To reduce daily water consumption and significantly save on utility bills, an ergonomic faucet nozzle has been developed to save water.
It is represented by a special aerator, which is easily mounted on any type of mixer and is designed to limit water pressure.
The divider contributes to the rapid saturation of the liquid with oxygen, the weathering of chloride compounds and the reduction of water consumption.
Structurally functional nozzle on the mixer to save water consists of the following parts:
The device for saving water allows you to convert the chaotic pressure of the liquid when mixed with the air mass into a uniform and powerful flow.
The faucet nozzle works according to the following principle:
In this case, a significant savings in water consumption is achieved in the ratio of 1 to 3 (for 1 part of liquid 3 parts of air).
Thanks to its ergonomic design and ease of installation, the water saving aerator has a number of significant advantages:
In order to correctly select the right faucet aerator to save water, it is recommended to consider the following:
Manufacturers offer a wide range of faucet heads for showers, bathtubs, sinks or kitchen sinks. Devices are divided into two categories:
To adjust the power of the water pressure, the aerators are equipped with sealing rings and springs.
Water supply in an adjustable nozzle is carried out:
You can regulate the water flow by turning the spout, translational movements from side to side, a special switch installed on the device.
Many models of aerators are additionally equipped with temperature sensors and LED lighting.
The shower or sink aerator is made of reliable and safe materials:
Mixers of various types are equipped with threads inside (mother) and outside (dad) of the structure. For equipment with an internal thread type, nozzles with an outside thread are selected, and vice versa.
The nozzle must fully fit the diameter of the faucet to ensure a tight connection and prevent possible leakage of liquid. According to the type of thread, taps come in two sizes - 2.2 and 2.4 cm.
The key characteristic when choosing a device, which is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.
The standard capacity of most taps is no more than 12 liters per minute. To check, a stopwatch, a 1 liter jar and a measuring container are used. We divide the result by 60 seconds - we get the throughput of a particular mixer.
With a patency of the aerator at 3.5 liters / min. the saving is 75%, at 4 l/min. - reaches 58%, and at 5.5 l / min. - does not exceed 49%.
It is also important to take into account the individual consumption of water resources for various needs. For the kitchen, models of nozzles with a throughput of up to 5 liters per minute are suitable. For the bathroom, you can choose devices with parameters from 1.6 to 3.5 liters per minute. For washbasins - no more than 1.8 liters per minute.
The water-saving nozzle allows for a more rational use of the resource for daily consumption for household and food needs. To choose the right device, it is necessary to take into account the main technical characteristics, as well as individual water needs, in order to start saving money when paying for utilities.
Aerators are installed on all modern faucets and are a strainer on the faucet spout. This small element is essential for the plumbing system.
Many mistakenly believe that this is some kind of filter, and dismantle it. They motivate their actions by the fact that they use special water purification devices that are better and more efficient. Others believe that such a "mesh" reduces the already low pressure of water, and also remove it from the mixer. However, this is fundamentally wrong - let's see why.
The aerator is a mesh in the mixer. If you try to stick your finger into the faucet (the space from which water flows), then you will feel the presence of a nozzle in it - a grid. This is the aerator.
It includes a housing and a plastic module equipped with a filter system. Between them - gaskets made of rubber or silicone. The module, in turn, consists of several filter meshes, which are stacked in a certain way. The first two provide the direction of the jet, and also perform the function of purification, the others mix water with air bubbles.
Air enters the device through small holes that are located along its perimeter. After that, oxygen is in the inner chamber, where it "meets" with water.
For the manufacture of the device, very common materials are used.
People interested in linguistics have probably noticed the similarity of the term "aerator" with the Greek word "aeration", which means "air". This similarity is no coincidence, since the design of the aerator allows you to mix water flows with air in order to reduce water consumption without a noticeable decrease in the intensity of the jet for the user. In simple terms, a mesh nozzle mounted on a faucet is used to save water. Moreover, the latter can reach 75%.
On average, about 15 liters of water flows through the tap per minute, the use of an aerator can reduce this figure by 2-2.5 times. This is due to the fact that when mixed with air, the volume of the jet increases, so the pressure remains unchanged.
