There are quite a lot of manufacturers of aerator attachments for faucets. Each of them often embellishes the capabilities of their model in order to sell products.
Based on personal experience I tell you in the article how a faucet attachment for saving water actually works, and what results you can expect from its use.
During preliminary calculations and experiments, I assessed the payback of the purchased nozzle and the money it saved. This is not written about in advertising.
Modern faucet attachments
Initially, water taps had only a tip in the form of a smooth tube. The usual continuous stream flowed from it. If water hammers occurred, the jet would splash all over the sink with a loud noise.
Then simple nozzles with a diffuser appeared. Such tips make it easier to wash hands and dishes. Water, passing through a special strainer, is broken into small streams in a uniform flow.
The strainer traps large particles of rust from water pipes. Therefore, it should be unscrewed periodically to clean off accumulated dirt.
The next step in the modernization of water taps was aerator nozzles, the designs of which not only finely spray the stream, but also add air flow to it, creating small savings.
Nowadays you can find taps with touch sensors that supply water when you raise your hands or dishes. They have built-in filters, water heaters, and other improvements. But this is a topic for another article.
Review of aerator nozzles for beginners
One of my first purchases in Chinese internet stores had a rotating two-mode aerator nozzle for the faucet.
The description stated that its use allows saving about 50-60% of flowing water. But I was more interested in the additional conveniences in its operation.
On the spout of virtually any modern water faucet, a sleeve with a strainer is screwed on. As a rule, it only normalizes the flow and traps large particles. Home handyman can independently replace it with a more functional one without calling a specialist.
The modern range of aerator nozzles has been significantly increased. Structurally, they can be divided into several categories:
- with unregulated flow;
- jet regulating;
- rotary;
- with different water supply modes;
- one-click switches;
- with decorative functions (in the form of any figures, LED backlight and others).
Models are produced that combine several of the above categories. For example, in the aerator nozzle I purchased, you can not only set the flow mode and shape of the jet, but also change its angle by positioning the hinge or flexible hose.
Using the nozzle allows you to:
- reduce water hammer, spray the jet to create a more uniform flow;
- save water when washing dishes, hands, vegetables or fruits;
- saturate the flow with oxygen, which improves the removal of soap, chemicals, and dirt;
- reduce the amount of chlorine in water due to weathering during aeration;
- reduce the noise of the flowing stream;
- trap large particles coming from the water pipe.
The design of such a water-saving nozzle is an ordinary bushing with a thread for attaching to the spout of a water tap. Inside the housing there is a cartridge that aerates the flow.
This aerator is visually practically no different from a conventional water divider, which is standardly installed in a faucet. But the differences in the operation of the aerator cartridge and the divider mesh are clearly noticeable by the jet created.
This aerator additionally allows you to change the jet with an adjusting screw: you only need a regular flat-head screwdriver.
The adjustment range depends on the aerator model and ranges from approximately 0 to 6 liters per minute.
Advantage of the nozzle: the flow of one tap is regulated, not the whole plumbing system generally.
Aerators with adjustable angle of rotation
There are types of water-saving nozzles with the ability to change the angle of the jet.
Structurally, such an aerator consists of two parts connected by a hinge or hose. The lower part of the nozzle is movable, which allows you to direct water at a certain angle. Such models are convenient for washing the sink, since the flow can be directed to any corner.
Aerators with different jet flow modes
This interesting type of aerator allows you to change the shape of the flow on the fly.
This process is shown in a short video.
A standard aerator simply dispenses water enriched with air bubbles. The models under consideration allow you to instantly change the flow from a simple jet to a shower or switch from a standard non-aerated mode to aeration. This depends on the specific design of the device.
One click water switches
The principle of operation of such a nozzle is reduced to creating a jet after pressing a button on it.
Water immediately starts flowing from the tap, but after a few seconds the supply stops. The operating time is adjusted on the nozzle using a special key included in the factory kit. This technique really does provide savings.
It should be noted that the installation of such a nozzle requires the presence of water return valves in the water supply system. Otherwise, problems may arise due to different pressures of the cold and hot flows in the mixer.
Aerators with decorative functions
In some cases, the owner may be interested in the decoration created by the nozzle.
These can be figures that are interesting to children or designs that perform other actions. For example, there are nozzles that highlight the exiting stream. Moreover, the color of the lighting depends on the temperature of the flow in the tap.
How water is saved: explained from scratch
An aerator is a nozzle on a faucet spout that reduces the volume of water passing through it, maintaining flow pressure by mixing liquid with air bubbles.
This can be achieved in different ways: depending on the design of a particular model.
To obtain the result, the stream of water in the tap must be strong enough: with low pressure, aeration does not occur .
Mechanical design
The water flow passes through the small holes of the cartridge. They break it into small streams, giving them the direction of movement so that upon collision they mix with air.
Aerated water is created at the mixer outlet.
Vacuum design
At the point of attachment to the crane due to special valve narrowing of the channel is ensured. It creates an area high pressure, and on the back side of the aerator - low.
Through special openings, air enters the system and, due to the pressure difference, mixes with the passing flow, providing aeration.
What you need to understand about saving
In fact, everything is banally simple. The manufacturer compared the volume of water flowing from the tap per unit of time with and without the nozzle in aerator mode and showed exactly these figures.
