If you need professional plumbing in Pacifica, CA, contact the experts at Works Plumbing.

No one enjoys coming home after a long day at the office just to find that their home doesn’t have running water. It inconveniences our lives to the fullest degree, making everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning, and bathing incredibly difficult. That’s why it’s important to understand what to do if you notice water not running in your house.

Works Plumbing, Pacifica’s professional plumbing repair company, created this guide to teach you what to do when your home stops producing running water.

What to Do When Water Stops Running in Your House

Houses stop producing water for numerous reasons, making it difficult to pinpoint the problem’s source without professional help. Some homes experience a lack of water pressure, while others have issues with their water supply lines. Before assuming the worst, you should assess the situation to figure out the best solution.

If you notice water not running in your house, follow the steps below to uncover the cause of the problem and restore your running water.

Step One: Test Another Sink

Just because one sink stops supplying running water doesn’t mean others will as well. Sometimes plumbing issues only affect one tap, allowing you to use others until you fix the broken sink, shower, or bathtub. Always check a few other taps before assuming the problem affects the whole house.

Repairing one tap is much easier than fixing an entire plumbing system. That said, whether the problem affects one tap or the whole house, it’s best to leave repairs to the professionals if you don’t have plumbing experience.

Step Two: Look for Signs of Leakage

Residential pipe leaks are incredibly common and can drastically reduce your home’s water pressure. The dip in water pressure can diminish water flow and even prevent water from reaching your sinks and showers. Leaks are very serious and can cause extensive water damage if you don’t fix them swiftly.

Always check for signs of a pipe leak if your taps stop supplying water. It’s also a good idea to check for leaks within your hot water heater since it affects the water supply.

Most leaks discolor their surroundings and can sometimes warp surfaces. If you notice discoloration, warping, and/or overly moistened walls or flooring, close all valves near the suspected leak. If you believe your piping system has multiple leaks, close your main shut-off valve before contacting a professional plumber.

Step Three: Examine Your Home’s Water Source

If you can’t find signs of leaky pipes and your home still doesn’t have running water, check your property’s primary water supply valve. These valves are often buried in your yard and have plastic castings and wraps over them. Once you find your property’s main water supply, ensure it’s in the on position and isn’t damaged.

If the valve is on and doesn’t have noticeable damage, it’s probably not the issue’s source.

It’s important to note that many homes with wells don’t have a municipal water supply valve since they don’t rely on the city for water. If you use a well, check the water extraction pump for damage or defects. Extraction pump pressure tanks are prone to several issues that can cut off your water supply.

Also, keep in mind that a shallow well could limit your running water.

If the well looks full and your extraction pump works optimally, move to step four.

Step Four: Look for Frozen Pipes

Although rare in California’s climate, sometimes pipes freeze and prevent water from reaching your home. Low temperatures can cause cold water within a pipe to freeze, blocking flowing water.

Frozen pipes are very detrimental to residential properties and can burst due to the excess internal pressure. This can cause extensive damage to your piping system that’s often very expensive to fix. It can even cause you to replace your residential piping prematurely if the damage is severe.

The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to insulate your piping system. However, since California has a relatively mild winter, your home’s lack of flowing water probably stems from something else. That said, if your taps stop supplying water and the temperatures drop below freezing, it’s a good idea to check for frozen pipes.

Step Five: Ask Your Neighbors

If you don’t have frozen or leaking pipes and all your water supply valves are in the on position but you still don’t have running water, ask your neighbors if they have any water supply issues.

Sometimes water supply problems affect multiple homes within a neighborhood. Asking your neighbors if they experience similar problems will help you determine what to do next while giving you peace of mind that you’re not the only one experiencing the problem.

If you don’t want to knock on your neighbors’ door, try reaching out through social media. Making a post about your water supply within one of these groups will help you determine if it’s a neighborhood problem or a residential issue.

Step Six: Contact the Water Utility Company

Sometimes water supply problems are outside our control. Water utility companies often shut off the entire line if a serious issue occurs. For example, if a water main becomes severely damaged, the company will turn off the water supply unit they make repairs.

If you complete all the previous steps and still can’t figure out why water isn’t running in your house, contact your water utility company to see if they turned off the water. Many companies also have an online water outage map that will tell you if your neighborhood’s water supply is shut off.

Step Six: Call a Professional Plumber

If your water utility company hasn’t turned off your water supply and you still don’t have running water, contact a professional plumber for immediate services. Professional plumbers understand all the ins and outs of residential piping systems and will determine the root cause of your home’s lack of water. They run numerous tests and conduct thorough inspections to identify problems before they spiral out of control.

Water not running in your house is a plumbing emergency, and you shouldn’t delay service. You could have a serious pipe leak that you don’t know about but that is wreaking havoc on your property. Even if the damage is minimal, you shouldn’t have to go very long without running water — a necessity in any home or business.

Once a plumber uncovers your water supply issue, they will fix it and restore your running water quickly.

Causes of Water Supply Problems

Water supply issues occur for various reasons. However, once you understand the primary causes, you can resolve them before they adversely affect your property or your daily life. Below are a few common causes of water supply issues.

Pipe Clogs

Clogged pipes are very common and can restrict water from flowing inside your pipes. They often start small and gradually worsen over time, drastically reducing the water pressure. It’s best to contact a professional plumber to unclog your pipes, as you don’t want to risk damaging them in the process.

Many store-bought pipe clog remedies cause more harm than good and contain harsh chemicals that can erode your pipes prematurely. Always avoid these declogging solutions to preserve your pipes and prevent more serious problems later on.

Partially Closed Water Meter Valve

Sometimes contractors need to turn off your home’s water meter valve to complete renovations and other home improvement projects. Many forget to reopen the meter or only open it partially after finishing an assignment, restricting your water pressure and supply. Always contact the water company to open your water meter valve if you experience a dip in water pressure after making renovations.

Corroded Piping

Older pipes often experience corrosion that can limit your running water. The corrosion typically causes leaks and requires immediate professional attention before they damage your home. If water isn’t running in your home and your pipes are 20 years old or older, contact a professional plumber to inspect them for corrosion.

Contact Works Plumbing for Exceptional Plumbing Services in Pacifica, CA

Works Plumbing is Pacifica, CA’s, number-one choice for professional plumbing services. We will help you determine why water isn’t running in your house and resolve it using the best tools and repair methods in the industry today. Whether you want to know what causes low water pressure in your home or just need a routine pipe inspection, Works Plumbing is here for you.

Give Works Plumbing a call at (650) 414-5831 today!

Categories: Plumbing

Water Not Running in Your House? Here’s What to Do