Tip - Faucet Aerator Tool
 

If you haven't removed your faucet aerators in a long time, good luck, especially if you have a plastic "hidden" recessed aerator. These come with a round plastic tool for removal, but I spent several days trying unsuccessfully to remove two aerators. I had a plumber at my house doing another project and I asked him to remove it. He couldn't and suggested that I buy a new kitchen faucet. Today, I received this Danco tool from Amazon, and the aerator came right off.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CWM4PBX...roduct_details

In 40 years of home ownership and DIY experiences, I have never had an occasion to remove one.

I have a softner to avoid these hardwater problems.

Welcome to Florida. The hard water can absolutely clog aerators, and frequently removing and cleaning them is beneficial to water flow.

If that Plummer didn't remove it trying to get you to buy a new faucet. Personally I would NOT hire them again.
Hope your recommendation will help others.

I've destroyed aerators in the process of trying to remove them. They are plastic, and can be a beyotch to remove. That being said, in most cases, they can be replaced, assuming the plumber (or homeowner) has the correct replacement.

I don't think he was trying to sell me a faucet. I was not going to pay him to replace the aerator or the faucet. But, I was happy to find a tool that provides enough torque to remove the aerator. The round plastic ones do not.

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On the same subject I soak our shower head over night in vinegar
and what a difference it made.
It made the stream so much softer then before.

Another way to do it is to use a 2 inch sewing needle. Stick the needle into each hole in the shower head and wiggle it. It takes about 2 minutes, and you will be amazed at how it improves the flow.

Never know when I might need one and haven’t made the add a water softener or not decision yet Toymeister, so one is on its way to tape under my sink as well. Thanks for the suggestion.

Thank you for letting us know about this tool. Also, thank you for needle and vinegar tips too!

I'm not handy, but I sent for a replacement kit from Amazon, they sent me a replacement kit with a little plastic tool and a number of filters of different sizes. Once I found the size, I needed I replaced it within minutes and now just order the aerators I need for the bathroom and kitchen faucets. What I did find even though I have an expensive water filter for the whole house and my aerators do not get cloaked they do seem to get dirty. Call me delicate, but I don't want to be drinking that dirt water, so I change these aerators occasionally need it or not.

I agree. IMPOSSIBLE to remove. Same with plumber. Had new one installed. Bought identical faucet from Amazon. Discounted price.

The plastic tool is fine as long as the aerator is not stuck. You can buy a set of 4 different sizes from Lowes. But, if the aerator is stuck, the plastic tool doesn't provide enough torque to unscrew the aerator.

Before you try to remove, try spraying/splashing some vinegar on.

I needed to replace my clogged aerator about a year ago. It was not just calcium deposits; it seemed like there were tiny pieces of stuff in it.

I could not figure out how to remove it. I went to Lowe’s and they sold me a set of four key-like tools and the correct one easily removed the aerator. I went back to Lowe’s to buy a new one once I knew what it looked like and they wanted something like $75 for it. The Lowe’s employee asked me if I had a Delta faucet, which I do have. He said that Delta would send me a new one for free if I called them. I did. They sent me a new one and it included the removal tool.

Check with Delta first before you spend money!

Thanks for the info. Can we all just borrow yours?? 😇

I just use my old Channellock pliers with a wash cloth around the aerator to avoid scraping the finish. Never fails.

Me too. Great plumbing hack. Works very well for kitchen sink sprayers too.

Helpful post, thank you.

That's only for external threaded aerators. The OP has the 'new' style with internal threads.

Sometimes they can’t be removed due to galvanic corrosion? Most all of mine were pot metal, seems plastic has replaced them.

Pair of vise grips alway worked for me. Fine line from being too loose or too tight and sometimes requires little working back and forth?

IMO CLR works the best.

For the record, before I used the Danco tool, I tried vinegar, CLR, Lime Away, two types of WD-40, and Goof Off. The aerator wouldn't budge.

If clogged, tie a bag with vinegar around the faucet opening to dissolve deposits.

Contacted Delta, the manufacturer, who said tool was provided with the faucet. Installer probably tossed it. Delta agreed to send another and did. Plastic tool. Good luck. I did the vinegar which worked.