If you turn on a faucet in your home and nothing comes out, it’s natural to feel frustrated and maybe even a little panicked. Modern humans rely on modern conveniences, and those conveniences include having running water flow out of your faucets when you turn them on. Malfunctioning faucets, unfortunately, comprise some of the most common plumbing problems. If you turn on the tap in your home and nothing comes out, there’s no need to panic—but it’s best to be prepared. Keep reading to learn what to do when there is no water from faucets in your home.
1. Try Both Faucet Handles
This tip assumes that the faucet through which no water is flowing has two handles—one for cold water and one for hot water. If this is the case, it is important to try both faucets handles to see if one or both of them are malfunctioning.
It is a common mistake among homeowners to try only one faucet handle, discover that no water comes out, and immediately assume that the same is true for the other handle. However, this is not always the case.
If water flows out of the faucet when you turn the cold water handle but not when you turn the hot water handle, the problem with your faucet might stem from a malfunctioning water heater.
Hot water has to pass through your water heater before it reaches your faucet. If there is a blockage or other problem with your water heater, no water will flow out of your faucet when you turn the hot water handle but it will flow out when you turn the cold water handle.
2. Check for a Blockage
If you are willing to get a little more hands-on, you can check for a blockage that might be causing no water to flow out of your faucet. Checking for a blockage involves unscrewing the head of your faucet and examining the inside of the faucet head for any build-up or debris that may be disabling water from flowing out of your faucet.
no water from faucets in the house
Remember to shut off the water to the faucet before you unscrew its head. You can turn off the water to most faucets by turning off the two shutoff valves located underneath your sink.
3. Detect a Possible Leak
If no water is flowing out of a faucet in your house, that might be a sign that there is a leak somewhere in the pipes that transport water into your home plumbing system. One of the easiest and fastest ways to find a leak in your home plumbing system is to shut off the main water line that allows water to flow through the pipes inside your house.
Shutting off the main water line to your home is very simple. Keep in mind that you will be unable to use any appliances in your home that require water while your main water line is shut off—including your sinks, showers, bathtubs, dishwasher, washing machine, etc.
The main water shutoff valve for your home should be located somewhere on or near the outside of your house, or in a mechanical room or basement. All you have to do to shut off the main water line to your home is to turn the shutoff valve clockwise to prevent water from flowing into your home plumbing system.
Once you turn off the main water line, look at the water meter that is located above the shutoff valve. Water meters measure the amount of water that is flowing into your household. These meters are usually circular and appear with a dial and a number that increases as more water flows into your home.
After you shut off the main water line to your house, the number on your water meter should remain the same as it was before you shut off the water. If that number continues to increase and the dial continues to spin, that means that there is probably a leak located somewhere in a pipe in your home plumbing system—which might be preventing water from flowing out of your faucet.
4. Contact a Professional
From a malfunctioning water heater to a blockage to a pipe leak, there are multiple problems that can cause water to stop flowing out of a faucet in your home. Sometimes, you may not be able to fix the problem on your own. That’s when it’s time to contact a professional.
If you are based in Riverside County or its surrounding areas, contact Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing if no water is flowing out of a faucet in your home.
This professional plumbing company is family-owned and has 30-plus years of experience in performing a wide variety of plumbing services. The team at Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing will be able to diagnose the problem with your faucet and fix it the right way at an affordable cost. Plus, they offer emergency services—so they’re ready to come to fix your faucet even if it’s the middle of the night or Christmas Day.
If you are struggling with a malfunctioning faucet and can’t fix it on your own, call your local water blockage service provider today, to get a quote or schedule a service appointment.