Water saving is not the only function of an aerator. The device also avoids splashing. Oxygenated water "softens", becomes foam - this provides "envelopment" of the washed object without liquid splashing. At the same time, the consumer does not experience a lack of air flow, he does not feel a decrease in the volume of water when using the aerator.
It is important that when passing through air bubbles, water becomes less chlorinated: oxygen molecules bind and remove residual chlorine molecules. And the presence of oxygen bubbles in it contributes to a better cleaning of surfaces: detergents are activated in a gaseous environment. Finally, large and medium-sized particles of limescale contamination are retained in the "lattice" without falling into the water jet.
Thus, such a "saver" for the mixer allows you to reduce water consumption, as well as improve its quality.
The advantages of this plumbing element are characterized by the fact that it:
The aerator should be changed periodically (once a year). When using old pipes, a replacement process is needed every 6 months.
There are several types of aerators.
The device is equipped with a vacuum valve. With its help, it is possible to compress water under pressure, due to which aeration is performed. The savings in water consumption is enormous: only 1.1 liters come out of the tap per minute. Depending on the features of the valve, automatic, kinetic and combined varieties are distinguished.
It is called so because the aerator has 2 modes of operation: in the form of a jet and a spray. The principle of operation is based on a change in the strength of the water flow. A feature of rotary models is the presence of a swivel joint. Thanks to this, the water jet can be directed at any angle, which is very convenient.
The principle of operation and design of this unit is similar to the functioning of the previous one. However, the aerator here is a flexible hose. The diffuser allows you to divide the water into small jets, pre-saturating it with oxygen in the vortex chamber, and the flexible "tube" makes it possible to direct the jet at a convenient angle. A swivel and aerator on a flexible hose are most often installed on kitchen plumbing elements. The type of device under consideration is especially convenient for small sink sizes or insufficient spout dynamics. Saving water when using this model is achieved by enriching the liquid with air bubbles, and also due to the fact that the jet can be directed to a specific contaminated object.
When the jet falls, the aerator illuminates it in different colors, indicating the temperature of the liquid. Green light indicates a comfortable and safe temperature up to 29 C, blue - having a temperature of 30-38 C, red - water with a temperature above 38 C. Operation is possible due to the rotation of the device's own turbine. In other words, they do not have power supplies, and therefore are completely safe. In addition to the practical function, such models have an aesthetic meaning. Most often they are installed on faucets in the bathroom and shower, but nothing prevents you from equipping a kitchen faucet with such an aerator.
According to the installation method, external and internal aerators are distinguished. The first are mounted on the outer thread of the spout. Aerators of the internal type are screwed onto the internal thread, respectively.
There are also decorative aerators. According to their principle of action, they can refer to any of the types discussed above. The peculiarity lies in the fact that the aerator has the appearance of an animal or other figurine. Such a tap will interest children and distract them (relevant if for some reason the child does not want to take a bath, for example). In addition to "children's", decorative aerators can be in the form of a spiral or have other design solutions.
The appearance of the nozzle affects the principle of operation of the aerator. There are two types of sprayers.
If a mixer of a non-standard shape or size is used, the spout, for example, a rectangular one, then the aerator must also correspond to it in shape and dimensions. In this case, you will have to look for a device for a specific model. You can facilitate the search by immediately contacting the manufacturer of the original plumbing (the same brand that is in your home). As a rule, leading manufacturers produce not only mixers, but also separately accessories for them.
Modern models of aerators act not only as a water flow regulator, but can also become a filter. Such models have additional cleaning systems based on activated carbon, an ion-exchange magnetic grid. A more expensive device can saturate water with microelements and purify it from viruses. An important point: such aerators can only be installed on a cold water faucet. If you pass hot water through the filter, it will lose its cleansing properties.
Among the "novelties" is a variant of the aerator with pressure compensation. As you know, as pressure increases, so does the flow rate. Compensating devices prevent this with an adjustable O-ring that keeps the volume of water the same regardless of pressure. Like bottom valves for mixers, such devices can reduce water consumption by an average of 40-50%.
