What is The Purpose of Aerator on A Faucet – How does It Work

Faucet aerator is one of the most common faucet parts. But few people are aware of its existence or what its function is. However, knowing your aerator can help you get better water flow from all sinks and faucets. This article will walk you through what the purpose of faucet aerator is and learn more about it.

What is a an aerator on a faucet

The aerator is a small part placed at the water outlet of the faucet. Usually, they are small mesh screens that divide the water stream into multiple small water streams and add air between them.

By diluting the water stream with air, the aerator significantly reduces the amount of water flowing from the tap. They did this while maintaining the feeling of high pressure flow. The aerator can also reduce splashes in the sink. Generally, a standard faucet aerator will limit the water flow to 1.8 or 2.2 GPM.

There are two types of faucet aerators: one is compatible with shower heads, and the other is standard faucets used in kitchens and bathrooms.

How does a faucet aerator work

Faucet aerator’s working principle is to simply mix air into the flow, thereby reducing the amount of water passing through the faucet. Because the best faucet aerators are beautifully designed, you won’t notice the difference in flow pressure.

The aerator is a bit like a fine sieve, which separates a single stream of water into many small streams and surrounds them with air. This means that there is less space for the water to pass through, but the introduction of air into the mixture ensures that the water pressure does not drop significantly.

What is the purpose of an aerator on faucet

Although the aerator does filter debris, this is not its main purpose. On the contrary, a faucet aerator can improve water flow and help it feel softer to the touch. By introducing small bubbles into the water, the faucet aerator can make the faucet run longer while using less water.

Main purposes of faucet aerator: 

• Prevent splash
• Save water and reduce water waste
• Reduce faucet noise
• Shaping the water flow from the spout of the faucet to produce a straight and even pressure water flow
• Slight filtering of debris
• Increase the perceived water pressure (usually used in homes with low water pressure); sometimes called a pressure regulator or a flow regulator