# Why Does My Faucet Have a Screen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2019, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310 "2019-05-01T09:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/1 "2019-05-01T09:29:47Z")
My faucets in my home seem to invariably have screens on them. It’s almost as if it is trying to stop something from emerging from the tap. But what could possibly emerge from the tap? A baby alligator? A pebble? FWIW the water where I live is pretty clean. So what is the screen for? :):)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/2 "2019-05-01T09:42:54Z")
The screen is part of the [aerator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faucet_aerator), and although it will obviously filter out any large enough particulates, its main purpose is not to filter but to help aerate the water stream for the reasons noted in the article. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/3 "2019-05-01T09:43:43Z")
You mean the kind of metal gauze bit? Those aren’t filters, they are [aerators](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faucet_aerator). They help to make the stream of water less splashy, and also reduce water usage while maintaining the sensation of high pressure. They do also trap bits of rust and debris etc from the pipes, which means they can get blocked up over time. Edit: they don’t stop ninjas, though. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/4 "2019-05-01T11:06:10Z")
Remove the aerator (if possible) and observe the water stream. You’ll go back to the aerator after seeing the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/5 "2019-05-01T11:23:28Z")
So your teenaged son can screw it out of there and use it as a screen for his weed pipe. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/6 "2019-05-01T12:31:44Z")
Damn, I spend too much time on my computer and iPhone. I was wondering why a faucet needs it’s own screen. To display water temperature? Then I read the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/7 "2019-05-01T12:41:31Z")
I’d also add that they reduce the drop in pressure to other fixtures when used simultaneously. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/8 "2019-05-01T15:05:32Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > So your teenaged son can screw it out of there and use it as a screen for his weed pipe. _cough_narc_cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/9 "2019-05-01T16:40:03Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Damn, I spend too much time on my computer and iPhone. I was wondering why a faucet needs it’s own screen. To display water temperature? > > Then I read the OP. What, you’ve never heard of streaming video? ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/10 "2019-05-03T14:25:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > _cough_narc_cough_ I recall that in college, none of the dorm sinks ever had a screen for long ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/11 "2019-05-03T14:29:26Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > So your teenaged son can screw it out of there and use it as a screen for his weed pipe. We have a winner! ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/12 "2019-05-03T14:29:32Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > So your teenaged son can screw it out of there and use it as a screen for his weed pipe. Yup. It’s about all teenage sons are good for: screwing and burning weed ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310/13 "2019-05-03T14:35:48Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Remove the aerator (if possible) and observe the water stream. You’ll go back to the aerator after seeing the other way. My workplace has a faucet without one. The water comes out clear, and with real pressure! I like it without the aerator.