How to Maintain Your Tub Faucet Aerator

Fig.1 Front view

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:
Clear container
CLR® calcium lime and rust remover
Harbor Freight® slip-joint pliers
Toothbrush

Mrs. Handy lived in a recently new complex in Fontana, California. The condominium complex was only four year old and she was surprised when she noticed white specks coming out of all the tub faucet. Mrs. Handy wanted the faucet aerator cleaned like the sink faucets.

This post shows the eleven steps on maintaining a tub aerator.

Step 1: Drinking water can contain many minerals and other hazardous substances. Arrow Head® the leading bottled water has the mineral content of some of Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Fluoride, Magnesium, Bicarbonate, Nitrate, Chloride, Copper, pH (units) Sulfate, Arsenic, Lead. The only way to remove harmful mineral is to use a filter. If you are interested in more information please click on the US EPA web site. 
Step 2: Fig.1 shows the faucet before the repairs. 
Step 3: Fig.2 shows the tub aerator and brass nut that had mineral deposit around it.

Fig.2 Tub aerator 
not cleaned

Step 4: Use Harbor Freight® slip-joint pliers and remove the faucet nut and the plastic insert. Carefully place the jaws of the slip-joint pliers around the tub faucet brass ring and slightly pull towards you. The nut will give and then use your fingers to remove the aerator from the faucet.

Harbor Freight®  
Slip-Joint Pliers

Harbor Freight®
Vice Like Grip

Step 5: Fig.3 shows the brass insert and the plastic insert has been removed. This picture shows an upside down view of the tub faucet.

Fig.3 Faucet with 
no aerator

Step 6: Fig.4 shows the clean tub faucet brass ring cleaned of water mineral.

Fig.4 Aerator 
faucet ring

Step 7: Fig.5 shows the clean tub faucet plastic insert cleaned from water minerals.

Fig.5 Side view
 of aerator 
faucet ring

Step 8: How is it done? Using CLR® Calcium Lime and Rust Remover into a clear container, soak both the brass ring and the plastic insert for several hours. Most of the mineral deposit was removed but a toothbrush helped remove the rest of the minerals. 
Step 9: After the parts of free of minerals deposits return both parts to the tub faucet. First insert the plastic insert into the brass ring. Take the brass ring and place it back into the faucet. Fig.6 and fig.7 shows the process of returning the tub faucet aerator back onto the faucet

Fig.6 Tub aerator 
placed together

Fig.7 Tub aerator 
screwed on the faucet

Step 10: Fig.8 shows the flow a good flow of water and the maintenance has been finished.

Fig.8 Good
water flow

Step 11: Fig.9 shows the completed faucet ready for use. The minerals and other chemical would have eaten the metal and the faucet would have to be replaced. Regular maintenance keep all the parts moving free and without problems.

Fig.9 Ready to use!

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