You twist the faucet like always, but nothing happens. No rush of water, not even a drip. Whether it is a supply issue or something stuck deep inside your plumbing, there is usually a clear reason behind the silence. Our team in Omaha, NE works with homeowners to get answers fast and bring water service back where it belongs, at your fingertips.
Start With the Shutoff Valves
If your water is turned on but nothing is coming out of the faucet, your first stop should be the shutoff valves. Every home has a main water shutoff valve that controls water for the whole house. There are also smaller shutoff valves under sinks, behind toilets, and near washing machines. These valves can be bumped, turned, or stuck in the off position, even if you didn’t mean to change anything.
Turn the valve gently to the left and see if water starts to flow again. If the valve is stuck, don’t force it. You could break it or twist the pipe. And if the valve feels loose or turns easily without doing anything, it might be worn out. A plumber can fix that fast and make sure the connection is still safe to use.
Frozen Pipes Can Catch You Off Guard
If it’s cold outside and your water suddenly stops, there’s a strong chance a pipe has frozen. Even if your heat is on, certain pipes, especially ones that run through attics, crawlspaces, or outside walls, can still freeze up when temperatures drop. When that happens, the water inside the pipe turns solid and stops moving.
Don’t try to thaw the pipe with an open flame or anything too hot. That can damage the pipe and create a bigger mess. If you know where the frozen pipe is, you can try warming it slowly with a space heater, heating pad, or warm towel. Just keep the heat steady and stay close while you work. If you don’t know where the ice is hiding, or if you worry the pipe might burst, it’s time to call a plumber before anything gets worse.
Check the Pressure Regulator
Some homes have a pressure regulator that controls how much force the water has when it moves through your pipes. When this part fails, it can block water from getting through. It doesn’t happen often, but it can surprise you when it does.
A stuck regulator can trick you into thinking the water is completely off. But really, the water is waiting behind a gate that isn’t opening the way it should. These devices are usually near your main shutoff or meter. They might look like a bell or a metal cap with a bolt on top.
You can’t always see if they’re broken just by looking. If the problem started suddenly, and the water worked fine yesterday, this might be your issue. Replacing a pressure regulator is a job for a licensed plumber. They’ll test the pressure, check the settings, and install a new one if the old part stops working.
Clogged Pipes or Fixtures Might Be to Blame
Sometimes the problem isn’t your whole system, it’s just the pipe or fixture that got blocked. Minerals from hard water, rust from old pipes, or tiny pieces of debris can build up inside the line. You might turn on the faucet and hear it hiss or hum, but nothing comes out. Or maybe the water drips a little, but it won’t pick up speed.
Clogs can also happen deeper in the pipes. A section of pipe might be narrowed so much that water can’t pass through. If this keeps happening in the same place, your pipes might need repair or replacement. That’s something a plumber can figure out with a camera inspection or pipe flush.
Municipal Issues Can Also Happen
Once you’ve checked everything inside the house, don’t forget that the problem might be coming from outside. Sometimes the city or water supplier is doing maintenance, and they need to turn the water off temporarily.
If nothing in your home seems off, and you’ve checked all the valves and fixtures, call your water provider and ask if there’s a known issue. They may already be working on it, or they might need your report to find the problem.
Call Us Today to Fix Your Water Flow
Restoring water to your fixtures starts with understanding where the flow stopped. From valve checks to pipe repairs, knowing what to look for saves time and frustration. If you also need help with leak detection or fixture replacement, we can handle the plumbing job from start to finish. Call us today to get your water flowing again with help that gets to the point.
