One of the best ways to reduce water and energy usage in your home is also one of the easiest. Installing WaterSense ^® faucet aerators on all your faucets can save, on average, 700 gallons of water per year, according to the  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That’s nearly the same amount of water as skipping 40 showers per year (but less gross).

Faucet aerators are based on a simple concept. By mixing air in with your water flow, you’re able to use less water without losing functionality. In a matter of seconds, you will be on your way to serious water savings, all thanks to a simple, no-tech device that uses a small mesh screen to divide the stream of water as it flows. This mixes the water with air, which decreases the amount of water that is actually flowing. 

Fortunately, installing faucet aerators is simple and takes no time at all. All you need to do is choose the right faucet aerator and screw it on to your faucet.  Shop Western’s selection of FREE faucet aerators. | Aerator installation guide

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1. Pick your flow: Water flow is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). When choosing a faucet aerator, look for a water-saving model like one with a WaterSense^® label. This is an EPA designation that guarantees a flow of under 1.5 GPM. That’s a significant decrease from the standard faucet flow rate of 2.2 GPM, but it’s possible to do even better. Some aerators cut the flow down to 0.5 GPM, while others allow you to adjust the spray manually based on need like washing dishes versus washing hands, for instance.

2. Thread counts: If your faucet has threading on the outside, you need a female-threaded aerator. Alternatively, If the threading is on the inside of your faucet, look for a male-threaded aerator.

3. Size it up: There are three sizes of aerators available, and you need to be sure to get the right one. Conveniently, the sizes correspond to U.S. coins, so you can gauge your size without a ruler.

4. Choose your stream: If you’ve ever used an adjustable showerhead, you know the difference between the standard, bubbly spray and the needle-type spray. Those different sprays are available with faucet aerators too, so pick the one that’s best for your use.

5. Get fancy, if you want to: Do you need a swiveling faucet head? Maybe the option to switch between bubble and needle-type spray? Or do you want to be able to adjust flow rate? All of those are possible with full featured (but still affordable) aerators.

Once you’ve picked your aerator, simply unscrew the old one (if you have one) and put on your new one. Then start enjoying a steady stream of water and energy savings.