Noteworthy is also the sensor nozzle, which is installed instead of the aerator and also serves to save tap water. At the heart of its functioning is a reaction to movement. If you put your hands under the faucet, the water starts to flow automatically. It is worth removing your hands, as the jet stops. For more convenient use, the system is equipped with a button, thanks to which the transition from manual operation of the nozzle (it is necessary if you need to fill the bathroom, fill the kettle) to automatic mode is carried out.
Depending on the type of aerator used, different types of water flow can be created.
Aerators can differ not only in the principle of operation and appearance, but also in the size of the thread. This is a very important parameter, since the thread size of the device must match the diameter of the spout. In other words, a thread diameter of 18 ml will not fit a faucet with a diameter of 22 mm, for example. By the way, the standard inner diameter of the spout is just 18 and 19 mm.
Traditionally, the diameter of the aerator is 12-1200 mm, and the diameter of the air channel is from 20 to 2200 mm. The height of the device is from 14 to 2000 mm.
There are 3 standards for the diameter of external / internal threads: 18/16, 24/22, 28/26 mm. That is, if an external thread of 18 mm is used for a faucet, then a device with a diameter of 16 mm is required for the same faucet (if necessary, mount an internal aerator).
In addition to dimensions, it is important that the device has the appropriate type of thread: external or internal. A male spout requires a similar male aerator and vice versa.
Today, there are many manufacturers of aerators on the market, but not every one of them can boast of impeccable product quality. The following companies are the most reputable, invariably leading the rating of manufacturers of sanitary devices.
One of the most important selection criteria is the throughput of the device, that is, an indicator of the maximum amount of water in liters the aerator will pass in a minute. A standard mixer, not equipped with an aerator, passes 12-15 l / min.
If you use an aerator with a flow rate of 3.5 l / min, you can reduce water consumption by 75%. With a flow rate of 5.5 l / min, the savings will be 49%.
Devices from the companies Gardena, Roka, Lemark are also popular.
Consider the main criteria that should be followed when choosing an aerator.
If you rarely use the tap (for example, you don’t live in an apartment), then you can save money and install plastic aerators. If necessary, you can replace them with more reliable ones. They do not stick to the faucet and are easily removed, unlike aluminum and steel structures, which corrode and therefore stick to the spout. Removing them is sometimes difficult.
A few years ago, when buying a faucet for a kitchen or bathroom, sometimes you could see kits with a removable or built-in aerator on sale. Many, considering them to be an ordinary filter, independently removed this modification from the tap, citing the fact that they already have a built-in filter installed.
To date, it is quite difficult to purchase any mixer without this additional element, which performs not only its direct function (filters and saturates water with oxygen), but also contributes to a significant reduction in water consumption.
A faucet aerator is a small strainer mounted on a spout. This device allows you to saturate ordinary water with air microparticles, that is, to aerate it. An aerator is often referred to as a "diffuser" because it divides one large stream of liquid down the spout into many smaller streams.
The main details of such a device are:
The aerator allows you to create different types of water flow:
The main function of the tap water aerator is to saturate it with oxygen microparticles. This not only significantly changes its taste properties for the better, but also contributes to faster weathering of chlorine if the water in the region is chlorinated. In addition, the jet itself falls more gently on the bottom of the sink and on objects placed in it, which significantly reduces liquid splashing on the surrounding space. If a rotary aerator is installed in the kitchen, then washing large kitchen utensils is simplified several times, the water flow reduces its impact force and washes cleaners off the soaped surface more gently.
Another function of the faucet aerator is water saving. Although the device itself is not very reliable and often needs to be replaced (at least once a year), it reduces water consumption by a factor of two or more.
At the same time, the convenience of washing dishes with such savings does not become lower, but even increases due to higher efficiency of use. A wide stream of dishes washes several times faster, which also saves time for housework. The second disadvantage, in addition to frequent replacement, is the slow rate of water intake into the tank, but this disadvantage is so insignificant that it can be safely neglected.
The simplest aerator is a small round atomizer with a metal mesh screwed into the faucet spout. Today, such a standard device is included with any purchased mixer and, like a foot valve, will reduce water consumption by at least 30 percent. It will last about six months, after which it needs to be replaced with a similar or more complex device.
