A faucet aerator is one of the simplest and most useful devices in your home’s plumbing system. Few people even realize that it exists, or what exactly its function is. However, knowing about your aerators can help you have a better flow from all your sinks and faucets.
What Is an Aerator?
An aerator is a part of most modern sinks. It looks kind of like a screen at the very tip of your faucet. One important function of an aerator is to filter your water. However, it does much more than that.
What Is Its Purpose?
An aerator also works to regulate the stream of water, making it so that you have an even dispersal instead of having the water cascade heavily from one side and then the other, as water is naturally prone to do. An even stream is easier to work with, and feels much more pleasant. It can also prevent splashing from happening and making a mess when you run your hands under the stream, or when water splashes from the sink to the surrounding area.
Aerators also save you energy and water because they prevent heavy flows. By mixing air into the stream of water, aerators prevent the amount of water that needs to be heated and allows you to do all of your usual tasks with less water.
Lastly, aerators sometimes serve to increase the water pressure of a faucet. Adding in air pressure can make it so that even low-flow shower heads have the same feeling and ability to clean and rinse.
Maintaining Aerators
Sometimes, individuals might notice that their faucet is splashing and spluttering, even if there is an aerator affixed to the tip. This often happens because there’s built-up dirt in the aerator itself.
This video is a really helpful guide to clearing out that aerator. Although different aerators might look different, the basic steps are the same, and it should only take a quick moment to get it cleared out.
Other times, your aerator is having a hard time because of built-up mineral deposits that are a result of hard water. You might see it as sputtering in the stream, decreased water pressure, or erratic spray. In this case, you can take the aerator off and disassemble it (as shown in the video above.) However, instead of just rinsing it under water, you’ll want to soak the aerator in either vinegar water, or some other cleaning solution meant to counter hard water marks. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes. Some people prefer to soak it overnight. In the morning, rinse everything off and put it back together.
If cleaning out the aerator doesn’t solve the problem, give us a call. Decreased water pressure, as well as air and sputtering in the pipes, can all be signs of a more severe problem inside of your plumbing. Catching it now will save you money and stress.
