A faucet’s water flow can weaken over time, leading many homeowners to believe they have a water pressure issue. If pressure is lacking in your kitchen or bathroom faucets, the solution may be simpler than you think: a clogged aerator.
Aerators are small strainers that are screwed into the end of faucets. At the back end of the strainer is a tiny opening designed to restrict the flow of water to conservation standards and insert air into the stream, which helps prevent splashing.
Low water pressure from the sprayer or water leaks from the faucet handle are usually caused by lime buildup and sediment blocking the small openings inside the sprayer head. The problem is most common in homes with hard water. Paul Guzman, general manager of O’Connell Plumbing in Marin, recommends cleaning aerators on an annual basis. Follow these easy steps:
• By hand, carefully turn the aerator counterclockwise and unscrew it from the faucet. If it won’t unscrew, wrap the jaws of your pliers with masking or electrical tape and loosen the aerator. Continue by hand.
• Take the aerator or sprayer head apart.
• Use a small brush dipped in vinegar to remove sediment.
• Reassemble the unit and screw it back on to the faucet.
Sometimes rust, corrosion or age will take their toll on aerators and require them to be replaced. Take note of your faucet’s make, model or style and find the replacement part at your local hardware store. Most are very inexpensive, and all are cheaper than a service call. A clean or replaced aerator should have your faucet flowing like new.
Mr. Guzman also advises to flush your water heater and change the flappers on your toilet every year. “Flushing the water heater every year will add five years to its life,” he says. “And toilet flappers are the number one water waster in a home. Over time, they calcify and the chlorine starts to eat away at them, so they can’t seal properly. Your toilet will lose water long before you ever hear it running.”
