If your water bills are too high considering how weak your water pressure is, there's a cheap, easy fix hiding in plain sight: a faucet aerator.
This tiny attachment screws onto your tap, instantly improving flow while reducing how much water you use. By mixing air into the stream, the aerator creates the feel of higher pressure while using less water.
In our bid to reduce energy bills at all costs, this quick and inexpensive hack feels like a saving grace. I caught up with plumbing experts for the full low-down on all of their uses and benefits.
What is a faucet aerator?
'It's a tiny but powerful device that screws onto the tip of a kitchen faucet,' explains Luke Wooffindin, licensed plumber and HVAC expert at Safeguard Plumbing.
'The aerator's primary purpose is to control water from the faucet by mixing it with air; it produces a soft, steady flow that feels forceful but actually uses a lot less water,' he adds.
What's surprising is that it doesn't increase the amount of water at all, but by mixing air into the stream, the water pressure is stronger, fuller and more controlled. You can buy a pack of six NEOPERL faucet aerators at Home Depot for $19.98 to cover all kitchen and bathroom faucets.
As David Lewis, owner of Mission AC and Plumbing explains, 'It doesn’t exactly increase the pressure from your plumbing system, but it creates the sensation of strong pressure. It does this by narrowing and shaping the water stream.'
But how does it work? 'Basically, there is a fine metal or plastic mesh screen along with a flow restrictor fitted inside the small housing,' Luke explains.
'The mesh screen breaks up the water stream into tiny streams as it passes through, and tiny holes around the edge of the aerator suck in air. The air mixes with the water and produces a flow that feels full and bubbly instead of solid and heavy.'
By simply combining water and air, the aerator creates a more consistent and satisfying flow that uses less water, just like improving the water pressure of your shower without playing around with the plumbing, or by installing a digital shower system to save more water.
How much water does a faucet aerator save?
A faucet aerator is such a genius hack because, by itself, it is so inexpensive, costing as little as $5. It's also incredibly easy to install, making it a classic kitchen feature that will make your life easier. And in doing so you can use less than 50% of the water your normally would, saving massively on bills.
'The faucet aerators can help conserve 30% to 50% of the water coming out of the faucet, or even more, depending on the type of aerator installed,' shares Luke.
He adds, 'For example, installing a 1.0 GPM [gallons-per-minute] aerator instead of the standard 2.2 GPM aerator would mean saving well over a gallon for every minute the faucet is left running.'
This is easily one of the most effective ways to reduce your water bills. In real terms, your kitchen faucet can pour around 2.5 gallons every minute, and with the right aerator, you could bring this down to 1 or even 0.5 gallons per minute.
According to the EPA, the average US household uses around 300 gallons of water each day, resulting in more than $1,000 in water costs every year. By bringing down our kitchen and bathroom water usage using an aerator, this could have a huge impact on how much we use and spend.
Josh Mitchell, plumbing and HVAC Technician from Plumbing Lab recommends NEOPERL as a straightforward and inexpensive option: 'As for brands, I like NEOPERL. [They are] easy to install, cost around $5 to $10, and offer different flow options to meet your needs.'
The NEOPERL 1.5 GPM Dual-Thread Faucet Aerator at Home Depot is a quick and cheap option, or you can opt for some multi-functionality like in the CECEFIN Swivel Faucet-Extender Sink-Aerator at Amazon.
By pulling down on this aerator's body, you can switch the flow of water between a stream and a spray, and add some more flexibility to what could otherwise be a stationary faucet.
Save water and create a strong, bubbly water flow with this faucet aerator from Home Depot. Compared to a standard 2.2 GPM faucet, this could save you up to 30% on water bills.
For even more flexibility, this aerator is essentially a 'robot arm' that can swivel 360 degrees, vertically and horizontally. It's great for washing your face, washing dishes, and cleaning the kitchen sink.
What are the other benefits of a faucet aerator?
Not only will you enjoy stronger pressure and lower water bills, you'll also feel benefits from the aerator's focused flow and fine mesh screen.
'Aerators help in reducing splashing since they control the direction of water. This, in turn, helps enhance washing hands, dishwashing, and general cleaning effectiveness,' says Luke.
Also, if your home has hard water, it won't completely remove the minerals but some will get caught by the aerator, which is similar to fixing hard water in your home. Cleaning the aerator to remove this mineral buildup is a quick task, too, as Josh puts it:
'Mineral buildup inside the aerator can clog the screen and mess with the flow, especially if you have hard water. Cleaning them takes five minutes – unscrew, rinse, and reinstall,' making the process of cleaning your faucet heads a little easier. You could also soak it in white vinegar for a deeper clean.
Meet the experts
For more money-saving hacks, learn these quick maintenance tasks that will lower your bills and avoid these mistakes driving up your bills and reducing the lifespan of your appliances.
