How to Clean a Faucet Aerator to Remove a Pesky Clog
A clogged faucet can disrupt your daily routines and make common chores and personal hygiene much more of a hassle, not to mention inefficient. Fortunately, many faucet clogs can be fixed with a DIY approach that addresses the faucet aerator.
This article will include a step-by-step guide on how to unclog a faucet aerator, including tips for how to remove faucet aerator and how to clean faucet aerator parts. If the plumbing fixture cannot be cleaned and repaired using natural products, it may be time to shop for a replacement part.
Causes of Weak Water Flow
Although low faucet flow is an annoying problem, it can often be fixed in just a few minutes with simple repairs. Slow water streams can be caused by a low-flow faucet aerator that is designed to reduce water consumption. A clogged aerator screen could also be to blame if water minerals and dirt particles have built up and accumulated on the mesh filter screen. If these issues are not the cause of weak water flow, it may be necessary to ensure that your shut-off valves are fully open and that your faucet supply tubes have not become kinked or crushed to reduce the amount of water able to flow through them.
How to Remove Faucet Aerator
The process of how to remove a faucet aerator is a fairly simple one if you have the right tools on hand. You’ll need a pair of channel lock pliers, some masking tape, and perhaps a little penetrating oil or a hairdryer for tough unscrewing jobs. You may not need the pliers at all if you’re able to unscrew the aerator from the faucet sprout by hand. If this doesn’t work, pull out your pliers and protect metal surfaces with masking tape to prevent scratches from using the pliers. Turn the pliers counter-clockwise to unscrew it. The heat from a hairdryer or a little penetrating oil may help to loosen up the aerator if it is really stuck on and not easily removed with pliers.
How to Clean Faucet Aerator
Once you have successfully removed the aerator, the next step to learn is how to clean faucet aerator parts. Pick large pieces of debris and mineral deposits out of the metal screen by hand. Then, you can poke debris through the screen with a small pin to remove small pieces of it. For more serious clogs, soak the screen in a commercial lime-remover solution or simple vinegar to get rid of debris without chemicals. Once it’s clean, screw the faucet aerator back onto the faucet and tighten it enough so that water doesn’t leak out from around the sides.
Tips for Replacing Faucet Aerator Parts
If upon removal you notice that the faucet aerator has become damaged or the mesh screen torn, it is time to look into replacing faucet aerator parts. This is something that you can likely do yourself without having to call in a professional. Among the many plumbing supplies offered at Central Plumbing Supplies, we carry Chicago Faucets-brand aerators in case a simple cleaning won’t suffice. This is typically a simple and inexpensive repair that will make a huge difference in how you wash your hands, face, and dishes in your home’s bathroom and kitchen sinks. Not only will a properly functioning aerator save you daily hassles, but it will also help you save money and water in the long-run.
Stop by one of our Grand Central Showrooms to choose the right faucet aerator for your home and enjoy the effortless luxury of fresh water with every turn of the faucet knob.