Due to the constant increase in the price tag for utilities, many residents of apartment buildings began to think about the rational use of water resources and purchase an aerator - nozzle to save water. This simple device is part of modern mixers and taps. If the house has old plumbing, then the aerator can be purchased separately and installed without any special difficulties with your own hands. The result will exceed all expectations: water consumption will be halved; due to air bubbles it will become softer; the jet will be more even, and the flow will be quieter.
How to save water for domestic use?
You can reduce the consumption of consumed water in various ways - for example, do not fill the bath, but use only a shower, or do not wash the dishes with running water in the sink, but use a dishwasher. One of the aids in saving money is an aerator mounted on the mixer tap or between the watering can and hose in the shower.
To make sure that the aerator is effective, you need to do an experiment: turn off the tap completely and measure how much water will pour out in 60 seconds. Under normal conditions, this figure is 12 liters. After installing the aerator, the fluid flow rate at the same pressure will be reduced by about half.
Savings are achieved not by reducing the amount of leaked water, but by increasing the time required to pour out a certain amount.
There are several types of aerators, and each of them has its own particular structure and control.
- Vacuum - a vacuum valve is provided inside the device, with the help of which the pressure of the jet rises. As a result of the operation of this device, the flow rate of the consumed liquid is reduced to 1 liter per minute.
- Rotary - two modes of operation are provided: they can throw out water in the form of a spray or an ordinary jet. Such models are most in demand. The swivel joint allows you to quickly change the angle of the water jet, making the process of taking a shower or washing dishes more comfortable.
- Unregulated - the water jet is cut and poured in the prescribed mode, which cannot be influenced.
- Illuminated - with the help of special LEDs, water, depending on the degree of heating, is painted in different colors. Such devices are in great demand when arranging modern bathrooms, when not only functionality is important, but also the external design of the mixer.
- Decorative - made in different forms, for example, in the form of a dragon's head or a dolphin. Devices with such an unusual design are in demand in homes with small children. Some aerators place a grid with cells arranged in such a way that the pouring stream of water takes the form of a spiral. Using a mixer with such a nozzle is a pleasure.
The mesh metal aerator can be made by yourself. To do this, cut out two circles from the grid, the diameter of which is equal to the size of the outlet of the crane. The pieces are laid on top of each other so that the sides of the cells form an angle of 45 °, and the whole structure is attached to the crane with a washer of a suitable diameter.
Aerator design
The basis of this simple device is mixing water flow passing through the device with air particles. The aerator works as follows:
- A metal membrane is installed in the metal cylinder, which provides uniform pressure over the area of the device. When all the mesh openings are activated, an increased pressure zone forms in the upper part of the membrane, and a vacuum effect is obtained on the other side.
- Due to the pressure drop, air rushes through the side holes into the aerator cylinder, which enriches the water stream with air bubbles, displacing up to 50% of the water volume from the stream.
- As a result of the operation of the device, the outgoing stream more than half consists of air, which contributes to a significant saving of water resources.
The device is easy to use and install. If after a while the aerator clogs with salt or lime, which is always present in tap water, it will be easy to remove and clean it with your own hands.
Pros and cons
The aerator has its positive and negative sides, which are determined by the structure and principle of operation.
Positive properties of the device:
- a decrease in the pressure of the flow, as a result of which the amount of spray and the noise of the pouring water are reduced;
- the release of water from chlorine due to the connection with air particles;
- ease of installation and use of the nozzle;
- a variety of types of designs;
- reasonable prices.
In addition to the advantages, the aerator has several disadvantages:
- Short term of operation. This device is constantly washed with tap water, the quality of which leaves much to be desired. Therefore, the filters and nozzle quickly become clogged and fail. A high-quality, expensive product will last three years on its strength, and a device from the budget segment will require replacement after six months of use.
- With an aerator, any capacity will be typed one and a half times slower.
- There are models with internal and external type of thread, so when buying a divider, you must carefully check whether the selected aerator fits the previously installed mixer.
Despite some drawbacks, frugal owners with the aim of reducing water consumption are happy to install aerators in their home.
How and where is the aerator installed?
Installation of the aerator will not cause any special difficulties and can be performed independently. The work consists of several stages:
- A rubber gasket is installed, which provides a seal for the connection of the aerator and crane. If such a part was not found in the kit, it must be cut out of gum or purchased separately.
- Gently screw the device onto the thread at the end of the tap and tighten with pliers.
- Open the water and check the operation of the device. When checking, make sure that no water oozes through the o-ring.
Illuminated aerators do not require additional power sources, as they are equipped with an autonomous current source in the form of a small turbine. They join in a similar fashion to traditional models.
In the shower, the aerator is installed at the junction of the watering can with the hose.
In order to fully experience the saving of water, experts advise installing aerators on all mixers available in the apartment. Inexpensive, easy-to-use device not only saves water resources, but also makes water softer and cleaner.