Hello
This is my first post to this site.
I live in a 2 year old high rise (poured concrete) condo building.
In one bath I have brown spots in the grout that disappear when I apply bleach but return in 3 days to a week in the same spots.
I used a carbide grout scraper and removed as much of the grout I could get
Out without breaking any tile loose then sealed and regrouted.
Stains came back again. I soaked thin strips of cloth in bleach and put them directly on the stained grout and kept the cloths wet with fresh 40% bleach/water mix for a week. Stains came back. The stains in the grout are more common toward the wall rather than the bathtub nearby.
There is a laundry room on the other side of the wall so I pulled out the washer and dryer to see there was any water leaks while the washer was being used. There were none it was as dry as a bone
The water exit hose for the washers empties into a stand pipe in the wall and the nozzle on the exit hose is wire tied securely to the fresh water inlet hose so it does not flop around.
We have owned the condo for two years and spend 6 months here during the winter.I would think if I had a mold problem in the wall it would have shown up in the drywall. There is no musty odor in the bath room either.
Is it possible that the stand pipe might have a leak at the bottom of the wall?
I do turn off the water when we leave for the summer/
Any help or advice you can give me would be appreciated.
Tom

Hello
This is my first post to this site.
I live in a 2 year old high rise (poured concrete) condo building.
In one bath I have brown spots in the grout that disappear when I apply bleach but return in 3 days to a week in the same spots.
I used a carbide grout scraper and removed as much of the grout I could get
out without breaking any tile loose then sealed and regrouted.
Stains came back again. I soaked thin strips of cloth in bleach and put them directly on the stained grout and kept the cloths wet with fresh 40% bleach/water mix for a week. Stains came back. The stains in the grout are more common toward the wall rather than the bathtub nearby.
There is a laundry room on the other side of the wall so I pulled out the washer and dryer to see there was any water leaks while the washer was being used. There were none it was as dry as a bone
The water exit hose for the washers empties into a stand pipe in the wall and the nozzle on the exit hose is wire tied securely to the fresh water inlet hose so it does not flop around.
We have owned the condo for two years and spend 6 months here during the winter.I would think if I had a mold problem in the wall it would have shown up in the drywall. There is no musty odor in the bath room either.
Is it possible that the stand pipe might have a leak at the bottom of the wall?
I do turn off the water when we leave for the summer/
Any help or advice you can give me would be appreciated.
Tom

Hi Tom,

Did you open up the wall behind the tile wall and check for moisture? Brown usually indicate water stains that contain iron oxide, (rust). Let us know ehat you find. Good luck, Tom

Thanks for your quick response
This wall is not a tile wall it is just drywall. I am trying to get a look at the inside of this wall. I do have a borescope coming that will permit me to get a view of the space between the drywall without opening up the wall.
I am hoping that there is no leak there and no mold as well.
I would think in two years any mold in that wall would have shown up on either side of the drywall by now. Wouldn't you?

Tom

Hi Tom,
If the wall isn't tiled what's grouted? Cheers, Tom

I didn't tell you that the floor in the bathroom is tiled.
Sorry
Tom

Thanks for your quick response
This wall is not a tile wall it is just drywall. I am trying to get a look at the inside of this wall. I do have a borescope coming that will permit me to get a view of the space between the drywall without opening up the wall.
I am hoping that there is no leak there and no mold as well.
I would think in two years any mold in that wall would have shown up on either side of the drywall by now. Wouldn't you?

Tom
Let me know what you find in there. Cheers, Tom