It actually leaks through the aerator. less water. But in practice, everything looks more complicated, and the savings created are much smaller.
Things to consider:
- It’s one thing to wash dishes and quite another to fill a pan with water: in the second case, the nozzle will simply delay the time it takes to fill the container. Savings will only occur when washing hands, dishes, vegetables, fruits in more comfortable conditions.
- The faucet attachment for saving water is most in demand in the kitchen. Its share in total consumption will be different for each family. But it will not greatly affect the total consumption.
- A regular faucet has a strainer, which, although not to the same extent, performs part of the functions of the new aerator nozzle.
We conclude that We will not get a significant effect with this nozzle , although some water will be saved.
I would like to draw your attention to an important point - the payback of the aerator.
When to expect a return on money: an economist’s opinion
The moment when a nozzle starts saving money can be determined by dividing the cost for which it was purchased by the approximate price of water saved per month. Only after this period has expired will it pay for itself and begin to really save money.
The most difficult thing in this matter is to determine the share of water saved. You can take the consumption for the month in which the aerator was not working and compare it with the figures for the same period when using the nozzle. But these characteristics differ depending on the season and a number of other reasons.
It is more correct to estimate the share that we allocate to the consumption of the tap where the aerator will be installed in the total volume of water consumed.
To do this we need to complete 3 steps:
- Measure the volume of water flowing out of the tap per unit of time with the old nozzle and the new aerator;
- Estimate what proportion of water from the tap with nozzle will be used for washing and how much of it will be spent filling pots and kettles;
- Calculate the consumption through the faucet for the month and the share of other consumers: washing machine, dishwasher, shower in the bathroom, toilet, other taps.
I will dwell on these points in more detail.
In the first step, we will need to measure the time and volume of liquid consumed. Everything is simple here: turn on the stopwatch and at the same time fully open the tap. After a fixed period, we close the water and check its quantity in the container.
This is done twice: once with the old faucet attachment, and the second with the aerator. To determine savings you need:
- in both cases, use the same period of time and compare volumes;
- or fill one container, measuring the duration of its filling.
The second step is estimated approximately. Just decide for yourself what share to allocate to the economy mode due to aeration, and how much for other purposes.
- washing machine for washing;
- dishwasher during operation;
- while using the shower (the norm is about 9 liters per minute);
- flushing the toilet, etc.
Knowing the numbers for all three points, we can calculate the money saved per month.
Let's say our savings are:
- 50% - for washing from a tap with a nozzle, as advertised by the manufacturer;
- 35% - from it, taking into account the filling of containers;
- 7% is the share of consumption of a faucet with a nozzle from the total water supply.
Let the total consumption for the month be 15 cubic meters (1 cubic meter = 1000 liters).
Accordingly, the result will be like this:
- Find the water consumption per month through a faucet with a nozzle:
15 x 7% = 1.05m3;
- We determine the share of this expense attributable to washing, which can be saved by excluding the collection of water in the container:
1.05 x 35% = 0.37 m3;
- We calculate the total water savings per apartment per month due to the nozzle:
0.37 x 50% = 0.18 m3.
We multiply the calculated 0.18 m 3 by the tariff and get money saved per month. Agree, the amount is small. Payback will not come soon: you need to divide its cost by the result obtained.
Considering the price of the aerator and its service life, the savings from such a nozzle are more a myth than a reality. So You should not purchase this attachment solely in the hope of saving your family budget .
However, even without this, there are quite a lot of aerators useful functions to think about purchasing suitable model.
Replacing the aerator on a mixer: personal experience
The standard nozzle on the faucet is screwed on. To unscrew it, just take a wrench suitable size and work with it without much effort. This was done to allow it to be washed or replaced.
I tell you how I installed the new model.
Recently a package arrived with the attachment I ordered. The old one served for about three years, but its deficiency manifested itself at the junction with the crane jib. The plastic case could not withstand the load: a piece with a thread simply fell off from the aerator.
Water began to seep through the tap, bypassing the nozzle. This is clearly visible in the photograph.
I bought the old model on the principle: where is cheaper. If you compare it with a new nozzle of the same type, you can notice a number of differences. The new aerator looks more reliable: it has o-rings that were not there before.
Remembering the history of the first nozzle, I not only screwed the second one, but for reliability I used FUM tape, which is usually used to fill pipe joints.
This way I am guaranteed to ensure that there are no leaks in the place where the faucet with nozzle is attached.
Before purchasing an aerator, pay attention to the design of the body: it may have internal or external threads. To avoid installation problems, choose the model that matches your faucet.
This information is provided in the description. My aerator model has the ability to be installed in both versions.
If you neglect this little detail, then later you will have to look for an adapter, and this is not only a waste of time and money, but also an unnecessary connection.
My conclusions
All these attachments can be useful in everyday life due to their functionality, even without taking into account water saving. When purchasing, evaluate the case material, build quality, and consumer reviews. Special attention pay attention to goods purchased through online stores.
| Material | Characteristics |
| Extruded aluminum | Highly susceptible mechanical stress and oxidation. Used in the production of cheap nozzles with short term services. |
| Plain or chrome steel | The metal is destroyed by water, but lasts a little longer than extruded aluminum. |
| Bronze, brass | Higher cost, longer service life. |
| Plastic | Inexpensive material, subject to mechanical stress. It is low cost and relatively long term service subject to careful handling. |
| Ceramics | Used for making internal elements aerator. The most durable and expensive material. |
Newer models are constantly entering the market, differing best characteristics, functionality.
