Kitchen Sink Aerators
Faucet aerators are the little disc-shaped fittings that screw onto the end of virtually all modern faucets. They mix the outgoing water with air to create a steady, even stream, increasing its pressure while deceptively reducing the faucet's flow rate. If you take the aerator off, the water comes out in a clumsy, usually off-center fashion that tends to cause a lot of splashing in the sink basin. Flow reducers perform a similar function to aerators but don't necessarily introduce air into the stream. Some flow reducers deliver a solid stream of water without the higher pressure that comes with aeration.
Because it's the last thing the water passes through on its way out, aerators and flow reducers determine a faucet's flow rate. On kitchen faucets, a higher flow rate is desirable to speed filling of pots and sinks for washing dishes. But on bathroom sink faucets, a high flow rate typically results in unnecessary water waste. This is because people tend to leave faucets running while brushing their teeth or shaving - a good habit to break, but not everyone in the house is likely to be very disciplined about it. For this reason, installing a low-flow aerator or flow reducer on all bathroom sink faucets can save significant amounts of water each year.
Green building experts generally recommend a maximum flow rate of 1.5 gpm on all lavatory faucets. With a good aerator or flow reducer, you'll find that this is plenty of water for everyday uses at the sink. You can also find aerators and reducers with a 1.0 gpm flow rate for even greater saving. Replacing an old aerator now, it won't take more than a few minutes.
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