A tap or shower head without an aerator lets water flow straight out in a solid stream, using more water than is actually needed to wash hands, rinse dishes or have a shower. An aerator fitted to the end of the tap changes this by mixing air into the stream.
A small fitting with a big effect
Fitting an aerator usually takes only a few minutes, since most simply screw onto the end of an existing tap or shower head without any special tools required. The water still feels strong and covers just as much area, but noticeably less of it actually passes through.
Kitchen taps that are used constantly throughout the day, for washing hands, filling the kettle or rinsing vegetables, benefit particularly from an aerator, since the savings add up with every single use across a whole household over time.
In the shower, an aerator fitted to the shower head keeps the spray feeling full and comfortable, while using less water to achieve the same sensation. Many people barely notice the difference in feel, only in how quickly the water use adds up.
Older taps and shower heads sometimes need a slightly different size of aerator to fit properly, so it is worth checking the fitting before assuming any aerator will work straight away. A quick look at the existing tap usually makes this obvious.
Once fitted, an aerator needs very little maintenance beyond an occasional clean if it becomes blocked with limescale over time. For such a small and inexpensive fitting, the ongoing difference it makes to everyday water use is considerably larger than its size would suggest.
Bathrooms with more than one tap or shower benefit from having every single one fitted, rather than just the one used most often, since the habit of using each tap normally does not change once the fittings are all in place.