For example, the Swedish company Altered has developed a nozzle that converts water into a stream of continuous fog. In this case, almost the entire stream falls on the hands/fruits/dishes. Only a small fraction of it flows past. This aerator saves up to 98% when washing.
It provides a second regular dialing mode. The Altered attachment may be of interest to many, but currently its price ranges from 31 euros or more.
Are you unhappy with the cost of utilities, and are spending on water simply ruinous? So, it's time to learn to save. This task became significantly easier when a unique device appeared. This is a sensor attachment for your faucet to save water. This incredible piece of engineering allows you to do 70% less. The use of the device will save the family budget from leaking into the pockets of utility workers. The money that was saved is, one might say, extra earnings. The fate of this money will be decided by you, and not by housing and communal services companies.
The importance of saving water
The need for economical use of water is important both for the economy of the country and for the economy of individual households. The water saving faucet attachment is the result of the latest innovations.
There is a constant shortage of water in the world. Water saving has become very important. The aerator faucet attachment, in addition to reducing water consumption, improves its quality. The use of high quality materials that have undergone special processing gives the device high performance characteristics, corrosion resistance. In addition, water after exposure to it acquires antibacterial and antiviral properties.
The water-saving kitchen faucet attachment is an ingenious modification of the conventional aerator attachment for It is one of the most popular products that can make life easier for ordinary city residents, significantly reducing utility costs.
Operating principle of the aerator
The design of the faucet attachment for saving water is based on the principle of mixing the water flow with air in the device itself.
When a stream of water passes through the narrowest part, pressure is created. The membrane, which performs the task of the expander, distributes pressure throughout the entire space of the device using all holes. This allows you to create an area of high pressure in the expansion membrane in its top side. A special membrane device allows you to create a vacuum in the opposite part of it.
Pressure difference in different parts The device causes the outside air to rise into the aerator through the holes located in the side of the device along the perimeter of the membrane. The stream of water is saturated with air bubbles. Thus, up to 70% of water is displaced from the water flow.
The water jet is saturated (aerated) with air. The resulting mixture contains two parts of air and one part of water. This effect allows you to achieve savings.
If the tap is fully open, approximately 12 liters of liquid are consumed per minute in a conventional mixer. The water saving faucet attachment, which is installed on the mixer, allows you to reduce water consumption by three times, and the flow pressure does not change, and the functionality of the faucet even increases, since it is able to regulate the flow rate.
Advantages
In addition to the economic benefits noticeable to the naked eye, purchasing a device to save water has a number of other advantages:
- Absence of water hammer and splashes in the flow.
- Constant flow rate with an aerator economizer.
- Operation in two operating modes - for everyday needs and for accelerated filling of containers.
- Simplest installation.
- The use of specially treated stainless steel helps to resist the appearance of deposits.
- Using an aerator membrane for filtration.
- Compact dimensions of the device.
- Pleasant appearance of the device.
- Possibility to change the angle of the water jet.
- Ability to work with different cranes.
- Long working life.
The water pressure is controlled by light pressure on the aerator in its lower part.
Water-saving aerator: Mixxen Premium
One of low-cost solutions On the market is the Mixxen water saving faucet attachment, equipped with a pressure regulator. It makes it possible to reduce consumption by 5 times.
The device is based on German technology, has a French certificate, and is manufactured in Ukraine.
This quality device is made of brass. It is suitable for taps with both external and internal threads. The aerator can operate in two modes - shower and jet.
You can control the water pressure using a lever located on the nozzle.
Service
The main requirement in terms of maintenance The appliance is strictly prohibited from using detergents. In addition, you should not immerse the aerator in water for a long time. If the aerator needs to be cleaned, you just need to wipe it using a damp cloth.
To save water, the faucet attachment should not be screwed tightly; a small force is enough to securely fasten it.
An important factor in the quality operation of the device is that the crane’s warranty has not yet expired.
To increase the service life of the device, do not overload it, turning on the water to maximum.
Compliance with these requirements will ensure long-term operation of the device.
Where to buy
Faucet attachments for saving water are sold in almost every plumbing store. If you don’t see it there, look in online stores. On the Internet you can find many aerators for every taste at a variety of prices from 2 to 16 USD. e.
Very high quality attachments are produced by the Taiwanese company Hihippo. You can order devices on its official website.
How much water can you save?
Examination real life and the experience of people who were lucky enough to use the economizer nozzle prove that it allows you to achieve an average saving of almost 60% of water. Consequently, the cost of hot and cold water supply will be halved.
First, we try to wash dishes without an aerator. At the same time, we control the consumption; it shows that 60 liters of hot water and 80 liters of cold water were spent on washing dishes.
We repeat the experiment using As a result of its use, water consumption decreased due to its saturation with air - 20 liters of hot water and 20 liters of cold water were consumed.
The result speaks for itself.
Touch attachments
The latest invention of European specialists has already found wide application in hotels, restaurants and airports. After all big business knows how to minimize costs. Now, with the purchase of a sensor aerator nozzle, such savings have become available to you. Everyday life provides many opportunities for such savings: washing dishes, washing your face. The nozzle on the sensors works in a very simple way: if you put your hands in, the water starts flowing, if you remove it, it stops flowing.
