Scale inhibitor furry bits

[Teasel]

Hello lovely plumbers,

I'm moved in to a flat and the boiler has a scale inhibitor attached. However, around the ends of the inhibitor are some weird, what I can only describe as, spiky spores. Don't think mould as nowhere else so can can only think the inhibitor is leaking or something or that if magnetic has attracted particles in the air after some refurb work. They're greyish and wipe away easily. Anything to worry about?

 

[Ric2013]

Well, there appears to be a trace leak on the joints of the inhibitor (nothing of concern though). But as for the spikes... they do look like something attracted by a magnet (perhaps the inhibitor contains a magnet?) but what they are precisely - ?

 

[Teasel]

Thanks Ric. I did wonder too if the inhibitor contains a magnet and the spikes are fine bits of metal. Builder has been working on pipes so maybe that? nowhere else in boiler room, just on this...

 

[Old Account]

I’ve seen it a plenty of times it’s from a pipe cleaner steel wool.

 

[Teasel]

aha! the builder did say he had cleaned some pipes with a steel wool cleaner. Mystery solved, thanks all :0)