If you’re wondering why your faucet isn’t bringing out water, there are a few potential reasons. It could be that the water supply to your home is turned off, the shut-off valves to your sink are closed, the pipes leading to your faucet are frozen, or there could be a problem with the faucet itself.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at each of these potential reasons and offer some solutions. If you’re having trouble with your faucet, we hope this post will help you troubleshoot the problem and get your water flowing again.
12 Reasons Why Your Faucet Isn’t Bringing Out Water
1. Problem with the Water Heater
If you have cold water but hot water is not coming out of your kitchen and bathroom taps, your water heater has faulty. This could be caused by sediment buildup, a leak, or an unplugged heater. To restore hot water, you may need to flush the heater, repair its components, or simply plug the heater and reheat it.
2. Automatic shut-off in the purifier system
If no water is coming out or cold tap, your purifier may have shut down. Most under-sink water filtration systems have an automatic shut-off feature that turns off the system when the pressure becomes too high. But this can disrupt the flow of water to your faucet.
To see if this is the problem, examine the purifier and water pressure. And if it is, you can manually set the water to bypass the purifier system, but this will cause your water not to be filtered.
3. A Problem with Shut-off Valves
Wondering what a shut-off valve is? It is the knob in charge of supplying water to all of your home’s water sources. And it was usually found on a pipe beneath the sink or behind the wall.
If the water stops coming out of your faucet, the water valve may be locked. To fix this, locate the valve beneath your sink and reopen it by turning the knob anticlockwise. However, if the valve is open but damaged, contact a professional plumber right away to repair the water valve.
4. Dislodged Tap Washer
Did the water trickle sporadically before it stopped running? The tap washer may have become dislodged or damaged. Check other faucets to see if they are working properly to determine if this is the problem. If it is just this one tap, replace the tap washer right away.
5. Faulty Faucet Cartridges
Some faucets, such as quarter-turn faucets, don’t use washers but cartridges. When the faucet is turned on, a small disc inside the faucet cartridge opens to allow water to flow out. However, the cartridge can become clogged and worn out over time. If the water stops coming out of your shower or sink, the faucet cartridge may be faulty or clogged. Simply unscrew the faucet and replace or repair the cartridge.
6. Problem with the waterline
If you reached out to your neighbors and realized they are also experiencing the same problem, the issue is most likely caused by your waterline. You may need to contact your water supplier to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.
7. Frozen Pipes
If you live in a cold climate, there’s a good chance your water line will freeze from time to time. This can stop the flow of water from your faucet. So, before calling a plumber, check your pipeline for signs of freezing.
While frozen pipes usually unfreeze during the day as temperatures rise, you can use a hairdryer or heat gun to unfreeze the plumbing pipe and get water back into your home right away. However, be cautious when unfreezing the pipe, particularly with a heater, as you may end up melting the pipeline and causing a leak.
8. Leaking Pipes
A leak in your plumbing pipes can cause your faucet to stop dispensing water. When there is a leak, the water pressure drops, and the flow of water stops.
To fix this, check your home’s water supply lines for drips or dents to see if there is a leak. If there is a leak, contact a reputable plumber to repair your water pipe.
In the meantime, wrap the leaking tap with a plumber’s tape to restore water to your home while you wait for the plumber to repair and replace the pipe.
9. Clogged Pipes
If your pipes are not leaking but there is no water coming from any of the faucets, it could be a clogged pipe. Heavy metal deposits, lime, and debris can clog your waterline, causing little or no water to flow through your faucet. To resolve this, contact a plumber to inspect and clear the water pipes. Clogged water pipes are typically identified via video inspection and cleared via hydro jetting.
10. Corroded Pipes
When you first notice orange-colored water or rust around your faucet, and then the water stops coming out, it is most likely due to corrosion in your water line.
Corrosion is a chemical reaction that occurs when metal, water, and air come into contact. And because all of these elements are present in your water pipe, corrosion is unavoidable. The problem, however, is common in old and poorly installed pipes. Sediment buildup in the waterline causes low pressure or water blockage in the faucet over time. And since there is no quick fix, you will need to hire a plumber to inspect your water line and replace any rusted pipes.
11. Airlocks in the Plumbing System
An airlock bubble in your plumbing system can also prevent water from flowing from your faucet. However, because this problem can be difficult to diagnose and repair, you should contact a plumber.
Airlocks in the plumbing system should also be resolved as soon as possible, as they can worsen the problem in your water line. Cleaning and flushing the water line is usually required to remove airlocks.
12. Old Plumbing Components
If your plumbing pipes are more than 20 years old, they are more likely to corrode, leak, or become blocked. Even if you replace a leaking or rusted old pipe, you will almost certainly have the same problem in another spot very soon. To fix the problem once and for all, hire a professional plumber to replace your entire old plumbing system.
What to Do When No Water Is Coming Out of Your Faucet
We’ve all been in that situation where we walk into the kitchen to get some water, and nothing comes out of the faucet. Depending on how urgent the need for water is, it can be very frustrating.
Maybe you’re in a similar situation right now and need an immediate solution. Here’s what you should do first if your faucet suddenly stops bringing out water;
Check Other Taps in Your Home
Have you checked other faucets in the house to see if there is any water coming out? Check the bathroom tap, the guest room toilet, and any other taps inside and outside the house. Are they all working? Thank goodness, only the kitchen tap is faulty!
For now, you can use the working taps to meet your immediate water needs before returning to find a solution to this roguish tap. Believe me. It might just be that the kitchen water pipe is clogged and needs to be unclogged.
Or did you check round and none of your taps is running? Don’t panic just yet; the solution may still be within your reach. So, proceed to the next step!
Check Your Water Main
If suddenly there is no water in your house, then it could be that the main line’s valve is closed. Someone nearby may have helped you with that without your asking. Simply turn on the main water valve to restore water into your home.
Ask Your Neighbors
So, you’ve also checked the main line valve, and the issue isn’t coming from there. Then check with your neighbor to know if it’s a widespread problem. You’re also using the opportunity to say good morning and wish them a good day.
If it’s a general problem, you might just want to wait until the water is restored. The utility center may be performing some maintenance.
Contact Your Water Supplier
But if your neighbors aren’t involved in this mess, you may need to contact your utility company to find out what’s going on. Perhaps you haven’t paid your water bill, and shutting down your water supply is merely a reminder.
Before You Contact Your Plumber
If you still can’t figure out why no water is coming out of your faucet after performing the basic checks, you should contact a plumbing professional. But, before you make that decision, it’s a good idea to understand why the faucet isn’t working. All you need to do is further diagnose the problem with your plumbing system, and you’ll be surprised to learn that some of the issues are things you can fix yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Replace a Tap Washer?
Start by turning off the water supply at the shut-off valve under the sink to replace a tap washer. Then, using a screwdriver and a spanner, remove the tap cover and faucet valve to expose the washer. The washer is located beneath the faucet valve. Now, replace the old washer with a new one before reassembling the tap components.
How Do I Repair a Faulty Cartridge?
Before repairing or replacing a faulty cartridge, turn off the water valve. Then, remove the cartridges’ handle covers and handles using a screwdriver. Replace the old cartridges with the new ones. And reinstall your faucet component to get your faucet working again.
How Do I Remove Airlocks in My Plumbing System?
Airlocks in your water pipes can prevent water from flowing from your faucet. And, to break the airlock, pressure is required. A simple way to break an airlock is to attach a hosepipe to the faulty tap and connect the other end of the pipe to a working tap. Ensure that the pipe is completely airtight. Then, turn on the working tap, and the water blast should create enough pressure to break the airlock.
