During the operation of plumbing fixtures, the aerator for the mixer in the form of a small mesh is fixed at the tip of the tap and a stream of water passes freely through it. This device hidden in the tap is designed for aeration - oxygen saturation. Also, the device provides an economical approach to water costs. About 15 liters of water are spent per minute, and every few seconds the device can save 2-3 liters of water.
The principle of operation of the nozzle on the mixer
Faucet aerator can be used for kitchen and bathroom. It consists of several elements, each of which performs its task.
Main details:
- Plastic case;
- The filter, as a rule, there are several of them, they direct and purify the water;
- Mixers of gas with water;
- Seal - rubber washer;
- Outer mesh;
- Sleeve-chuck;
- The decorative part of the device, which is also called the sleeve, can have two types of threads - internal and external, depending on the model.
The main purpose for which the device is intended is to saturate water with oxygen from the air.
This is important for the composition of water for the following reasons:
- Through the interaction of oxygen with chlorine particles, they are neutralized;
- The water becomes less hard and dissolves detergents and soaps well.
In addition, the nozzle prevents water from splashing and flooding the space around the sink, the water is purified from large unwanted particles and water consumption is reduced. And this, in the conditions of its rather high cost, means profitable savings on utility bills.
Determining the water pouring using the device is very simple. It is softer and the jet has a precise direction.
The color of the water is not transparent, but milky white. In addition, oxygenated water has a foamy consistency.
Types of nozzle-aerator
Despite the same parts from which all aerators are made, there are two main schemes for their manufacture.
Nozzle types:
- Disk type of device, in which the disk distributes the flow of water into thin jets through small holes on the surface, after which they are cut against the reflector. The divider in this case is a metal mesh.
- The slot aerator has a slightly different principle of operation. The mixing of water with air here occurs due to the passage of water through the cracks and breaking it into drops, by cutting into a deviating disk. Then the jet is dissected by a mesh.
Both schemes work quite effectively and are equally in demand.
Features of materials for water dividers on a faucet
In the production of nozzles, both metals and polymer fibers are used.
The most durable materials from which aerators for the mixer are made are:
- polymers;
- Pressed aluminium;
- Brass;
- Ceramics;
- Bronze.
Polymer models are easy to remove, since the material does not stick to the tap. But they have their drawbacks - they are subject to mechanical stress and break quickly. Because of this, their service life is very limited.
Aluminum fixtures are very vulnerable, the material is able to oxidize, break and stick to the mixer, after which it is a problem to remove it.
Brass devices are of the highest quality - they are distinguished by long-term operation, resistant to any corrosion.
In last place in terms of strength and durability are steel structural elements. They are afraid of rust and wear out quickly. Recently, stainless steel is increasingly used for the manufacture of the device, which significantly increases the service life of the aerator.
Additional functions of water aerators
Some models have non-standard features.
There are the following types:
- Rotary models;
- Flexible;
- Backlit modifications
- Filter aerators.
The swivel diffuser works on the principle of a shower, while it can be given any convenient direction. Such a sprayer is usually installed on a kitchen faucet. At the same time, it restricts water in order to save. This happens due to an increase in the pressure of the jet and a decrease in the time for washing kitchen utensils and products.
The flexible nozzle is suspended from the faucet on a small hose and can also be rotated to direct the flow of water to any place on the sink. Such a device is convenient when you need to draw water into a bucket or a large basin, and there is no way to place them in the sink.
An aero device equipped with a backlight is used for decoration purposes. However, by coloring the jet in different colors, the nozzle thus indicates the temperature of the water in the tap.
When you need a quality water purifier, you can use an aerator filter that works using an ion exchange mesh or activated carbon.
The shower room can also be equipped with a nozzle that can be hung on the wall or be ceiling mounted. The aerator can be fixed traditionally on the shower. If the mixer has a non-standard shape and has a rectangular spout, a divider specially designed for this model should be selected.
Specifically, to save water, in the presence of a water sensor, it is best to choose high-quality, smoothly operating models, such as the Ferro aerator.
How to clean and replace a faucet aerator
Such a procedure as replacing an aerator is extremely simple and can be done by hand.
In order to clean the filter, you will need:
- Wrench;
- Pliers;
- An awl with a thin tip or a needle;
- Napkin or rag.
After that, you can get to work:
- First, the diffuser must be unscrewed and removed - it is removed by rotating it - this can be done with your hands, pliers or an ordinary wrench.
- Rotation is clockwise when viewed from above.
- Then you should remove the gasket from the rubber. In case of its unsatisfactory condition, the part can be replaced.
- The case is carefully dismantled and washed with water. Small items should be cleaned with a needle or awl.
- The cylinder is assembled in the same order as it was disassembled, and the old or replaced gasket is placed on top. It is necessary to screw the device onto the crane together with the rubber washer counterclockwise.
- Overtightening of the twist should be avoided. With a leak, you can slightly tighten the structure with pliers.
In the same sequence, you can remove the old device and install a new one if replacement is required.
What is a mixer aerator (video)
In order to purchase a quality aerator for the kitchen or bathroom, it is not necessary to run around hardware and specialized stores. Standard and feature-packed fancy models in our time can be ordered by choosing from catalogs on the manufacturer's websites or in large hypermarkets, such as Leroy Merlin, where there is always a huge selection of these products.