Rotary aerators are also called flexible, as they can be rotated in different directions. One of the options for such a device is a special elongated hose tube, which is attached to the spout spout. Such a device allows you to collect liquid even in those containers that do not fit in the sink bowl.
The second option is an aerator in the form of a small watering can, similar to a shower head. Adjustable in length, it can be moved around the sink area and used in spray and jet modes. By adjusting the inclination of the aerator head and the water pressure, you can achieve the perfect result in each specific situation.
A jet of liquid in an interesting illuminated device is illuminated depending on its temperature. Cold water (up to 29 degrees) is highlighted in green, warm water (between 30 and 38 degrees) is highlighted in blue, and hot water (above 40 degrees) is highlighted in red. This is implemented due to internal thermal sensors that do not require connection to the mains. The built-in turbine that feeds the LED lamps rotates due to the flow of water when the tap is opened, therefore this method of saturating water with oxygen is also called ejector.
Illuminated devices are especially convenient for families with small children, as they allow you to immediately find out the temperature of the liquid by the color of the stream when you open it. In addition, bright colors will help to attract the attention of the child, and bathing will take place in a more relaxed atmosphere. Also, a backlit aerator is often installed on sensorless touchless faucets in order to immediately see what temperature water is pouring from it.
The vacuum aerator is considered the most economical, it allows you to reduce the amount of water used by half. The price of such nozzles significantly exceeds the usual ones, but quickly pays off. The vacuum system compresses the water with a special valve, after which it forms a strong jet passing through the filter cells under a stronger pressure than the pressure in the central system.
In addition to the design of the device itself, aerators may differ in the type of nozzles. Disk devices are a nozzle with a round disk in which small holes for liquid are located. With their help, the main stream is divided into thin streams and dissected by a reflector (metal mesh). The slotted aerator saturates the liquid with air by breaking the water flow into separate drops through special slots in the deflecting disk, after which the oxygen-enriched jet is cut through the metal mesh of the filter.
Since the device of any aerator includes various filtering and separating grids, then the difference may be due to the type of material from which they are made:
According to the installation method, it is possible to distinguish between an internal aerator (screwed into the spout) and an external aerator (screwed onto the spout).
In addition to differences in design features and materials, aerators differ in thread sizes. Since its size must correspond to the diameter of the spout pipe, it is very important to choose the necessary parameters correctly (an aerator with a thread of 18 mm will not fit on a tap with a spout diameter of 22 mm and vice versa). The diameter of the aerator can vary from 12 to 1200 mm. The height of the device is 14-2000 mm, and the diameter of the air channel is from 20 to 2200 mm. The thread size is indicated alphanumerically (M20, M24, M28, and so on) and is indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer.
Most often, three standard thread diameters are used: 28/26, 24/22 and 18/16 mm. It follows from this ratio that if an external thread of 28 mm is used, then the internal thread for the same tap will be 26 mm. Another important point is to buy an aerator with an external thread for a spout with an external thread, respectively. The same is true for spouts with internal threads.
The more reliable the manufacturer, the less likely it is to buy a defect or a fake, so when choosing a mixer nozzle, it is best to choose companies that top the rating of the best according to customer reviews.
Depending on the design of the material and the manufacturer, the cost of aerators in the construction market ranges from 2 to 10 dollars.
In order to choose a suitable aerator, it is necessary to focus primarily on the quality of the product and its price. The cheapest, but least reliable plastic and aluminum nozzles will last from a couple of months to six months. Slightly more reliable are considered more expensive metal and ceramic aerators. However, they are also highly susceptible to corrosion and their service life leaves much to be desired. Brass nozzles are considered the most durable and reliable.
The second thing you should pay attention to is the fastening on the faucet spout. The device can be with an external or internal thread and is selected depending on the thread of the mixer itself. Last, but not least, is the availability of additional features. In the bathroom, an illuminated aerator will look good, and in the kitchen, any housewife will be delighted with a flexible device that allows you to comfortably wash even the largest pot in the sink.
