From a Master Plumber – for a Slow-Running Faucet, Check the Aerator

At one time or another, most of us have turned on a faucet, expecting a nice steady flow of water, and instead found barely a trickle coming out. No matter what you do – turning the handle as far as it will go, banging on the faucet, screaming to the gods of plumbing – nothing will increase the water flow. Time to call a plumber, right?

Well, not necessarily. Often, the problem is a plugged aerator. The faucet aerator is the piece screwed into the tip of your faucet. Its main functions are to shape the water stream coming from your faucet and to restrict your water pressure. A plugged aerator is usually something you can fix yourself with just a pair of channel lock pliers or, if you’re lucky, no tools at all.

First, check to see if the water seems slow in other faucets in the house. If not, there is a good chance you have a blocked aerator. Next, try the hot and cold water individually in the affected faucet. If both hot and cold are restricted, you should check the aerator.

To unscrew the aerator, simply turn it in a clockwise motion. Often the aerator is only hand-tight and can be removed without tools. If it is too tight to remove by hand, use a pair of channel locks. To avoid scratching the aerator, you can wrap a small towel or rag around it before gripping it with the pliers.

Once the aerator is off, look inside. Often the screen inside is full of sediment which can build up over time. This is what is restricting your water pressure. The screen, often red in color, should not be removed. This is your water restrictor and is there to save water and energy. Instead, you can simply tap the aerator until the sediment is removed, then run a little water over it to clear out the remnants. If the screens appear damaged, you may need a new aerator. They are inexpensive and can be purchased at any hardware store.

Screw the aerator back onto the faucet counterclockwise and try your water. You should have full pressure. This is not always the solution, of course, but many times it is. To save yourself some money, it’s worth checking the faucet aerator yourself before you call a plumber.