either lime bloom and/or soap by-products being wicked (as in a candle wick) through the masonry from a leaking drain.