Welcome back! Today’s question comes from Dan K. in Fairfax, Virginia. Great question, Dan! And I tell you, we’ve gotten a ton of calls on this very thing! Today’s faucets are designed to conserve water and almost always include aerators. The aerators are made up of a disk with many extremely small holes through which the water must flow through. Oftentimes, these tiny holes get clogged with lime and/or sediment buildup, which will block the water flow and minimize water pressure.

Thankfully, this is pretty simple to resolve. Follow these steps to remove and clean the aerator:

• Unscrew the aerator from the faucet by turning it counterclockwise. If it will not unscrew by hand, cover the jaws of your pliers with masking tape (not to damage the faucet) and loosen the aerator. Once it is loosened, continue to remove it with your hand.
• Take apart the aerator and/or spray head.
• Dip a small brush in vinegar and gently scrub the parts clogged with sediment/lime.
• Reassemble the pieces and screw them back onto the faucet.

Dan, I hope this helps with your issue and should clear it right up! If not, you can always take advantage of our “Plumber In Your Home For Free*!” that we have.

Guys, keep the question rolling in and see whose question makes next week’s blog! Until then, stay warm, stay dry…and keep your ductwork clean!