Kingston Brass Faucet Aerators: Male or Female Thread and Which Aerator Fits Your Faucet

Your Kingston Brass faucet splashes, sputters or runs weak, or the aerator at the tip of the spout has gone missing. Kingston's own repair article names uneven flow, splashing and low pressure as signs of a clogged, damaged or missing aerator. To order one that screws back on, start from the faucet number, not from the old part.

Which aerator fits your Kingston Brass faucet

A faucet's page on kingstonbrass.com, for example the one for the KB7751BLBS kitchen faucet, can end its description with a Compatible Parts list. Where an aerator is listed, it appears there by number. Five examples:

The last row is not an aerator. The LS8298DL vessel faucet page lists GWRPA175KY under Aerator Keys, and Kingston's page for that number calls it a Cache Key for GWRPA175. If you need the aerator itself for that faucet, ask us with the faucet number.

On each of these pages Kingston adds a note to the list: make sure each added item is compatible. So use the list to find the number, then confirm the thread on the aerator's own page.

Matching the finish: the last digit in these numbers

In the four aerator numbers in the table, the last digit is the faucet's finish digit: 0 for matte black, 5 for oil rubbed bronze, 8 for brushed nickel and 1 for polished chrome. Our guide to Kingston Brass model numbers and finish codes explains those digits and the finish letters that other Kingston numbers use. Aerator titles show the same thing. Z18KBSA1791 is Polished Chrome, Z18KBSA1798 Brushed Nickel, and the rest of the number does not change.

Kingston's page for the oil rubbed bronze KS8645DL says that antiqued finishes vary slightly in brightness and tone from one production lot to the next, that oil rubbed bronze is a living finish that changes over time, and that Kingston cannot guarantee an exact match between items in these finishes. A new aerator may not match an older faucet exactly.

Series aerators: the faucet series in the name

Some Kingston aerators name the faucet series they are for. KSSA1347 is the Aerator for KS1027 Series in brushed brass. KBSA2621 is the Aerator for KB2151 and KB2621 Series in polished chrome. The KSSA1347 page still tells you to check the model for compatibility, so compare your faucet number with the series in the title before you order.

Kingston aerator thread size: male or female

Kingston's article How to Replace a Faucet Aerator describes male and female threads. A male aerator has its threads on the outside and screws into a spout with female threads; the article gives 15/16 inch for male threads. A female aerator has its threads on the inside and fits onto a spout with male threads, at 55/64 inch. With the aerator gone, the spout tells you which type it takes: threads on the outside of the spout mean a female aerator, threads inside mean a male one.

The page of each aerator in the table below prints its exact thread, and six of the seven also print the flow of the restrictor:

Female does not always mean 55/64. Z12KSSA8270 is a female aerator with 3/4"-27 UNS threads and a 7/8" diameter, so read the thread line on the page of the exact aerator you order.

Flow: read it next to the part

Kingston's article explains that aerators usually include a restrictor, rated in gallons per minute (GPM). It ties the choice of size to your water-saving goal, personal preference and local water regulations, and notes that a lower GPM saves more water but may slightly reduce pressure. The five faucet pages above print the spout flow rate at 60 PSI, and for the four faucets in the first table that name an aerator, the aerator page prints the same figure: 1.2 GPM for KS1160NL, KS8645DL and KB3948BL with A151627UNSL0, A151627UNSL5 and A151627UNSL8, and 1.8 GPM for KB7751BLBS with A556427UNSK1.

Dual-function and swivel aerators

A556427UNSK1, Kingston's Spindrift aerator, is dual-function. Turning the aerator switches it between a standard stream and a spray, and it swivels 360 degrees. A151627UNSL8, the Spritz, also gives a stream and a spray, switched by rotating its ring. The spec sheet on the A556427UNSK1 page is one drawing for four finish digits, titled A556427UNSK0,1,5,8. It shows the 55/64"-27 UNS thread and an overall height of 1-7/8 inches.

Removing, cleaning and replacing a Kingston aerator

Kingston's article gives three steps:

1. Turn the old aerator counterclockwise to remove it, by hand or with an adjustable wrench or pliers.
2. Optionally, wrap a few layers of Teflon tape clockwise around the threads of the spout.
3. Screw the new aerator on clockwise, hand-tight first, then snug it gently with the wrench or pliers. The article warns that overtightening can damage the threads or the aerator.

To clean an aerator, the article says to take it apart if its design calls for it, soak the parts in a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar for several hours or overnight, scrub the screen with a soft brush, rinse and put it back together. Kingston's Care and Maintenance page asks owners to remove the aerator periodically and clean out the debris that collects in it, because debris reduces the flow of water.

How long does one last? The article's general guideline is a new aerator every 2-5 years. It also lists signs that one needs replacing: leaks or drips that continue after cleaning, low flow or uneven pressure, damaged parts, and mineral buildup that will not come off. These are Kingston's general steps; follow the instructions for your faucet, and local plumbing codes apply.

Kingston Brass aerators at The Builders Supply

Our Kingston Brass brand page lists the Kingston faucets and parts we carry, and the cartridges, aerators and repair parts category groups aerators with other faucet repair parts. Examples of the aerators named in this guide are shown below this post. For cartridges and stems, see our Kingston Brass cartridge guide.

Have the faucet number ready if you are not sure which aerator fits. Our customer support team is available Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time, at 1-888-800-7789 or [email protected].