What is an Aerator and Why Should I Have One?

Faucet aerators could be saving you time and money every time you turn on your faucet, but you might be asking yourself “what is an aerator?” Read on to learn what an aerator is, why you might want one, and how to find the right one for you.

An aerator is a small accessory that screws on to the spout of the faucet. Water passes through the aerator screen, breaking the flow into smaller streams while simultaneously adding air.

Aerators can also reduce the amount of water that exits the faucet, as long as they include a restrictor. This both decreases the water used and increases the perceived water pressure of the faucet, making for a controlled and efficient stream that provides several benefits to the user.

The aerator conserves water and saves money, but they also provide several other benefits all of which includes:

• Conserves water (When a restrictor is included.)
• Reduces energy costs
• Increases perceived water pressure
• Provides slight filtration
• Reduces noise
• Shapes the water for an even, splash-less stream

Aerators might seem like a small deal, but they are actually recommended by the EPA as saving you more water than any other plumbing change you could make! The water that is conserved this way not only helps our planet but will do wonders for lowering your water bill.

According to CERT (Clean Energy Resource Team), it is estimated that an 0.5 GPM aerator will save $110 every year on your water bill.

When choosing an aerator there are a few key details to be aware of. Keep reading for an explanation of what to look for.

Use: Aerators vary in the amount of water flow they restrict. Kingston offers aerators with GPM flow rates ranging from 0.5 GPM, to and 2.2 GPM. These different flowrates each have their strengths. For example, if you are more concerned with saving water, a smaller flow rate would be appropriate, but for a situation where you want to fill something fast (like a pot with a potfiller) then a higher GPM would be ideal.

Male/Female Threading: The threading of a faucet can either be found on the inside or the outside of the faucet tip. If the threading is on the outside, then the faucet is male and you will need a female aerator. If the threading is on the inside you have a female faucet and you will need a male aerator.

Size: Aerators are usually sized at 15/16″ Male, or 55/64″ Female. There is also a smaller junior size (usually 13/16” M or 3/4” F). For a quick frame of reference, nickel-sized faucets fit a regular-sized aerator and dime-sized faucets fit a junior aerator.

Now that you have a better understanding of the importance of a good aerator, peruse our wide selection of aerators on sale today!