Tools Needed
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Materials Needed
Clean Aerators, Mean Cleaner Water
Faucet aerators should be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis. Depending on your water quality, you need to do this every couple of months or at least once a year. Changing a faucet aerator is extremely simple, but sometimes you may hit a frustrating snag.
Problem #1: Aerator Cover Is Stuck
A faucet aerator that won’t come off is a very common and very annoying problem. If you have one of those flexible, rubber jar openers give it a try first. It might just work! Next step is to resort to pliers, but don’t panic. We aren’t going to use the jaws of the pliers as that might scuff up the finish of the aerator. Instead, use pliers that have rubber coated handles. Sandwich the aerator cover between the handles, squeeze gently, and loosen the cover. Success!
Problem #2: I Can’t Find the Aerator!
Some faucets have a hidden or recessed aerator. These are called cache aerators and require a cache key to remove them. There are four different sizes of cache keys and some faucet manufacturers have their own proprietary sizes. I recommend a 4-in-1 cache key to have around the house. Insert the appropriate size cache key into the faucet. Once you feel the teeth of the key mate up with the faucet aerator, twist counter clockwise, and you’ll have that aerator out in no time.
Two Additional Tips
- I recommend buying a stash of aerators at once so you can save money and always have them on hand.
- If you choose to clean your faucet aerator and it is really grimmy, try soaking it in white vinegar for a couple of hours. It should rinse right out after that.