Progress of touch attachments
Sensor devices for saving water were invented quite a long time ago, but they were expensive and were built into the mixer. Everything changed with the appearance of a nozzle that can be installed in just a couple of minutes and is much cheaper than faucets equipped with a sensor. Anyone can use the nozzle, and its use pays for itself in less than a year. When you change location, you simply unscrew the attachment to install it in your new home.
Benefits and Benefits
Take care of water and protect environment necessary. In the same way, you need to protect the health of your family. It is well known that we carry many pathogens of various diseases on our hands from public places. We also cook food and do repairs. At the same time, when going to wash our hands, we often turn on the tap with dirty hands. The new sensor nozzle allows you to avoid contact between dirty hands and the faucet. You just need to put your hands under the tap - the water will flow itself. Without spending extra effort, you make life more comfortable.
Many people all over the planet have chosen touch attachments and do not regret it at all.
Operating modes
The sensor attachment is designed to work in 2 modes:
- Manual, which is activated when necessary to fill the dishes with water.
- Automatic, working only when hands or objects to be washed come under the tap.
The modes are controlled via a button on the front of the nozzle.
If you are using the nozzle for the first time, you must open the tap, adjust the water pressure and press the activation button. After a minute has passed, the nozzle will start working automatically.
Switching off the device
To turn the nozzle off, you need to set it to manual mode. To do this, you need to press once and then turn off the taps. In this case, the green LED will glow for another minute, after which the timer will turn off the device.
In addition, the sensor attachment has protection. When you switch it to manual mode, the protection will work automatically if water flows for several minutes.
INimpressions
A faucet attachment for saving water, a photo of which can be seen in the article, significantly reduces the leakage of money.
There are some nuances in the operation of the device. Even a slight movement of your hands to the side is enough for the water to stop.
True, these minor inconveniences are noticed only at first. Literally two days are enough to get used to working with the nozzle, and it is nothing but pleasure.
The nozzle is perfect for owners of centralized or electric water heater, which is adjusted to supply water at a certain temperature.
Where the water temperature is adjusted approximately, some inconvenience may occur.
For example, very hot water may initially flow from the tap. In such cases, you need to either drain some water until it cools down, or adjust the boiler to a lower temperature.
Another nuance appears if the boiler is located far from the tap. In this case, before the hot water begins to flow, you have to drain the cold water already in the pipe between the boiler and the nozzle. This is not very good, since water losses occur, but savings are claimed.
In light of the increase in utility tariffs and the decrease in living standards due to the economic crisis, most people are looking for ways to save money. And here, helpful businessmen offer to buy an aerator (a special attachment for the faucet), which, according to them, can reduce water consumption by 40-50%. Isn't it great to buy something once that will pay for itself in just 1-2 months and will continue to save you money? It is with this slogan that marketers encourage people to buy aerators.
The variety of models, as well as prices, is impressive. There are very simple attachments for 400-600 rubles, and rotating or backlit ones for 1100-1300 rubles. Some online stores even create colorful sales pages on which they vividly describe the benefits of purchasing an aerator and invite you to definitely buy the device. It’s true that their prices are steep. The same model that costs 600 rubles in a regular plumbing supply store is priced at 1,500 rubles, or even higher. But can aerators really reduce water consumption and help save money on utility bills? Or is this a new marketing ploy aimed at extracting money from the pockets of ordinary people?
What is an aerator
The aerator is a special nozzle on the mixer, along the perimeter of which there is a series of small holes. According to sellers, water consumption is reduced by sucking air through these holes, which dilutes the stream of water.
There are internal aerators that are screwed into the faucet spout, and external ones, which are a structure that fits onto the faucet from above. They are usually made of brass, stainless steel, plastic or extruded aluminum. In addition to simple attachments, models with a rotating head or with backlight are also available. These aerators are quite bulky and can be problematic for those whose faucets are located too low above the sink.
Is it profitable to buy
Let's assume that the aerator can actually save up to 50% of water consumption. Let's see how already on this beautiful phrase“50% water saving” is being deceived by marketers and let’s calculate whether it is really profitable to purchase an aerator or whether you will simply spend money once again and will not even be able to recoup the cost of the product.
The main water consumption in the house is shower, bathtub and toilet cistern flush. The aerator is designed for installation on a water tap in the bathtub and kitchen. Tap water is mostly used to wash your face, brush your teeth or wash dishes. There is absolutely no way to save money by filling a bathtub, kettle or pan with water, since it is the volume that is needed. The total consumption of water from the tap compared to the volume that is consumed when taking a shower or bath, as well as flushing the toilet, is only a small part - about 10%.
Let's carry out conditional calculations. On average, a family of 4 uses approximately 24 cubic meters of water. Even if the same amount of cold and hot water flows, although in practice the majority uses cold water much more. Approximate water tariffs for Moscow are 130 rubles for hot water, 35 rubles for cold water, 30 rubles for wastewater disposal (Tariffs are approximate, since tariffs vary depending on the organization and location of the house. In the regions, prices are even lower). The total is 130x12+35x12+30x24 = 1560+420+720=2700 rubles. In total, for water consumed directly from the tap, the payment amount is approximately 270 rubles. If we assume that the aerator really saves 50% of water, then the amount saved will be only 135 rubles per month. And this despite the fact that there are 4 people in the family. But you were promised 50% savings, where it was understood that the savings would be from the entire amount of payment for utility services for water supply, that is, in our case, 1350 rubles, and not 135.
