No Water Pressure After Turning Water Back On? (We Have A Fix)

Getting the Water Back On – More than Turning a Valve

Believe it or not, there is a proper way to turn on the water at the main valve to your home. Getting the water back into your home without causing problems is a relatively easy process. Following a few steps can prevent a lot of frustration and anxiety.

Step 1 – Turn on Any Valves You Have Repaired

Step 2 – Open All the Hot and Cold Water Faucets

Step 3 – With the Water Running, Flush the Toilets

The water lines feeding your toilets can airlock as well. With the water running at all the faucets, flush the toilets and let the tanks completely refill.

Step 4 – Start Closing the Faucets

Begin at the lowest point in the system. Shutting the faucets off and working your way up the system to the highest point allows any trapped air to escape.

Video: Fixing the Low Water Pressure

I Still Have No or Very Little Water Flow

If you have followed the steps for turning the water back on and you still have water flow problems, there are other issues. There are two usual culprits behind this situation.

The Main Valve – A Common Cause of Problems

The main water supply valve can be a common source of problems with water flow issues in your home. Problems with these valves are especially true in older homes where the main water supply valve may go years or decades without being used. Could it be stuck? Depending on the type of valve, different problems can occur.

Ball Valves – Simple and Dependable

The most common valve found on the main water supply is ball valves. As the name implies, a ball valve has a ball inside the valve body that turns. A hole through the ball lines up with the pipes on either side to allow water to flow.

Ball valves are extremely reliable. However, some problems can affect their operation.

Checking a Ball Valve

Ball valves come in two styles, stopped and unstopped. Stopped ball valves can only rotate a quarter turn. Usually, when the ball is in the open position, the handle lines up with the pipes connected to the valve. In the off position, the valve handle sits crossways with the pipes.

Unstopped Ball Valves

Give the Valve a Workout

If a ball valve won’t open or close fully, there is probably an obstruction in the valve. Carefully working the valve open and closed can sometimes allow these obstructions to pass through the valve and the water flow will be back to normal.

What if Nothing Happens at All?

If the ball valve handle simply spins with no resistance, the valve is broken and needs replacing. IF the valve is the main water supply valve for your home, this is beyond the scope of most do-it-yourselfers. Contact a licensed plumber who can work with the water department to get this repair accomplished.

Gate Valves – A More Complicated Situation

Some older homes may have a gate valve. Gate valves work by moving a gate up and down inside the valve housing. The gate interrupts the flow of water through the pipe. Gate valves can suffer from the same sorts of problems as ball valves.

The Most Common Problem – Obstructions

Gate valves can become obstructed by debris that prevents the gate from going up and down as the handle turns. If opening and closing the valve repeatedly doesn’t clear the obstruction, the valve may need replacing.

Broken Stems and Detached Gates

Water Meter Problems – Fortunately Not Your Problem

If the problem turns out to be with the water meter itself, you are probably off the hook for the repair. The water meter belongs to the company that supplies your water and any problems with the meter are theirs. There are several problems associated with residential water meters.

Getting the Water Flowing

We hope that this article has helped you understand and diagnose the problems with no water flow in your home after turning the water back on at the main. The most common problem is air in the pipes. The simple steps provided should solve that problem quickly. Good luck and good plumbing.

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