Benefits Of Faucet Aerators

As a homeowner, you constantly look for ways to improve the way your home functions. You may change your habits or renovate your home systems to conserve water and energy, improve user experience, and save money in the long run.

One of the most cost-effective steps a homeowner can take to optimize their home is to install faucet aerators. In this blog, we explain how these tools work and list nine common benefits of faucet aerator use.

What Is a Faucet Aerator and How Does It Work?

Faucet aerators come in two varieties: one compatible with showerheads and one intended for the standard faucets in your kitchen and bathroom. Each aerator consists of a small screen which spans the opening of the faucet.

This screen serves to break up the water stream into many smaller streams. This function introduces more air into the stream without reducing the perceived water pressure.

What Benefits Do Faucet Aerators Provide?

Aerators help reduce and regulate water flow from specific faucets. Using an aerator can have the following nine benefits.

1. Decreased Faucet Noise

If you have noisy faucets, installing an aerator can reduce the disruptive sound. Because an aerator increases the air in the water stream, it reduces gurgling and whistling noises that can come from uneven water flow.

2. Lower Water Bills

When you use an aerator, you use less water to accomplish the same task. This reduction can save you money on your water bills.

3. High Return on Investment

A basic aerator can cost as little as $5. But because correct usage can help you save big on your water bill, this cost comparison makes aerators one of the most cost-effective renovations available.

4. Improved Water Pressure

If you suffer from low water pressure, installing an aerator often solves the issue. Higher pressure builds up behind the aerator, creating a steadier stream. This characteristic makes aerators a smart addition for homeowners living in homes with older plumbing or inconsistent water supply.

5. Increased Filtration

Because aerators consist of small screens, they increase the particle filtration for an individual faucet. A high-quality aerator can work in tandem with your filtration system to keep your water cleaner and clearer. Just make sure that, if you often have dirt or debris problems, you clean your aerator regularly to prevent buildup.

Why are certain faucet components built out of plastic?

If carefully selected, plastic is an essential material used for faucet components – to ensure water safety and to provide hard-wearing and long-lasting fixtures.

There are varying ways plastic is used in faucets and it is often perceived as less durable or less suitable for high-quality products. However, this is not always correct. Depending on the manufacturer and the specific type of plastic used, it comes in multiple forms, functions and qualities. Here's all you need to know.

In Oras faucet applications, composite and hard-wearing plastics can be the optimal solution and are indispensable to deliver high performance and durability. Depending on the type and properties of the plastic used, plastic covers a wide range of applications in faucets.

Plastic can be used for:

The outer body and handles

The cartridge and valves

Spout interior

The aerator

Pipes and connections

Etc.

So what's the difference and which type of plastic is used for which part of the faucet? Here are the kinds of plastics that you should know about.

Composite material

Composite material combines two or more separate materials and can be used in covers, spouts, bodies, levers and battery cases.

These include reinforced plastics, such as glass fibre and polymer or ABS composite, such as ABS engineering plastic-chrome combinations.

Composite plastics can also be moulded on to various components, in the form of plastic-plastic, plastic-metal or plastic-rubber combinations.

Combined with PSU (Polysulfone) engineering plastic, for example, the composite structure is often used in medical technology as it’s physiological inert and extremely durable in high temperatures.

Composite is a strong and durable, yet also light material, which is why it widely used in industries such as medical, aerospace and automotive.

ABS engineering plastic

ABS engineering plastic components are widely used in products such as laptops and mobile phones. It is a strong and durable material, which offers good resistance to high and low temperatures and chemicals. As plastic does not heat up the same way as metal does when in contact with hot water, it is a perfect material to be used in faucet levers, outer bodies and covers, handles and shower heads. Additional benefit of ABS is that it can be chrome-plated, which makes it an easy-to-process material.

Top 3 Reasons to Include a Foot Pedal Controlled Faucet

A faucet controlled by a foot pedal valve works like a single lever faucet and can be connected to any faucet type. The hardware for the pedal is available in an array of finishes and colors to complement your kitchen cabinets and hardware, like the example pictured to the right. It attaches at the bottom of the kitchen cabinet and is connected by stainless steel hoses to the supply valves and faucets. The water temperature is set using the faucet handles and the foot pedal can be locked in place to use the faucet in a conventional manner. The foot pedal control also allows you to manage the volume of water flowing from the faucet.