Faucet Aerator

[MossRoad]

Lime away seems to work better for lime removal in my opinion.

 

[whitenorth]

Lime away seems to work better for lime removal in my opinion.

Okay, I thought he said it was Calcium.

 

[ponytug]

Both CLR and Lime-Away will go after any imperfection in the metal of the aerator or faucet, so I would not overfill the baggie. In my experience, that method hasn't saved very many aerators, and it has killed a few faucets for me. A bit of judicious heat works better for me, bearing in mind that aerators tend to be very thin metal, with plastic insides, so I think it is not advisable to go wild with a blow torch.

Lime deposits are calcium deposits, calcium carbonate. Hard water deposits may include magnesium sulfate and carbonate, as well as calcium sulfate and carbonate. Only the carbonates are dissolvable in acids, such as CLR, lime-away, or citric acid. If you are unlucky enough to get magnesium oxide deposits, it is not going anywhere, ever.

All the best,

Peter

 

[bigtiller]

I just returned from town with a spray bottle of Lime-A-Way. I will foam the aerator several times today and during the night.

Hoping it will do it's thing overnight.

 

[MossRoad]

Okay, I thought he said it was Calcium.

220, 221, whatever it takes.

I'm pretty sure lime and calcium buildup in terms of plumbing is the same thing.

 

[MossRoad]

Both CLR and Lime-Away will go after any imperfection in the metal of the aerator or faucet, so I would not overfill the baggie. In my experience, that method hasn't saved very many aerators, and it has killed a few faucets for me. A bit of judicious heat works better for me, bearing in mind that aerators tend to be very thin metal, with plastic insides, so I think it is not advisable to go wild with a blow torch.

Lime deposits are calcium deposits, calcium carbonate. Hard water deposits may include magnesium sulfate and carbonate, as well as calcium sulfate and carbonate. Only the carbonates are dissolvable in acids, such as CLR, lime-away, or citric acid. If you are unlucky enough to get magnesium oxide deposits, it is not going anywhere, ever.

All the best,

Peter

Like he said.

 

[MossRoad]

Both CLR and Lime-Away will go after any imperfection in the metal of the aerator or faucet, so I would not overfill the baggie. In my experience, that method hasn't saved very many aerators, and it has killed a few faucets for me. A bit of judicious heat works better for me, bearing in mind that aerators tend to be very thin metal, with plastic insides, so I think it is not advisable to go wild with a blow torch.

Lime deposits are calcium deposits, calcium carbonate. Hard water deposits may include magnesium sulfate and carbonate, as well as calcium sulfate and carbonate. Only the carbonates are dissolvable in acids, such as CLR, lime-away, or citric acid. If you are unlucky enough to get magnesium oxide deposits, it is not going anywhere, ever.

All the best,

Peter

I've never tried a torch on an aerator. Like mentioned, most are now plastic inside, plus rubber washer(s). Plus many low-end faucets are sometimes chromed plastic.

 

[bigtiller]

I doused it several times this afternoon with the spray bottle of Lime-A-Way and by supper time it seamed to have loosened some of the lime/calcium, but not nearly enough.

I will continue to spray and soak it this evening & over night. Hopefully by lunch time tomorrow it will be clean as a whistle.

 

[ultrarunner]

White vinegar in a plastic baggy held on with a rubber band over night will dissolve the calcium.

If not, channel locks and replace as stated above.

Or CLR…might not even have to remove if blockage dissolves…

Works for me with shower heads.

 

[rontaki]

White vinegar mixed with a little lime juice, and an M80 ought to do the trick.

Don't try this at home, folks!