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Do not forget that there are at least two taps in the apartment (if you do not have two bathrooms) - in the kitchen and in the bathroom. This means you need to install 2 aerators. The cost of one nozzle is about 500-600 rubles, if you do not buy very simple and cheap options that will fall apart in a month. In total, if we assume that aerators really reduce water consumption by 50% of water, then with a cost of 1000-1200 rubles on devices and savings of 135 rubles monthly, the paid funds will be returned to you only after 7-9 months. And given the fragility of the structure and the likelihood of rust, they will have to be replaced by that time.
So the first deception of the sellers was revealed. They claim that aerators save 50% of water, forgetting to clarify that this figure is not calculated from the entire volume of water consumed, but only from a tenth of it. But okay, if this was their worst deception. If the family is large, then it would make sense to buy durable and reliable attachments that would provide at least some savings after at least a year. But no! The worst deception of marketers lies in the fact that aerators do not actually save anything!
50% water savings? Alas…
At one time, angry because of another increase in utility tariffs and having heard a lot of beautiful promises about saving water with the help of an aerator, I also bought myself this interesting contraption with high hopes. I paid about 500 rubles for it at a plumbing store. It was really easy to install, just as the manufacturer promised. That's where all the positives ended.
Screwing on the nozzle and hoping that it would really save me 50% of water was not enough for me. Therefore, full of enthusiasm, I decided to check whether the sellers told me the truth or not. My tools for conducting the experiment were two three-liter jars and a timer on my phone. 10 seconds to fill tap jars with and without an aerator with water and compare the difference in the volumes obtained. Do you think it really was 50%? Whatever the case! Alas, there was the same amount of water in the jars. The difference was no more than 100 ml, and this despite the fact that both jars were filled with approximately 2 liters. The video clearly demonstrates an experiment to check water flow using an aerator.
I only had to regret the purchase and the money spent. Later, a familiar plumber explained that in fact the aerator simply works as a water distributor. The same volume of water is poured out not in one continuous stream, but through several holes. The water pressure is the same, the volume is the same, so there is no question of reducing consumption, and therefore, saving costs on utilities for supply.
In total, having bought an aerator for yourself in the hope of significantly saving on water bills, a person will only spend money and time on purchasing and installing the part and become the owner of an unnecessary trinket. In addition, a massive faucet attachment can cause discomfort when washing hands or pouring water into dishes, as it greatly reduces the distance between the faucet and the sink.
Aerators are installed on all modern mixers and represent strainer on the faucet spout. This small item has important for the plumbing system.
Many people mistakenly believe that this is some kind of filter and dismantle it. They motivate their actions by the fact that they use special water purification devices that are of higher quality and more efficient. Others believe that such a “mesh” reduces the already low water pressure, and also remove it from the mixer. However, this is fundamentally wrong - let's figure out why.
What is it?
The aerator is a mesh in the mixer. If you try to stick your finger into the tap (the space from which water flows), you will feel the presence of a mesh attachment in it. This is the aerator.
It includes a housing and a plastic module equipped with a filter system. Between them there are gaskets made of rubber or silicone. The module, in turn, consists of several filter meshes that are laid in a certain way. The first two ensure the direction of the stream and also perform a cleansing function, the others mix water with air bubbles.
Air enters the device through small holes located around its perimeter. After this, oxygen ends up in the inner chamber, where it “meets” water.
Very common materials are used to manufacture the device.
- Metal. Available models with low price. However, they are short-lived, because under the influence of water and limescale their surface becomes corroded and destroyed.
- Polymers. Such aerators are not afraid of exposure to water, and therefore have a longer service life. The advantage is also affordability.
- Non-ferrous metals (bronze, brass), ceramics. The most expensive, but also the highest quality aerators.
Purpose
People interested in linguistics may have noticed the similarity of the term aerator to the Greek word aeration, which means air. This similarity is not accidental, since the design of the aerator allows water flows to be mixed with air in order to reduce water consumption without a reduction in the intensity of the stream noticeable to the user. Simply put, a mesh attachment installed on a faucet is used to save water. Moreover, the latter can reach 75%.
On average, about 15 liters of water flows through the tap per minute; using an aerator allows you to reduce this figure by 2-2.5 times. This is explained by the fact that when mixed with air, the volume of the jet increases, so the pressure remains unchanged.
Water saving is not the only function of the aerator. The device also avoids splashing. Water saturated with oxygen “softens” and becomes foamy – this ensures “envelopment” of the object being washed without splashing the liquid. At the same time, the consumer does not experience a lack of air flow; he does not in any way feel a decrease in the volume of water when using the aerator.
It is important that when passing through air bubbles, water becomes less chlorinated: oxygen molecules bind and remove residual chlorine molecules. And the presence of oxygen bubbles in it contributes to better cleaning of surfaces: detergents are activated in a gas environment. Finally, large and medium-sized particles of limescale contaminants are retained in the “grid” without entering the water stream.
Thus, such a “saver” for the mixer allows you to reduce water consumption and also improve its quality.
The advantages of this plumbing element are characterized by the fact that it:
- saves water;
- improves water quality;
- reduces the amount of noise when water comes out of the tap;
- has an affordable price;
- Easy to install and also replace with another one.
