When water flow is not at its maximum speed, you observe clogs in the faucet, and you might need to remove your recessed faucet aerator. After removing the faucet aerator, regular cleaning can bring back its efficiency. However, in extreme conditions, you might need to replace it.
Faucets get clogged due to hard water deposits in the faucet aerator. The calcium and mineral build-up slows down the water pressure, and it also does not let the streamlets come out. However, if you want to know about the best techniques to remove your faucet aerator to clean it or replace it, you are on the right page. This article will tell you how to remove recessed faucet aerators. You will know about all the techniques such as wrenches, keys, and without these faucet aerator removing tools.
Continue reading below to get all the techniques to remove your recessed faucet aerator.
Tools and methods to remove recessed faucet aerators
In the market, there are many tools such as wrenches and keys. They come with the faucet aerator to remove these aerators later on. These tools are according to the design of each faucet aerator that the company manufactures. However, if your faucet is old and you do not have these tools, you can use some household tools to remove the faucet aerator efficiently.
1.1 Recessed faucet aerator
In the recessed faucets, the faucet aerator is present in the spout of the appliance. Unlike housed aerators, you can remove this type from the outer surface. Companies provide keys with the aerators. However, if your key had lost, you can get a new one.
People who do not want to purchase the keys can also do it themselves with some other available tools and methods.
- You can try to take out the recessed faucet aerator with your hands by rotating it.
- If it does not come this way, take a piece of cloth. You can also use the gloves.
- Place the piece of cloth in your hand and try to rotate the faucet aerator now.
- This step will provide a more firm grip on the hand. The faucet aerator will come more easily.
1.2 Use screwdriver
If you are not able to take out the faucet aerator with your hands, use a hammer and screwdriver.
- Take a screwdriver with a small and flat end.
- Place the screwdriver on the recessed faucet aerator and try to place it a bit in-depth.
- Once you see that the screwdriver has stuck in the right place, hammer it very gently.
- In the meantime, also tilt the screwdriver towards the inner side.
- The faucet aerator will get off the surface and loosen up.
- You can now use your hand to take it off.
1.3. Metal housed aerators
In some faucets in your kitchen and bathroom, you will find metal housed aerators. Sometimes it is hard to find out how to access the aerator in such metal faucets. Well, in such faucet designs, the tip to access the aerator is threaded itself. Faucets which are threaded ones carry the aerator under the surface of the faucet. Once you access the tip of the faucet and open it, you will access the aerator.
Things you will need:
Steps;
- Take a rag and roll it over the threaded tip of the faucet.
- Now take a plier and rotate it to loosen the tips of the faucet.
- Rotate the plier firmly in the anti-clockwise direction.
- The plier will lose the tip of the faucet that carries the aerator.
- Rotate the aerator gently by hand afterward and take it out.
- You will see the aerator encased in a rubber ring and faucet body.
- Take out the rubber (do not lose it).
- Now take out the aerator and clean it.
1.4. Stuck aerator
In case, you have never removed your faucet aerator before, it might be more difficult to take it out. The old aerator is highly prone to get more limescale, calcium deposits, and hard water clogs. To remove the aerator, you first need to dissolve the deposit a little, so that it can come out.
2. Use vinegar
You can use vinegar to get off hard water or mineral deposits on the aerator. Vinegar is a natural cleaner that is great to remove hard water stains and clogs. It softens the deposits and helps to remove them gradually.
Things you will need:
- White vinegar
- Zip lock bag
- Rubber band
- Soft brush/toothpick
- Water
- Soft cloth
Steps:
- Take a small zip lock bag and add vinegar to it.
- The quantity of vinegar should be to the extent to which it soaks the faucet tip that carries the aerator.
- Now put the zip lock bag on the faucet edge in a way that the aerator completely soaks in vinegar.
- Close the bag as much as you can.
- Make sure vinegar is reaching out to the aerator.
- Tightly hang the bag with rubber bands.
- Keep it like this overnight.
- Now remove the bag and scrub the aerator with a soft-bristled brush.
- You can also use a toothpick to open the clogged holes.
- Turn on the water.
- You will notice an improvement in water flow.
- At this point, you can remove the aerator with the above-given methods.
- Deep clean the aerator by taking it out of the faucet seal.