Finding out that no water is coming out of the faucet can truly disrupt your daily morning routine. If it has never occurred to you before, it can be quite frustrating to deal with — especially if you’ve been paying the high cost of water bills to avoid a water supply shut off. To figure out how to fix the problem, you first need to identify the main culprit.
Bathroom and kitchen faucets in the modern-day are more complex than ever. So, troubleshooting these components might be more challenging for the ordinary homeowner. In more complicated cases, either the cold water or hot water comes out but not the other. To make things easy, here is a list of possible issues that can prevent water from coming out of the faucet.
8 Things To Do When Water Won't Come Out Of The Faucet
Inspect Water Main Line Or Water Supply.
Occasionally, water not coming out of the faucet is caused by a problem with the waterline. If you’re experiencing water shortages throughout the home, locate the water main valve—which is often found in the basement, behind the sink, or near the water heater. Then verify that it’s open. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s worth checking with your neighbors to see if they’re experiencing similar problems before you call the water supplier. A supply company will sometimes experience issues in certain areas.
You should also check if there is a water flow from other taps in the home, including those outside. If it’s just a particular tap that’s not working, it could also simply be that it’s damaged and no longer works correctly — resulting in no water running to it.
Check For Clogged Pipes
Most of the time, a clogged water pipe will cause no water flow or very low water pressure to come from the taps. If you've discovered that the flow of water has stopped from other water outlets as well, the pipes leading to your water line may have been clogged with sediment buildup, dirt or other debris.
If you live in an area with hard water, mineral deposits build up are often the main culprit of clogged pipes. In this case, you will want to invest in a water softener to get rid of those heavy metal deposits in the water, which also makes it healthier for you. To get this solved, you’ll need to call a plumber.
Examine The Shutoff Valve.
The pipes connected to each sink in your home are equipped with a shutoff valve, enabling homeowners to turn off the water supply without disrupting the rest of the house. With kids and pets, it's conceivable that someone accidentally closed the valve and results in no water coming out of the faucet. Otherwise, if you just had plumbing work done by a plumber or by yourself, someone might have forgotten to re-open the valve afterward.
To fix this, locate the water supply pipes under the sink and check for a valve or lever. Make sure it's completely open by turning it counterclockwise as far as it can go.
Check For Corroded Water Pipes
Pipes that are too old or improperly placed can accumulate rust, causing them to congregate near the tap/faucet. If you see orange-colored water or rust around the faucet, this can prevent water from coming out of it. Rust can also occur due to normal faucet wear and tear, resulting in a sediment obstruction in the waterline. If this is the case, hiring a qualified plumber is the best course of action since you’ll need a professional to deal with this plumbing problem since it's not a quick fix.
Check For Frozen Pipes
If you live in a cold region, a frozen pipe can also be responsible for preventing water from coming out of your faucet. If cabinet doors conceal the sink's piping, uncover them to allow some heat to enter.
It's a good idea to develop the practice of keeping the cabinet door open when it's chilly outside so that the pipe won't freeze again. A hairdryer or a portable heater can supply a little more heat, to the frozen pipes provided you have a safe place to store it. If the ice is solid, it could have ruined the pipe or the faucet, and melting the pipeline could result in a leak. When your dealing with frozen pipes, it’s time to contact a plumber.
Check For Leaky Pipes
A leaky pipe in your home is often responsible for low water pressure. You can try and uncover any indication of a leak in your house's pipes by tracing the pipelines. Most of the time, its a leaky basement pipe that's causing the issue. If you having issues with a bathroom faucet, leaks might also cause water pressure issues in the bathroom sink.
There are some temporary fixes for leaking pipes that can mitigate the damage, like adding pipe epoxy or plumbers tape. Still, you’ll eventually need to do a permanent solution like replacing the pipe.
Inspect The Water Purifier
Most under-sink water filtration systems can automatically shut off if the pressure grows too high. However, if this is causing the problem, you can bypass the unit and have water flowing out of your faucet again. If you have a water booster pump installed, it can result in too high water pressure if incorrectly installed or settings aren’t properly configured. Just keep in mind this water won’t be filtered until the problem with your water purifier is fixed in the first place. Similarly, if you just remove the water booster pump you might run into low water pressures later.
Check For A Dislodged Tap Washer
Every now and then, water can stop if the tap washer has become dislodged or damaged. This can cause the tap to dribble water intermittently before it shuts off altogether and also lead to other issues below the sink. To determine whether this is the problem, check all the other faucets at home to see if they’re functioning correctly. If it's simply a single tap acting up, examine and replace the tap washer right away. A tap might get clogged in rare circumstances because the washer has loose and displaced, preventing water from flowing. Dismantle and replace the faucet's washer with a new one after turning off the water supply.
Take a deep breath and relax before you frantically start calling a plumber whenever you run into this issue. When the water stops running, there is generally a straightforward explanation and can be resolved by following the steps above. The best way to get your tap back up and running is to determine the source of the problem so that you can address it right away. In any case, whether you're able to fix the problem yourself or hire a professional plumber, make sure the repairs are done swiftly, effectively, and safely.