The aerator should be changed periodically (once a year). When using old pipes, a replacement process is needed every 6 months.
Species
There are several types of aerators.
Vacuum
The device is equipped with a vacuum valve. With its help, it is possible to compress water under pressure, due to which aeration is produced. The savings in water consumption are enormous: only 1.1 liters comes out of the tap per minute. Depending on the characteristics of the valve, automatic, kinetic and combined varieties are distinguished.
Turning
It is called that because the aerator has 2 operating modes: in the form of a jet and a spray. The principle of operation is based on changing the force of the water flow. A special feature of rotary models is the presence of a swivel joint. Thanks to this, the water jet can be directed at any angle, which is very convenient.
Flexible hose aerator
The principle of operation and design of this unit is similar to the functioning of the previous one. However, the aerator here is a flexible hose. The diffuser allows you to divide water into small jets, pre-saturating it with oxygen in the vortex chamber, and the flexible “tube” makes it possible to direct the jet at a convenient angle. Rotary and aerator on flexible hose Most often installed on kitchen plumbing elements. This type of device is especially convenient for small sink sizes or insufficient spout dynamics. Saving water when using this model is achieved by enriching the liquid with air bubbles, and also due to the fact that the jet can be directed at a specific contaminated object.
Aerator with light
When the jet falls, the aerator illuminates it different colors, indicating the temperature of the liquid. Green light indicates a comfortable and safe temperature of up to 29 C, blue light indicates water with a temperature of 30-38 C, red light indicates water with a temperature above 38 C. Operation is possible due to the rotation of the device’s own turbine. In other words, they do not have power sources, and therefore are completely safe. Besides practical function, such models carry an aesthetic meaning. Most often they are installed on faucets in the bathroom and shower, but nothing prevents you from equipping a kitchen faucet with such an aerator.
According to the installation method, aerators are distinguished as external and internal. The first ones are mounted on the external thread of the spout. On internal thread internal type aerators are screwed on accordingly.
There are also decorative aerators. According to their principle of action, they can belong to any type discussed above. The peculiarity is that the aerator has the appearance of an animal or other figure. Such a faucet will interest children and distract them (relevant if for some reason the child does not want to take a bath, for example). In addition to “children’s”, decorative aerators can be in the shape of a spiral or have other design solutions.
The appearance of the nozzle affects the principle of operation of the aerator. There are two types of sprayers.
- Disk. Equipped with discs with small holes. When passing through them, the water flow is broken into streams, which are then cut by the reflector.
- Slotted. The device is equipped with slots, through which water is saturated with oxygen. The water stream then hits the deflecting disc, causing the liquid to break into droplets. Finally, the jet is cut through a mesh.
If using a mixer non-standard shape or the size of the spout, for example, rectangular, then the aerator must match it in shape and dimensions. In this case, you will have to look for a device for a specific model. You can make your search easier by immediately contacting the manufacturer of the original plumbing fixtures (the same brand that you have in your home). As a rule, leading manufacturers produce not only faucets, but also separate components for them.
Modern models of aerators act not only as a water flow regulator, but can also become a filter. Such models have additional cleaning systems based on activated carbon, ion exchange magnetic grid. A more expensive device can saturate water with microelements and purify it of viruses. Important point: such aerators can only be installed on a faucet with cold water. If you pass hot water through the filter, it will lose its cleaning properties.
Among the “new products” is a version of an aerator with pressure compensation. As you know, as pressure increases, water consumption also increases. Compensating devices prevent this by using an adjustable O-ring that keeps the water volume constant regardless of pressure. Like bottom valves on faucets, such devices can reduce water consumption by an average of 40-50%.
Also worthy of attention is the sensor nozzle, which is installed instead of the aerator and also serves to save tap water. Its functioning is based on a reaction to movement. If you put your hands under the tap, water starts flowing automatically. As soon as you remove your hands, the stream stops. For more convenient use, the system is equipped with a button, thanks to which you can switch from self made nozzles (necessary if you need to run a bath or fill a kettle) to automatic mode.
Depending on the type of aerator used, various types water flow.
- Aerated. Filled with air bubbles, which visually and kinetically feels like foamed, “soft” water. The jets do not splash. This option is optimal for home use.
- Laminar. The stream is smooth, intense, without splashing. This type of water flow is used in medical institutions and laboratories.
- Spray. Thanks to the sprayer, many volumetric miniature jets are created. The volume of flow is enough to cover your hands. Typically used in public places.
Dimensions
Aerators can differ not only in the principle of operation and appearance, but also the thread sizes. This is a very important parameter, since the thread size of the device must match the diameter of the spout. In other words, a thread diameter of 18 ml will not be suitable for a faucet with a diameter of 22 mm, for example. By the way, standard internal diameter The spout values are exactly 18 and 19 mm.
Traditionally, the diameter of the aerator is 12-1200 mm, and the diameter of the air channel is from 20 to 2200 mm. The height of the device is from 14 to 2000 mm.
There are 3 standards for external/internal thread diameter: 18/16, 24/22, 28/26 mm. That is, if an external thread of 18 mm is used for a faucet, then a device with a diameter of 16 mm is required for the same faucet (if necessary, install an internal aerator).