Knowing the principle of operation and the scheme of the purchased aerator, in order to save money, you can try to make it yourself. In order to make such a nozzle, you must have an empty case from any nozzle on the faucet and a strong plastic plate. Gaskets are cut out of plastic, matching in size with the inner diameter of the nozzle.
With the help of a red-hot needle or a sharp awl, many holes are made in such a gasket so that it resembles a fine mesh. Ready nets are placed in the empty body of the nozzle instead of conventional filters, and the nozzle is attached to the spout. Such an aerator will perform all the functions assigned to it, however, its service life is significantly lower than purchased products, especially with brass nets.
Installation of the aerator is not particularly difficult even for a person who has never encountered this device. In order to install a new or replace an old aerator, you must adhere to a certain algorithm.
First you need to remove from the mixer all the nozzles installed on it earlier. Unscrew the body and remove the old rubber gasket placed on the spout spout. The joint must be thoroughly cleaned and washed, and then allowed to dry slightly.
In the package with the device, you need to find a seal in the form of a rubber gasket and put it on the faucet spout. If there is no such seal in the kit, you will have to buy it yourself. It should be of such a diameter that it fits the mixer. If the diameters of the aerator and the mixer itself are different, then you must additionally purchase a special adapter and additional gaskets. The material of the adapter must match the materials of the faucet and aerator. After the adapter, a rubber gasket is also placed on it.
The aerator is screwed to the mixer (or adapter) using a key or pliers. In order not to damage the chrome-plated glossy surface, at the junction of the tool with the body of the device, you can put a piece of cloth, rubber, or purchase a special tool. The thread should be tightened tightly enough, but you should not make extra efforts so as not to rip it off.
After installation, it is imperative to carry out a leak test. If water seeps through the joints, then you need to either tighten the threads or adjust the gasket.
You are not satisfied with the amount of expenses for utilities, and spending on water is simply ruinous? So it's time to learn how to save money. This task was greatly simplified when a unique apparatus appeared. This is a sensory faucet attachment for saving water. This incredible piece of engineering allows you to do 70% less. The use of the device will save the family budget from leaking into the pockets of utility workers. The money that we managed to save is, one might say, extra earnings. You will decide the fate of this money, not the housing and communal services companies.
The need for economical use of water is important both for the economy of the country and for the economy of individual households. The water saving faucet nozzle is the result of the latest innovations.
Water in the world is constantly in short supply. Water conservation has become very important. The nozzle on the faucet aerator, in addition to reducing water consumption, improves its quality. The use of high quality materials, which have undergone special processing, gave the device high performance, corrosion resistance. In addition, water after exposure to it acquires antibacterial and antiviral properties.
The water saver kitchen faucet nozzle is an ingenious modification of the ordinary aerator nozzle. It is one of the most popular products that can make life easier for ordinary city dwellers, significantly reducing utility costs.
The faucet nozzle for saving water in its design is based on the principle of mixing the water flow with air in the device itself.
When a jet of water passes through the narrowest point, pressure builds up. The membrane, which performs the task of an expander, distributes pressure throughout the entire space of the device using all holes. This makes it possible to create an area of increased pressure in the expansion diaphragm at its upper side. A special device of the membrane allows creating a vacuum in its opposite part.
The pressure difference in different parts of the device causes the outside air to rise into the aerator through the holes located in the side of the device along the perimeter of the membrane. The jet of water is saturated with air bubbles. Thus, up to 70% of water is displaced from the water flow.
The water jet is saturated (aerated) with air. The resulting mixture of air contains two parts, and water - one part. This effect allows you to achieve savings.
If the tap is fully open, a conventional mixer uses approximately 12 liters of liquid per minute. The water-saving faucet nozzle, which is installed on the mixer, allows you to reduce water consumption by a factor of three, and the pressure of the jet does not change, and the functionality of the faucet even increases, since it is able to regulate the flow rate.
In addition to the economic benefits that are noticeable to the naked eye, buying a water saving device has a number of other advantages:
The water pressure is controlled by light pressure on the aerator in its lower part.
One of the low cost solutions on the market is the Mixxen water saving faucet nozzle, equipped with a pressure regulator. It makes it possible to reduce consumption by 5 times.
