Is there any need for a faucet aerator to contain 2-3 screens instead of 1?

[Jason]

Any plumbing experts out there?

I was cleaning out both my master bathroom faucet aerators, and noticed that each one of them (they're fairly old) contains 3 metal/mesh screens in them (they are all just grouped together - completely identical).. I cleaned them all and put it all back together and its working OK, but I was wondering if there was any reason why each of the 2 faucets have 3 screens in them? Is that necessary (would it lower the water flow?), should I use one (and they just CAME with 3 to give you spares)? Would 3 lower the water flow? Hmm!

Thanks guys.

 

[ThisIsBananas]

Any plumbing experts out there?

I don't know anything about plumbing, but I enjoy a good pink bubble bath!

 

[BrIONwoshMunky]

Aerators simply conserve water. Yes, 3 screens block more water than 1. Fill up a glass with screens removed and then replaced. Should take longer with more screens.

They, like shower heads, usually have their flow rating stamped on the outside rim.

 

[Jason]

Aerators simply conserve water. Yes, 3 screens block more water than 1. Fill up a glass with screens removed and then replaced. Should take longer with more screens.

They, like shower heads, usually have their flow rating stamped on the outside rim.

Yeah there is a flow rate on the faucets (I will double check what the number is, 1.6 or 1.2 or something), but to gain that number do they just add more screens? Or some other way of limiting the flow?

 

[BrIONwoshMunky]

Yeah there is a flow rate on the faucets (I will double check what the number is, 1.6 or 1.2 or something), but to gain that number do they just add more screens? Or some other way of limiting the flow?

Some (most I have seen) have a plastic diverter thingy inside that does the bulk of flow limiting, with a screen on the outside that probably also limits stuff going back up in the faucet.

 

[Jason]

Some (most I have seen) have a plastic diverter thingy inside that does the bulk of flow limiting, with a screen on the outside that probably also limits stuff going back up in the faucet.

Yeah I have 3 of those screens which I've never heard of or seen before... lol

 

[Scooter]

It's so there's still a screen in the faucet when your kid sneaks one out for his pot pipe.

 

[feenix]

Not an expert, but we recently renovated both bathrooms and the new faucets came with a grand total of 1 screen apiece. Has to be just a preference thing.

 

[Jason]

Not an expert, but we recently renovated both bathrooms and the new faucets came with a grand total of 1 screen apiece. Has to be just a preference thing.

Appears the two I have in the master haven't been updated for a while, so they're still 2.2 or whatever.. So I'm guessing having 3 thin screens in there instead of 1 isn't doing much because water comes out a ton.. I'll be updating them eventually to lose less water, everything else in the house is at 1.2 I think.

 

[CoprophagousCop]

I was cleaning out both my master bathroom faucet aerators, and noticed that each one of them (they're fairly old) contains 3 metal/mesh screens in them (they are all just grouped together - completely identical)..

It just sounds like the kid who made your faucets messed up and put in three screens instead of one.

 

[Jason]

It just sounds like the kid who made your faucets messed up and put in three screens instead of one.

Damn child labor!

 

[gehtfuct]

The extra screens are for the kids to take out and smoke weed with them. Educational shit or something.

 

[Crazizniac]

^ Way to walk all over Scooters post.