Aerated taps - what is the point?
Discussion
The place I've recently moved to has aerated taps all round and they annoy me beyond reason because I cannot think of one single good point to them. Being a bit of a luddite and technophobe in general I did some googling to educate myself. All I could find were things like "low energy water saving". How the juddering feck does inserting a load of bubbles into water make it "low energy" and how does it actually "save" any? If you need a pint of water then the actually volume is still going to be same, the only difference being that you'll have to leave the tap on longer with an aerated system while you wait for all the pointless bubbles to go.
What used to be a simple process to fill up my kettle by turning on the tap and sticking the spout underneath is now a needlessly painful exercise trying to finely regulate the flow otherwise the fancy aerated water refuses to go down the spout and instead erupts back out like a volcano and generally creating a lot of mess.
What am I missing? They seem like a solution to a problem that didn't exist.
What used to be a simple process to fill up my kettle by turning on the tap and sticking the spout underneath is now a needlessly painful exercise trying to finely regulate the flow otherwise the fancy aerated water refuses to go down the spout and instead erupts back out like a volcano and generally creating a lot of mess.
What am I missing? They seem like a solution to a problem that didn't exist.
Ted2 said:
What am I missing?
They're a method of saving drinking water, which is both in short supply in some areas and actually takes a fair amount of energy to 'process' to drinkable standards.As you say, they don't help if you're trying to run a pint of water to fill a saucepan, but they do reduce consumption if you're washing your hands, or rinsing something under the tap.
There are now rules in the Building Regulations to limit water consumption by new dwellings, and there have also been other sustainability standards (most recently Code for Sustainable Homes - now subsumed by the aforementioned Building Regulations), frequently imposed as a requirement of a Planning Approval, which similarly encourage the use of low-consumption water fittings.Both require the use of such fittings.
You'll usually find low-capacity toilet cisterns and showers that are barely capable of delivering a dribble, to complete the package of water saving measures, in such houses.
Equus said:
They're a method of saving drinking water, which is both in short supply in some areas and actually takes a fair amount of energy to 'process' to drinkable standards.
As you say, they don't help if you're trying to run a pint of water to fill a saucepan, but they do reduce consumption if you're washing your hands, or rinsing something under the tap.
There are now rules in the Building Regulations to limit water consumption by new dwellings, and there have also been other sustainability standards (most recently Code for Sustainable Homes - now subsumed by the aforementioned Building Regulations), frequently imposed as a requirement of a Planning Approval, which similarly encourage the use of low-consumption water fittings.Both require the use of such fittings.
You'll usually find low-capacity toilet cisterns and showers that are barely capable of delivering a dribble, to complete the package of water saving measures, in such houses.
OK. I can see how washing my mitts would perhaps save a thimbleful or so but I am up norf in W Yorks where there are no such water shortage issues. The other thing that annoys me about them is the din they make when running. It's like the taps and the kettle are having their own private competition for which of them can make the most noise when in use. Kettles have always made noise, that's how they work, I'm cool with that. Taps? Not so much.. As you say, they don't help if you're trying to run a pint of water to fill a saucepan, but they do reduce consumption if you're washing your hands, or rinsing something under the tap.
There are now rules in the Building Regulations to limit water consumption by new dwellings, and there have also been other sustainability standards (most recently Code for Sustainable Homes - now subsumed by the aforementioned Building Regulations), frequently imposed as a requirement of a Planning Approval, which similarly encourage the use of low-consumption water fittings.Both require the use of such fittings.
You'll usually find low-capacity toilet cisterns and showers that are barely capable of delivering a dribble, to complete the package of water saving measures, in such houses.
Ref the khazi, I hear you but there are 2 settings on mine. There is the anaemic flow button which is not much more than a dribble and struggles to flush some piss away, then there is the man-size full-on Niagara Falls button
which would have no problem disposing of even the largest of turds.The idiots that built our house said they fitted them to all the taps, in fact they only fitted them to the kitchen tap. The only tap where you actually don't want one.
Depending on tap design, and if they really do bug you, you may be able to remove the aerator. If the spout has an end piece with 2 flats on it, simply unscrew (bearing in mind, it might be limescaled so a bit stiff) and remove the aerator. Refit the chrome spout thing and job done.
I did the reverse on all our taps, as waiting for the builders was far too time consuming and Anglian Water were giving away the aerators.
Depending on tap design, and if they really do bug you, you may be able to remove the aerator. If the spout has an end piece with 2 flats on it, simply unscrew (bearing in mind, it might be limescaled so a bit stiff) and remove the aerator. Refit the chrome spout thing and job done.
I did the reverse on all our taps, as waiting for the builders was far too time consuming and Anglian Water were giving away the aerators.
Ted2 said:
... I am up norf in W Yorks where there are no such water shortage issues.
The Building Regulations are national. As is the energy cost/carbon footprint associated with purifying water to drinkable standards, just for you to run it down the plughole.Even the 'big' flush on a toilet uses much less water than they used to: the size of the cistern has been reduced, compared to yesteryear.
You have my commiserations, incidentally: I was born in West Yorkshire, too, but managed to escape some time ago. I'm reminded of my good fortune every time I return to visit family.
I'm all for them, you can whack the tap on full and it doesn't splatter water everywhere, say when your rinsing plates for the dishwasher. I have them in all basin mixers and my kitchen one too.
Not sure they save much water though, currently 42 quid a month for 4 of us in a 3 bed semi.
Not sure they save much water though, currently 42 quid a month for 4 of us in a 3 bed semi.
KAgantua said:
PositronicRay said:
Water saving toilets use more water, sometimes 2 or 3 goes for even minor solids, I have resorted to a bucket before now! Water saving showerhead expensive and useless, £5 full flow Wilko jobbie much better.
jesus are you a panda or something?
Equus said:
Ted2 said:
What am I missing?
They're a method of saving drinking water, which is both in short supply in some areas and actually takes a fair amount of energy to 'process' to drinkable standards.As you say, they don't help if you're trying to run a pint of water to fill a saucepan, but they do reduce consumption if you're washing your hands, or rinsing something under the tap.
There are now rules in the Building Regulations to limit water consumption by new dwellings, and there have also been other sustainability standards (most recently Code for Sustainable Homes - now subsumed by the aforementioned Building Regulations), frequently imposed as a requirement of a Planning Approval, which similarly encourage the use of low-consumption water fittings.Both require the use of such fittings.
You'll usually find low-capacity toilet cisterns and showers that are barely capable of delivering a dribble, to complete the package of water saving measures, in such houses.
p1esk said:
Equus said:
Ted2 said:
What am I missing?
They're a method of saving drinking water, which is both in short supply in some areas and actually takes a fair amount of energy to 'process' to drinkable standards.As you say, they don't help if you're trying to run a pint of water to fill a saucepan, but they do reduce consumption if you're washing your hands, or rinsing something under the tap.
There are now rules in the Building Regulations to limit water consumption by new dwellings, and there have also been other sustainability standards (most recently Code for Sustainable Homes - now subsumed by the aforementioned Building Regulations), frequently imposed as a requirement of a Planning Approval, which similarly encourage the use of low-consumption water fittings.Both require the use of such fittings.
You'll usually find low-capacity toilet cisterns and showers that are barely capable of delivering a dribble, to complete the package of water saving measures, in such houses.
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