Aerator - what is it and how does it work

Without water, there is no life. Although most people are used to having water at the tap always, we shouldn’t forget that some countries suffer from its deficits. What’s more, growing climate change contributes to droughts, which are a big issue even in Europe. That’s why it is important to take measures to save water. A shower unit will certainly help here as less water is used compared to taking a bath in a bathtub. A tap aerator is also an answer to this need. The cheapest models generate savings of up to 15%, but there are also devices that reduce consumption by up to 60%. These are the values that can be obtained if we opt for a faucet aerator.

The benefits don’t end here. With less water coming out, we can reduce the costs generated by our gas or electric furnace. Less water to heat up means less consumption and expense. Wastewater will also be reduced, and that’s beneficial to your household bills, too.

Everyone should think about buying a water-saving aerator. The cost incurred pays off very quickly - water bills are lower and we get a sense that we care for the environment. It is especially recommended in homes with children. Kids, when turning the tap on, are not able to control the stream when washing their hands or teeth, which makes the water consumption higher than needed.

The way tap aerators work can vary. Some of them are based on water aeration, others create a needle spray. In the first case, it is about creating negative pressure and water aeration. A special mesh screen makes the device suck in air to then combine it with water. In this way the water increases both pressure and volume, and when it comes out from the tap or shower head, it gives the sensation of a larger flow, while in reality, it’s dispensing less water.

The second category is a needle spray aerator. Here the air doesn’t get sucked in, but the pressure of water flowing through narrow holes in the mesh is increased. The advantage here is that you can direct the stream without the risk of splashing water. Interestingly, a keen observer can notice that the water streams actually look like needles with a clear space between them.

Faucet aerators differ in many respects, not only in the way they work. They can be divided, among others, depending on the method of installation and on their use. In the first case, it is a distinction between devices with an external thread, which are installed inside the faucet, and internal aerators installed on the spout. For old taps, aerators with internal threads are recommended, while aerators with external threads are used for new models.

Another distinction takes into account their use, and then we can divide them into aerators for shower, washbasin, bathtub and kitchen. Looking at these types of devices in the store, we can easily find aerators for rainshower heads and aerators with an extension for easier use.

The washbasin is used most often and this is where the most water is wasted. This means that first we need to invest in an aerator for basin. The water stream can be regulated and we can save up to two liters of water per minute of use. Many basin mixers actually already come with a built-in aerator.

The thing looks different with a shower handset - the aerator is installed before the shower hose. Some people wonder whether an aerator or a water-saving shower head is better. The first option is better.

What about the bathtub? In this case, it is important to have a high flow rate so that the tub doesn’t take long to fill up. Waiting for a long time to take a bath and fast cooling of water make us question whether an aerator will work in this case, so this one should be given more thought to. If the bathtub is used only for bathing and not, for example, for washing hands in a bathroom that has no washbasin, then maybe the best move is to give up on an aerator here.

Another aspect that should be looked at is the material that aerators are made of. A water-saving shower head can be made from silicone, metal or plastic. The type of material affects not only the price, but also the frequency of cleaning. Choosing a model made of metal, the investor must know that scale will quite quickly deposit on it, and in some cases, there may be a problem with corrosion. For this reason, a silicone aerator is a better option. Not only won’t it get rusty, but there will be less scale accumulated, and if it does settle on the mesh, it will be easier to remove it than from metal.

As we can see above, aerators can be different, and thus their prices will be different. The simplest tap aerator will be much cheaper than, for example, an adjustable aerator. The cheapest devices can cost as little as a few dollars, but this doesn’t mean that it’s the price that should guide the choice. This may be a seeming saving - not only can they wear out faster, but they often aren’t as effective.

Depending on where we would like to install the aerator and what is the size of the faucet, this device will be different. If we want the shower handset to have an aerator, then we will choose a different model than the one that will work for the washbasin. How to choose the best one? First, we need to check if the spout has an internal or external thread. The aerator must be reverse threaded.

Aerators come in different sizes. To choose the right one, we would have to check the thread diameter. Usually they come in the following dimensions Ø = M18/M20/M22/M24. The way the faucet is finished is also important. Although the aerator is supposed to be primarily functional, the appearance is also important. If it has the same color as the faucet, it won’t stand out, it will form a coherent whole with it.

More on reducing your water consumption you can find in the article How to save water at home.