How To Remove A Faucet Aerator That Is Stuck

A faucet aerator is a great way to conserve water usage and save a bit of money on your water bill. Faucet aerators mix air in with the water stream, saving up to an extra 16 gallons of water per day! It’s essential to clean your faucet aerator regularly and replace it every year to ensure continued efficiency.

To clean or replace your faucet aerator, you’ll need to remove it. If your faucet aerator is stuck, you can remove it by hand or using pliers or a rubber wrench. You can also heat it or use vinegar or WD-40 if the faucet aerator doesn’t come off with force.

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The first way you should attempt to remove a stuck aerator is by hand. Dry the faucet and your hands before trying to unscrew it. Now, you can get a firm grip for (hopefully) easy removal.

Unscrew the faucet aerator in a counterclockwise direction. For extra leverage, use a rubber gripper pad. The faucet aerator was likely screwed on by hand, so it should come off easily by hand as well. However, if you meet with a lot of resistance, it’s time to move on to the next method.

If your hands couldn’t quite do the trick, a pair of pliers just might! Utilize a pair of small tongue-and-grip pliers for this method.

If you’re removing the aerator to clean it, place a rag or masking tape around it. This will protect the faucet aerator from being damaged by the grip of the pliers. Place the pliers around the screw section and turn counterclockwise. If this is proving difficult, adjusting the position of the pliers can help. In addition. small turns at different areas of the faucet aerator can help loosen it.

Note: Be careful not to grip the pliers too tightly. The metal of the faucet aerator bends easily, and you could damage it.

If the faucet aerator still doesn’t budge, try applying heat. You can use a heat gun or a hairdryer to apply heat to the faucet aerator. First, apply gentle heat in moderation to help loosen the metal. Then, try again with the pliers or rubber wrench. Ideally, the heat should have made the faucet aerator turn more easily.

Note: Only use heat on metal aerators. Some cheaper faucet aerators are made from plastic and will melt. If you are unsure of the material of your faucet aerator, avoid applying heat.

If sheer force isn’t working to remove your faucet aerator, try adding vinegar. Over time, your faucet aerator can begin to corrode or develop deposits of debris. This can cause the faucet aerator to get stuck and prevent easy removal.

Fill a ziplock bag with white vinegar. Pull the bag over the faucet and completely submerge the aerator in vinegar. Secure the bag to the faucet and let soak for a few hours. After a few hours have passed, flush the faucet to remove debris and corrosion. Now you can try pliers or a rubber wrench again to remove the faucet aerator.

Unfortunately, if none of the above methods work to remove the faucet aerator, you may need to call a plumber. Likely, the faucet aerator has corroded too much and rusted to the faucet. Typically, this is something that a DIY fix most likely cannot undo.

A plumber should be able to detach the faucet aerator and install a new one. In the worst-case scenario, you may need an entirely new faucet if the two pieces have become that corroded.

Related Questions

How do you disinfect a faucet aerator? 

After removing the faucet aerator, use a toothbrush and water to scrub it clean. For a deeper clean, soak the screen in white vinegar overnight. This will remove mineral buildup caused by hard water. 

How often should you clean your faucet aerator?

Recommendations on cleaning your faucet aerator vary. Some say that cleaning every week makes for a better functioning faucet aerator. Others claim that twice a year is enough to keep a functioning aerator.You can make this determination by keeping an eye on your faucet aerator’s efficiency. If you notice lower flow than usual, this is a sign you should clean your faucet aerator.