In addition to the dimensions, it is important that the device has the appropriate type of thread: external or internal. For spout with external thread a similar aerator with external thread is required and vice versa.
Manufacturers
Today there are many manufacturers of aerators on the market, but not all of them can boast of impeccable product quality. The most authoritative, invariably leading the ranking of manufacturers of plumbing fixtures, are the following companies.
- Grohe. A world famous brand from Germany, characterized by high quality aerators. The service life of some models can reach 10 years. It is not surprising that the devices are quite expensive (350-1000 rubles).
- Oras. Production is established in Finland. Reviews also suggest the high quality of the products. The range includes aerators both complete with a mixer and as external devices. The price of the latter varies between 250-500 rubles.
One of the most important selection criteria is the throughput of the device, that is, an indicator of the maximum amount of water in liters the aerator will pass per minute. A standard mixer, not equipped with an aerator, flows 12-15 l/min.
If you use an aerator with a capacity of 3.5 l/min, you can reduce water consumption by 75%. At bandwidth at 5.5 l/min the savings will be 49%.
- Timo. Another Finnish manufacturer that can be proud of its impeccable product quality. Provided that the manufacturer's products are installed by representatives service center company, and subject to proper operating conditions, Timo provides a 5-year warranty on plumbing elements and plumbing fixtures.
- Jacob Delafon. A French brand known as a winner in the Bathroom Design category. Offers high-quality premium segment aerators, average price which are 500-700 rubles.
Devices from Gardena, Roka, and Lemark are also popular.
How to choose?
Let's consider the main criteria that must be followed when choosing an aerator.
- Thread type: external or internal. By the way, if you bought an external aerator and the faucet has an internal spout, you can use a special adapter. In this case, you can use the purchased element, although it will be located a little lower - closer to the sink.
- Material. Preference should be given to aerators made of brass, copper, and stainless steel. They can have a considerable cost (compared to plastic ones), but it is usually justified long term device services.
- Diameter. It is important that the diameter of the aerator matches the diameter of the spout. The standard diameters are 20, 22, 24, 28 mm.
- Design. The aerator and faucet must become a single whole not only from a technical, but also from an aesthetic point of view. For example, if the faucet is stylized as bronze, then the aerator for it should be selected in the same way (primarily this applies to external devices).
If you rarely use the tap (for example, you don’t live in an apartment), then you can save money and install plastic aerators. If necessary, you can replace them with more reliable ones. They do not stick to the tap and are easily removed, unlike aluminum and steel structures, which are subject to corrosion and as a result stick to the spout. Removing them can sometimes be problematic.
Modern faucets are equipped with a small element called an aerator, which is attached to the place where the water flows from the tap. If we touch on the issue of linguistics, then we can to some extent understand what the mentioned device is, since there is a Greek word “aeration”, meaning “air”. Based on this, an aerator should be considered a device installed on a water mixer for the purpose of saturating water with air.
Why do you need an aerator?
An important aspect of the nozzle is that it saves water.
Firstly, the water flow passing through the aerator becomes soft, that is, its power normalizes, which is always constant. This provides savings in terms of water consumption. It is believed that at least 15 liters of water per minute pass through one single tap. In the case of installing an aerator, this situation changes radically, since there is a global decrease in water consumption (on average by 2 times).
Secondly, the aerator allows you to use water with greater comfort by changing the quality of the water stream, which stops hitting one place, thereby causing a large amount of splashes. The flow of water passing through the aerator becomes foamy to a certain extent, acquiring a soft effect on everything where it hits. Therefore, additional convenience is acquired, for example, when washing dishes, since in in this case there is practically no splashing, and a kind of enveloping water flow effectively washes away the detergent from both dishes and human hands.
Thirdly, the design of the aerator leads to the purification of water from large compounds in the form of various types of deposits, which has a positive effect on water quality. Another important circumstance is the reduction of chlorine compounds in the water stream due to its saturation with oxygen, as this creates conditions for the weathering of such compounds.
What are the pros and cons of an aerator?
The advantages of using an aerator include the following:
- a significant reduction in water consumption, when, as already mentioned, a two-time reduction in its consumption is achieved;
- less water noise due to softening the flow pressure;
- improving water quality (less chlorine and preventing the passage of large sediment particles);
- ease of installation, which can be done without the involvement of specialists;
- low cost, rarely exceeding the price tag of 600 rubles.
As for the disadvantages, there are few of them, but they still exist:
- reducing the volume of water passing through the aerator, which somewhat complicates the process of filling large containers, for example, a bathtub;
- frequent repairs of aerators or their complete replacement is associated with poor water quality, when this kind of need can arise quite regularly, for example, once every six months.
What types of aerators are there?
- Vacuum, allowing you to save water not by 2 times, but by 4 times, which becomes possible thanks to the special design of the vacuum valve, which provides strong compression of water to release a powerful jet.
- Adjustable, also called rotary, capable of dissecting the flow of water, which leads to a change in its power. As a result, two operating modes of such an aerator become available with the formation of a jet or spray.
- Unregulated, the use of which cannot in any way affect the flow rate of outgoing water.
- Backlit, used not only to add aesthetics to the process of water consumption, but also to obtain certain information. Thus, depending on the water temperature, color gradation occurs: green (up to 31°C), blue (up to 43°C) and red (up to 45°C). Aerators of this kind are capable of operating in conditions where the water temperature is within 60 °C. Their operation does not require the presence of an energy source, since such aerators contain a special microturbine, supplemented by an electric generator.