The device is based on German technology, has a French certificate, and is produced in Ukraine.
This quality device is made of brass. It is suitable for taps with both external and internal threads. The aerator can work in two modes - shower and jet.
You can control the water pressure by means of a lever located on the nozzle.
The main requirement in terms of maintenance of the device is a categorical ban on the use of detergents. In addition, you can not immerse the aerator in water for a long time. If the aerator needs to be cleaned, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth.
The nozzle on the faucet to save water should not be screwed tightly, a little effort is enough to securely fasten it.
An important factor in the quality of the device is that the crane has not yet expired warranty period.
To increase the service life of the device, do not overload it, including water to the maximum.
Fulfillment of these requirements will ensure long-term operation of the device.
A water-saving faucet nozzle is sold in almost every plumbing store. If not met there, look in online stores. In the network you can find a lot of aerators for every taste at a variety of prices from 2 to 16 USD. e.
Very high quality nozzles are manufactured by the Taiwanese company Hihippo. You can order devices on its official website.
Real-life testing and the experience of people who have been lucky enough to use an economizer nozzle prove that it allows you to achieve an average saving of almost 60% of water. Consequently, the cost of hot and cold water supply will be halved.
First, we try to wash dishes without an aerator. At the same time, we control the consumption by showing that 60 liters of hot water and 80 liters of cold water were spent on washing dishes.
We repeat the experiment using As a result of its use, water consumption has decreased due to its saturation with air - 20 liters of hot water and 20 liters of cold water have been consumed.
The result speaks for itself.
The latest invention of European specialists has already found wide application in the everyday life of hotels, restaurants and airports. After all, big business knows how to minimize costs. Now, with the purchase of a sensor aerator nozzle, such savings have become available to you. Everyday life provides many opportunities for such savings: washing dishes, washing. The nozzle on the sensors works in an elementary simple way: if you put your hands up, the water starts to flow, if you remove it, it stops flowing.
Sensor devices for saving water were invented a long time ago, but they were expensive and built into the mixer. That has changed with the advent of a nozzle that installs in just a couple of minutes and is much cheaper than sensor-equipped faucets. Everyone can use the nozzle, and its use pays off in less than a year. With a change of residence, you simply screw on the nozzle to install it in your new home.
It is necessary to take care of water and protect the environment. In the same way, it is necessary to protect the health of your family. It is well known that we carry many pathogens of various diseases on our hands from public places. We also cook food and make repairs. At the same time, when we are going to wash our hands, we often open the tap with dirty hands. The new sensor cap avoids contact between dirty hands and the faucet. You just need to put your hands under the tap - the water will pour itself. Without spending extra effort, you make life more comfortable.
Plenty of people all over the planet have opted for sensory attachments and have no regrets about it.
The sensor nozzle is designed to work in 2 modes:
The modes are controlled by means of a button on the front of the nozzle.
If you are using the nozzle for the first time, you must open the faucet, adjust the water pressure and press the activation button. After a minute, the nozzle will start working automatically.
To turn off the nozzle, you need to set the manual mode. To do this, you need to press once and then turn off the taps. In this case, the green LED will glow for another minute, after which the timer will turn off the device.
In addition, the sensor head has protection. When it is switched to manual mode, the protection will work automatically if the water flows for several minutes.
A water-saving faucet nozzle, the photo of which can be seen in the article, significantly reduces the leakage of money.
There are some nuances in the operation of the device. Even a slight movement of the hands to the side is enough to stop the water.
True, these minor inconveniences are noticed only at first. Literally two days is enough to get used to working with the nozzle, and it gives only pleasure.
The nozzle is great for owners of a centralized or electric water heater, which is adjusted to supply water at a certain temperature.
Where the water temperature is adjusted approximately, certain inconveniences are possible.
For example, very hot water may come out of the faucet at first. In such cases, you need to either drain some water until it cools down, or set the boiler to a lower temperature.
Another nuance appears if the boiler is located far from the tap. In this case, until the moment when hot water begins to flow, it is necessary to drain the cold water already in the pipe between the boiler and the nozzle. This is not very good, because there are water losses, and savings are claimed.
