Cleaning A Faucet Aerator

Cleaning a faucet aerator is something that needs to be done often when your water has fine sand or is extremely hard. The aerator will plug up slowly so it takes some time to notice that the water flow has dropped. But eventually it justs gets to slow and something needs to be done. There is no need to call a plumber for this fix.

When you clean the aerator you are trying to accomplish two things. The first is to remove any sand fines that have accumulated in the aerator. This restores the water flow back to the original flow rate. The second thing is to make sure that the highs and lows of the aerator are not blocked by calcium buildup. If calcium buildup blocks the lows, they will not be able to draw in air. This air mixes with the water.

Faucet Aerators – Amazon.com

Tools needed to clean a faucet aerator

1. Slip joint or groove joint pliers
2. A rag
3. A pocket knife

Optional

1. A small baggie
2. White vinegar

What you need to know

1. 1. You are working with small parts above a drain. If you don’t want to lose parts down the drain, plug it up before working on the aerator.
   2. Use the rag to cover your plier’s jaws so the aerator doesn’t get scratched by the pliers.
   3. When you have the aerator loosened, remove it by hand.
   4. With the aerator off the faucet make sure the aerator gasket/seal comes off the faucet.
   5. Open up the faucet to full, to flush any remaining fine sand out of the lines on both the cold and then the hot water side. Look for any additional fines in the bottom of the sink. Drain the sink.
   6. Drain the sink. Then plug it again.
   7. Remove the main part of the aerator from the outer ring.
   8. The aerator has a water restriction washer built into it. The fines can be found lodged under this washer.
   9. Turn the aerator upside down and push back onto the faucet(you may get wet on this step) and turn the water on to backwash the aerator.

   Removing the Fines from inside the aerator

   10. Tap the upside down aerator against the sink a bunch of times to loosen any remaining sand fines.
   11. Repeat Step #9 and #10 until no more sand fines come loose.
   12. Look at the outer ring for calcium buildup on the inside. Use your pocket knife to slowly scrape as much of the buildup off as possible. Take care not to cut your self.
   13. You will need to clean off any calcium buildup from the bottom of the main part of the aerator so that it can draw air in and mix with the water. Look at the bottom of the main part of the aerator for calcium buildup. Use your pocket knife to slowly scrape as much of the buildup off the bottom of the aerator as possible. Take care not to cut your self.
   14. Optional, Toss the aerator parts into a baggie with enough vinegar to cover them and soak them until the calcium buildup is removed(8-12 hours).
   15. Reassemble the aerator and gasket/seal and install hand tight on the faucet.
   16. Turn on the water and check out your work.

Kitchen Faucets and Bath Faucets – Amazon.com

Related Articles: More on plumbing from Mybusyretiredlife

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RayC.

Editor at Mybusyretiredlife.com

Trained in the mechanical arts. I have worked on anything dealing with a home from changing a light bulb to moving a load bearing wall. As for the recipes, they came about after I could not find what I was looking for and recipes that over a lifetime I have come to love and want to share with the world.

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