- Decorative, for example, in the form of bright animal figures, which may interest children, or forming a water flow twisted into a spiral, but these are design decisions.
How does the aerator work?
The main components of the aerator are the body of this device; a plastic module that includes a certain number of filters; gasket based on rubber or silicone.
Main types of thread
Frame
One of three main options can be used as the body material:
- non-ferrous metals in the form of brass and bronze, as well as ceramics, guaranteeing the durability of the device in question;
- ordinary metals used to create budget designs, susceptible to corrosion, which significantly reduces their service life;
- plastic, affordable models, but of lower quality compared to those made of metal.
Plastic module
The design of the module that directly saturates water with air assumes the presence of a so-called slotted cartridge with slots, or a disk reflector with holes, due to which the mentioned process occurs. As for the filter, it consists of meshes with small cells placed in a cylindrical body, where two layers of such meshes are responsible for cleaning, stopping large fragments of sediment, and those that go further provide excess air in the water flow. At the same time, aerators produced by different manufacturers may differ slightly from each other in terms of design.
Pad
A rubber or silicone ring for a hermetic connection of the aerator with a water tap, the density of which depends on the degree of fixation carried out using a threaded connection. There are nozzles for water aeration that have internal or external threads, which consumers should take into account when purchasing this type of product.
How to dismantle/install aerators and clean them?
Typically, aerators come complete with water taps, so initially there is a need to dismantle them for cleaning, and not vice versa. Tap water contains various impurities that cause sediment to appear on the filter mesh, which leads to a decrease in water pressure, up to a complete stop of flow from the tap. Based on this, it becomes necessary to dismantle the aerator in order to clean it or completely replace it if it is not possible to restore the functionality of this device. To do this you must adhere to next order actions:
- Use a special key for plumbing or regular pliers to dismantle the aerator. You can also try to unscrew the nozzle by hand, but this usually does not work because over time threaded connection accumulates sediment, which prevents unscrewing. There are two notches on the aerator body that provide grip with the tool. In this case, you need to unscrew the nozzle clockwise, starting from the view from above. To avoid scratching the case, you should wrap the pliers, for example, with electrical tape or other suitable material.
- After the nozzle is removed, remove the gasket and check the degree of wear. If the condition of the rubber (silicone) ring is unsatisfactory, make sure to replace it.
- At the next stage, you should proceed to directly disassembling the aerator. To do this, you need to remove all the filters in the form of meshes and clean the cells using a needle, awl and (or) a toothbrush under running water. This operation does not always end in success, since not all types of deposits can be removed mechanically. What makes you turn to chemical method cleaning with apple cider vinegar, which can be replaced with any detergent used in everyday life. In particular, it is necessary to place the filters in the product of your choice until the deposits are completely dissolved. To remove rust, you can use special chemical compositions, which are intended for the care of plumbing equipment.
If cleaning of all elements of the aerator was successful, then you can proceed to installing the device, trying to repeat your previous steps related to dismantling, in reverse order. In this case, one important condition must be observed in relation to the filter meshes, which must be laid so that the edges of the cells of each layer form an angle of 45° to the other layer.
Before you begin installing the attachment, be sure to make sure the rubber ring gasket is in place. Otherwise, it will not be possible to achieve sealing, and this will cause a leak. During installation, the aerator should be screwed counterclockwise without fanaticism, observing the principle of applying only the required amount of effort and no more. If you do not follow this advice, you can easily damage the nozzle or faucet of your water mixer.
Since aerators are different, in particular, to a certain extent high-tech, as for backlit devices, the question may arise: how to install such models? There can be only one answer here, implying that the installation of illuminated aerators is carried out in the same way as traditional devices of this type.
Which aerator manufacturers are the authorities on the market?
As you know, any device is guaranteed to work without problems for a long time if it is of high quality, which is not least due to the authority of the manufacturer. Today there are a sufficient number of aerator manufacturers on the market, but not all of them can offer users truly high-quality devices. Although there are still pleasant exceptions, for example:
- Grohe is a German manufacturer that occupies a little less than 10 percent of the world market, distinguished by the fact that it produces high-quality products with a long service life, reaching up to 10 years (350–1000 rubles);
- Oras is a company from Finland that offers a range of attachments both as individual products (RUB 250–500) and as a set with mixers;
- Timo is again a Finnish manufacturer using modern technologies when creating your products, which provides a 5-year guarantee for it (180–500 rubles);
- Jacob Delafon is a French manufacturer that has received recognition in the “bathroom design” category, but offers nozzles in a more expensive segment with a maximum price tag of 600 rubles.
How to choose the right aerator?
When going to the store to buy an aerator, you need to pay attention to the quality of the nozzle, which has a direct relationship with its price. As a result, the cheapest models are plastic devices, the service life of which is minimal. Nozzles made from ordinary metal and finally, brass products are considered the most durable. 
If your home is equipped with a relatively large number of water faucets, and each of them individually is not used very often, then they can be equipped with inexpensive aerators. The situation looks completely different in those families where one tap is used by all family members on a daily basis. In this case, it is advisable to purchase a more expensive model made of the same brass, as this will lead to greater cost savings due to its longer service life.
