Faucet Filter?

[Keebler Elf]

I unscrewed the part of my kitchen sink faucet that the water comes out of to clean it (calcium build up) and inside it was a little cap-like thingy (to use the technical term) with a tiny red mesh filter on one side and a porous plastic cap behind it.

Anyone know what this is? There's a couple black specks between the red mesh and the plastic cap so I figure it's probably due for replacing but I have no clue what it's called. The thing is about the size of a dime, as thick as your pinky, and fits inside the metal ring that I unscrewed from the faucet.

 

[smitherz]

http://community.homedepot.com/t5/i...8D152BE9FD/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1


You could just take it in to Home Depot they'll tell you what it is, and find the replacement part for you.

 

[xmontrealer]

You can probably rinse it from both sides to clean it a bit. See if that helps before you spend time and money to replace it.

I believe that if you run the water without that piece installed, the water will come out of the tap very clear and in a narrower stream. I think the filter or whatever it is spreads out the stream and also may have an aerating effect that makes the stream less transparent.

But I'm just guessing.

 

[Gator3x]

You can probably rinse it from both sides to clean it a bit. See if that helps before you spend time and money to replace it.

I believe that if you run the water without that piece installed, the water will come out of the tap very clear and in a narrower stream. I think the filter or whatever it is spreads out the stream and also may have an aerating effect that makes the stream less transparent.

But I'm just guessing.

You're right, it's the aerator.

Replace it with a new screen.

 

[Art Mann]

Never overlook the benefit of soaking it overnight in vinegar.

 

[Art Mann]

Good gawd!!!

What am I doing in a thread about a faucet?

Surely that's a typo .... we meant Fawcett, right?

 

[WoodPeckr]

You're right, it's the aerator.

Yep, probably an aerator.
If you can't clean it, just buy another one.

 

[Keebler Elf]

I'm sure it's an aerator. It does help "fill out" the stream of water.

I tried washing it and soaking it in vinegar and that helped but the little black specs of dirt are still there so I'm just going to replace it.