What Is an Aerator?

There are several small projects you can do around the house that will garner big results. Some of these projects will save you time, some will save you money, and some will save water. An aerator can help you save all three. Whether in the home or in the garden, an aerator is easy to install and maintain and will provide big benefits to your household.

What is an Aerator?

At its simplest level, an aerator is a piece of equipment that is used to add oxygen to water to help with conservation and money savings. In this instance, we will be discussing commercial aerators that can be environmentally and economically beneficial.

In the Home

Inside the home, an aerator would be found in your kitchen or bathroom sink. If you look just inside the faucet you will see a small wire mesh screen. This is the aerator. The wire screen introduces oxygen into the water steam allowing for a smooth splash-free flow. It also cuts down on the amount of water being used without reducing the water pressure.

In the Garden

In the garden, aerators are most often found in ponds or water features where they move oxygen into the water to help maintain a healthy environment. There are two types of pond aerators: surface pond aerators and bottom-based diffuser aerators. Surface aerators float on the water and are better for shallow ponds of 8 feet or less while diffuser aerators are positioned on the bottom of a pond and are more effective in deeper water.

Installation

Installing an aerator in the home is very simple. Aerators are sold by flow rate (gallons per minute). For a home faucet, make sure you find the aerator with the lowest flow rate. The best aerator for most standard home faucets is 1.0-1.5 gallons per minute. Buy an aerator that matches your faucet color and you are half way done. When you get home, locate the threads on your faucet, if you can't see them, you may need to unscrew the existing faucet head. Once the threads are exposed, screw the new aerator into place.

Pond aerator kits are sold at most garden stores. Surface aerators are your basic pond fountain that can be plugged in and floated in your pond. You can also purchase a bottom-based aerator that can be plugged in and sits at the bottom of your pond like a pump.

Benefits

In the home, aerators can dramatically cut down on your water usage and your water bill. Older faucets can use anywhere from 3-10 gallons per minute. With an aerator, you decrease that to 1.0-1.5 gallons per minute.

In the garden, aerators are vital to a healthy pond. The oxygen they introduce into the water can speed up the breakdown of waste, hinder the growth of bad algae while promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. If you have wild life in your pond, the aerator can also prevent Fish Kill, which is a direct result of low oxygen

References

• What is an Aerator?
• Faucet Aerators Save Water, Energy, Money
• Pond Aerator