A choked aerator on your tap can be annoying, waste your time, and cause frustration due to slow water discharge. Thankfully, cleaning a choked aerator is a reasonably simple do-it-yourself task that can save costs and save time. With the help of this guide, you can fix choked aerators and restore the full speed of the water discharge.
Understanding the Issue
Before you start the repair, it’s essential to understand the root cause of the problem. A choked aerator typically occurs due to bits of dirt of sand in your storage tank or in the water itself. Too much salty water can also choke the aerator overtime causing slow discharges. The first step in resolving a problem is identifying it.
Materials Required
Make sure you have the following supplies and equipment available before you start:
- Adjustable wrench
- Thin blade
- Used toothbrush or small paint brush
Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing a Choked Aerator on your Tap
Turn Off the Water Supply
The first step in any repair is to turn off the water supply to the affected tap. This will prevent water from flowing while you work on the aerator and minimise the mess.
Remove PM Outer
The aerator is housed in a PM outer. The PM outer can be removed by turning it anti clockwise by using our hands. However, in cases when because of hard water the thread is a little stuck, you can apply the wrench on its flat surface or insert a blade in slits provided.
Examine the Aerator
Using pliers or a screwdriver, carefully pry it out, and replace it with a fresh washer of the same size and type. Once you open the PM outer, the aerator is also taken out with it. You will see deposits of dirt, small pebbles etc on the opposite side of the aerator. You can wash these over with water or brush them off gently.
Reattach the PM Outer
After cleaning the back conical surface, you can fix the aerator back in the PM outer. Make sure to fix the o’ring washer along, while tightening the PM outer back to the faucet mouth. Tighten the PM outer back using gentle force of hands or wrench/blade as the ease may be.
Turn the Water Supply Back On
After cleaning aerator, turn on the water supply once more and you will see better aeration and faster discharge rate in the water flow.
Regular Maintenance
To prevent choking of aerator, it’s a good idea to perform regular cleaning maintenance on your faucet. It is suggested to cleanse the storage tank regularly after 6-8 months. In case of areas that have unclean or hard water supply, it might be a good plan to attach a filtration unit to storage tank.
Preventing Choked Aerators
You can use above instructions to cleanse all the aerators of the various faucets fitted in your kitchen and bathroom.
Be Gentle:
When fixing the PM outer back on the faucet, avoid using excessive force. Gentle handling can prolong the life of the PM outer, as it has a thin thread.
Regular Inspections:
Periodically check all your taps for choked aerators/low discharges.
Conclusion
Although a choked aerator can be inconvenient, you can easily fix it yourself if you have the appropriate tools and know-how. Aerators save water, reduce your water bills and have an anti-splash feature to avoid wetting your clothes. However, unclean water or hard water & unclean storage tanks can cause regular choking of aerators, which can be frustrating because it leads to slow water flow rates, that can slow down tub/bucket filling.
Don’t let a choked aerator dampen your day; take action and get it fixed!