Why Isn’t My Water Working? A Plumber Can Help | New Orleans, LA
Photo By jjn
Having access to running water is one of the most important aspects of day-to-day life. If you wake up one morning to find your water suddenly isn’t working, it’s going to make your day a lot tougher. Fortunately, a lot of the problems that lead to no running water are fairly easy for a good plumber to fix. If you’ve got no running water in your New Orleans, LA, home at the moment, here’s what could be causing it and what you should do to get your water back on.
Shutoff Valve
When you don’t have running water on your home, that means there’s probably something keeping water from flowing through your water lines. Sometimes, these obstructions mean you have to replace the water line to get your water back on, but not all the time. If you’re lucky, your water not working could be something as simple as having a plumber check your shutoff valve.
Shutoff valves are designed to stop the flow of water in the event of an emergency, such as when you’ve got a burst pipe. However, sometimes those valves aren’t fully opened after service or are inadvertently tampered with by a homeowner. If you’re not able to get any water running through your home, make sure you have a plumber take a look at your shutoff valve.
If you know where your main shutoff valve is, you can check to see if it’s fully open on your own. Not only is this a simple task, but it’s also important to know where the shutoff is in case of an emergency. If opening the shutoff valve doesn’t fix your problem, then it’s time to call a professional.
Clogged Pipes
One of the most common problems that leads to a lack of running water is a clogged water line. Water lines aren’t very large in diameter, so it doesn’t take a whole lot to clog them. Plus, certain types of water pipes such as galvanized steel can have reactions with certain things that lead to an increased buildup inside the pipe. If your water gradually slowed down and eventually came to a halt, that’s a good sign you’ve got a clogged line.
Clogged water lines require the help of a professional to fix. The only effective way to fix a clogged pipe is to replace the portion of pipe that’s clogged, which is a big job. If you have clogged pipes in an older home, make sure you talk to a plumber about whether or not you should replace a portion of your water line or simply repipe your entire New Orleans, LA, home.
Water Meter Problems
The water meter that comes from the street is what delivers water from your city to your home (provided you don’t have to get your water from a well). If you can’t seem to find any problems with your plumbing system but you aren’t getting any water to your home, there’s a chance you’ve got a busted water meter or your water meter was tampered with in some way.
The interesting thing you have to consider when it comes to water heaters is that they’re often installed and maintained by the city rather than by a plumber. If you’re not sure who’s responsible for your water meter, call the city water department and ask them about it. In any case, you need to get your water meter fixed as soon as possible if it’s not working right.
Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes are another plumbing problem that can lead to a lack of running water in your home. When the water inside a pipe freezes, it can expand and cause serious damage to that pipe. Not only that, but you won’t be able to run water through a pipe that’s got a solid block of ice on the inside. If you suddenly lose running water—especially to a single fixture—when temperatures are below freezing, make sure you have a plumber check if a water line froze.
The good news about frozen pipes is that they aren’t too difficult to prevent. All you have to do is make sure any pipes in the exterior walls of your home are properly insulated. If an exterior wall containing a pipe isn’t insulated well enough, you can have a plumber fix that. Alternatively, you can install heat tape so you can heat the pipe up a bit when outside temperatures drop below freezing.
Things to Remember
While these are some of the most common causes of having no running water in your home, there are some other things you should know as well. If you have no running water, it’s always best to call a professional instead of trying to diagnose or fix the problem yourself.
No running water during the winter means you might have a burst pipe. Because burst pipes can cause so much damage, you should call an emergency plumbing service if you have a burst pipe filling your home with water.
Although it can be tempting to replace a small section of a water line when the line is clogged, that’s generally a short-term fix. Water lines are only designed to last so long, so it may be best to spend a little more to have a plumber repipe your home instead of simply replacing a section of a line.
Plumbing Made Simple
Between all the time and money you invest in taking care of your home, it’s a lot of work. The easy way to take good care of your home is to find a good network of experts you can count on to have your back when times get tough.
If you’re looking for a plumber who can handle everything from basic repairs to pipes and upgrades, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans has your back. To find out more about the services we offer or schedule an appointment today, give us a call at (504) 229-4848.
Priority Service