Faucet Aerator

[SARG]

Confusing ..... most faucets have the aerator inserts.
Soaking will not clear the crap from inside. I replace ours about every six months. If the fixture won't come apart that means time to replace.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’ve got a few original circa 1920 pedestal sinks with separate hot and cold and these predate aerators.

I can honestly say zero issues or service calls in the last 40+ years.

On the other hand new faucets in the same 1920 neighborhood are plagued with sediment to the point of leaving the aerators off or perform regular cleaning…

 

[MossRoad]

I had one plug up with rust yesterday after FD flushed the hydrants. It plugged the faucet valve, not the aerator. Had hot water, no cold. Faucet will have to get removed and cleaned out.

 

[ultrarunner]

Every time there is underground work it stirs up sediment around here.

The 3/8 line and 3/8 angle stops not near as forgiving.

I thought about a whole house filter but never acted.

Even with obstructed angle stops the outside hose bibs never experience problems.

 

[BravoXray]

A few years ago I installed a new faucet in the kitchen sink (Not my idea, it's a long story...). My water isn't too hard and I do have a softener, but about every two months the flow slows to a trickle and I have to soak it in vinegar or CLR for a day or two to get it opened back up. I'd rather have a plain old non-aerated faucet if I could find one.

 

[ponytug]

A few years ago I installed a new faucet in the kitchen sink (Not my idea, it's a long story...). My water isn't too hard and I do have a softener, but about every two months the flow slows to a trickle and I have to soak it in vinegar or CLR for a day or two to get it opened back up. I'd rather have a plain old non-aerated faucet if I could find one.

FWIW: You can remove part or all of the inside pieces of most aerator cartridge. In some designs, just removing the topmost piece, or washer, can make a big difference.

Many designs have tiny, tiny holes that clog easily with fine particles.

All the best,

Peter

 

[bigtiller]

Mine is still plugged up and frozen on.
I give up.
Calling a plumber tomorrow to replace the entire thing.

 

[ray66v]

I keep brand new aerators on hand.

It's far cheaper to toss them, than clean them.

It also is good to have a kit of rubber washers with screens on them. I put one on before the new aerator, in case there is debris in the line. Often, rubber washers from stop valves deteriorate, and end up clogging the new aerator.

 

[gstrom99]

Mine is still plugged up and frozen on.
I give up.
Calling a plumber tomorrow to replace the entire thing.

Really? Call a plumber for this? At $80+/hour? Take a pipe wrench to it if you have to. If it breaks, THEN replace the faucet yourself. It's not rocket science. I just replaced my 30 year old kitchen faucet yesterday, because it wouldn't come apart to replace the $4 rubber bits inside - dripping when off. $70 Delta faucet at Menard's and two $7 hoses.

Yes, plumbing SUCKS, but it really isn't that hard (except for the crawling under the sink part...).

I was back under there this morning to align it better after this pic was taken.

 

[MossRoad]

Mine is still plugged up and frozen on.
I give up.
Calling a plumber tomorrow to replace the entire thing.

If you're going to replace the entire thing, I'd put the coconuts to it with a big wrench first. It might bust loose before it breaks the faucet. Worst that can happen is you're at the same point of replacement.

Also, faucets aren't too hard to replace.... I have three basin wrenches to prove it.

But if you aren't comfortable with it or have limited mobility, it can get kinda cramped under there. I had back surgery a year ago, and this summer I changed out our kitchen faucet. It was NOT comfortable getting on my back and laying my shoulders up into the space under the kitchen sink. That 3-4 inch kick plate hit right about where the screws and rods are in my back. So, I just laid down a yoga mat to soften it.

 

[ponytug]

+1 in @MossRoad's advice to take a big wrench to it. I've mangled more than a few aerators into scrap metal doing it, but I haven't ever broken a faucet. So in my experience, the odds aren't terrible, and the worst case is that you are back at the faucet replacement stage.

An upside to a plumber might be that they have ready access to higher quality faucets than the box stores. That and not dealing with the kick plate.

I've used all sorts of items to help level out the kick plate edge that seems to be designed to scrape spines and aggravate backs; 4x4s and plywood sections, cardboard, but the yoga mat sounds pretty good.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

And I forgot to mention my cat.... as I'm stuck in there, on my back, uncomfortable, arms extended up under the back of the sink, the nosey cat comes in and walks on my belly to see what I'm doing.

 

[ponytug]

And I forgot to mention my cat.... as I'm stuck in there, on my back, uncomfortable, arms extended up under the back of the sink, the nosey cat comes in and walks on my belly to see what I'm doing.

We have ranch cats as well, one of which has become extremely snuggly. Extremely. If she sees me start work in the shop, she is underfoot enough to have tripped me several times darting between my legs, leaping on work benches to get into my arms and snuggle my face, and heaven help me if I need to get down on the ground to work on something. It is to the point that I can't do it with her around.

Did I mention that for me even petting her with leather gloves on is enough to bring on my allergies, and if she gets near my face, it is a "that's all she wrote", and I'm done for.

Sweet cat though.

All the best,

Peter

 

[gstrom99]

And I forgot to mention my cat.... as I'm stuck in there, on my back, uncomfortable, arms extended up under the back of the sink, the nosey cat comes in and walks on my belly to see what I'm doing.

Mine was in there with me, too. They're sure fun to have around, but not much help.

 

[MossRoad]

Mine was in there with me, too. They're sure fun to have around, but not much help.

Yeah, pretty much anytime I'm working on something in the house I hear her murping, look over, and she has a shoestring and wants to play. Won't leave us alone.

But if YOU call HER, she'll ignore you.

 

[bigtiller]

No plumbing got done today.
Mrs.tiller fell again.
She got herself stuck in the back seat of the car.
Half way in the car, laying on the floor and and with both knees on the ground in a parking lot and her walker under her.
I managed to get her gait belt around her but it took 2 of us to get her on her feet.
She has some bad road rash so we might be shopping for big wound care products. We always keep a few handy.

 

[ultrarunner]

Sorry to hear and hope she is on the mend…

Falling is an ever present fear in advancing years.

I’m all for doing it yourself but if you have your hands full with more important things then no shame in hiring it out…

I use to do my own carpet for rentals until I met a carpet dealer with a warehouse of roll balances…

His prices were right to furnish and install and it was one less thing I had to worry about…