There are many reasons water might have stopped coming out of your faucet. Luckily, most of them can be DIY fixes.
Why Did My Sink Suddenly Stop Working?
Published on Dec. 17, 2024
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Closed Supply Valve
There are one or two water supply shut-off valves in the cabinet under your sink (usually one each for hot and cold water). Most of them open and close with just a quarter turn. “Homeowners often close these valves accidentally when moving items under the sink or during cleaning, so this is the first thing to check,” says Adams.
Solution: To check if they’re open, look at the handle. If it’s parallel to the water pipe, it’s open, and water should be flowing. If it’s perpendicular, the valve is closed, cutting off the supply. Turn them counterclockwise to make sure they’re fully open.
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Clogged Supply Valve
Even if it’s open, a supply valve could still be a problem if there is debris stuck in it. To check, turn off the supply line (clockwise), then disconnect it from the faucet and point it into a bucket. Next, slowly turn it on and let it run for a few seconds. If no water comes out, then the valve is likely clogged, says Gary Schopp, a Delta Faucet customer solutions expert.
Solution: Replace the valve. “If your faucet has integrated supply lines that do not disconnect from the faucet, then getting a spare hose you can connect to the valve makes the job easier and drier,” says Schopp.
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Clogged Aerator
This is another common reason why a sink might suddenly stop working. The aerator is that small mesh screen at the spout of the faucet, and over time it can get clogged by mineral deposits and other debris, especially in places that have hard water. To troubleshoot, turn off the water supply, unscrew the aerator and visually inspect it for clogs.
Solution: Soak it in white vinegar for 30 minutes, then use an old toothbrush to scrub off any remaining deposits. If that doesn’t clear it, you’ll need to replace the aerator with a new one. “Then you’re good to go,” says Shu Saito, plumbing and water filtration expert at All Filters LLC. “That’s a pretty easy effective fix, and cleaning the aerator should restore normal water flow.”
If sediment is a persistent problem in your home, Adams suggests installing a whole-home water filtration system. “The benefits go far beyond proper water flow,” he says. “They improve the quality of your drinking water and the water you shower in. They can also lengthen the life of your water heater and improve its efficiency.”
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Clogged Max Flow Cylinder
Some faucets control the maximum flow with a device on the spout inlet under the sink. Check inside the hose connected to the spout or in the spout inlet fitting for a small, short cylinder.
Solution: Clean it like you would the aerator, says Schopp. “Lastly, if your faucet is a pulldown or pullout type, there may be a screen inside the wand where the hose connects,” he says. “Give it a rinse to clear it out.”
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Faulty Faucet Cartridge or Handle
Another culprit could be a malfunctioning or worn-out faucet cartridge, which regulates water flow inside the faucet. Saito says this is especially common in newer single-handle faucets.
Solution: Turn off the water supply and remove the handle so you can identify the cartridge and buy a replacement. Once you find the part, a DIY replacement is relatively easy.
“Even for us plumbers who do this work every day, identifying the right cartridge can be a challenge with thousands of cartridge designs now available,” says Adams. “Sometimes, when we encounter a particularly obscure cartridge, we even turn to our network of plumbers on Facebook groups for help identifying it.”
Also, if your faucet is older and the cartridge is rusted or stuck, Adams suggests replacing the whole faucet.
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Faulty Pressure-Balanced Valve
Some faucets have a pressure-balanced valve, which can wear down or get clogged over time.
“You’ll know it’s likely the problem if both the hot and cold water in nearby fixtures, like the shower or another sink in the same room, also have low or spotty pressure, and if you notice the pressure gets a bit better right after you turn the main water valve off and back on,” says Schopp.
Solution: You’ll need to replace the valve. Look for a dome-shaped brass fitting inside the house, past the main shutoff valve. These fittings can also be located on the fixtures themselves.
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Smart Faucet Issues
If you have a smart faucet, there could be a malfunction in the sensor that would prevent water from flowing, says Docia Boylen, owner of Handyman Connection of Golden, Colorado.
Solution: Try replacing the batteries and resetting the unit.
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Kinked or Leaky Supply Lines
Check the supply lines under the sink; if they are flexible, gently straighten out any kinks.
Solution: If the lines are leaking, it might be time to replace them. “This is a relatively simple fix, and replacing a water supply line doesn’t typically require a plumber; however, you will need to use quality materials that meet the local building code if you want a long-lasting repair,” says Saito.
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Blocked Supply Lines
If the hoses are not kinked or leaking, they may be blocked.
Solution: If you suspect the supply lines are blocked, shut off the water and remove the hoses from the shutoff valve to see if you have a blockage in your line, says Boylen. “You can also call a plumber,” she says.
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Closed Main Water Line
If other faucets in the house are also dry, the problem could be with the main water supply to the house.
“If a plumber or a contractor has installed a water heater or performed any plumbing work or maintenance on a washing machine or anything in the home, they could’ve accidentally left a water valve off,” says Todd Tripp, a general contractor home improvement expert with JustAnswer.com.
Similarly, if you see just a trickle of water, this could indicate low water pressure coming into your home, says Boylen. “You would see this in multiple water sources in your home,” she says.
Solution: Locate your main water line shut-off valve and make sure it’s on and fully open. The valve is probably either in the basement or the crawlspace, or if it’s a slab-on-grade home, it might be in the mechanical area, says Tripp. “You should always know where your main water shut off is in your home in case of an emergency,” he says.
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Broken or Disabled Main Water Line
Check with your water utility about outages in your area and make sure your payments are up-to-date or that there wasn’t a billing error that resulted in your water being shut off. If you live in an apartment or condo, also check with building maintenance to see if they know of any issues.
“I’ve seen cases where there’s been nearby construction that caused the water to be turned off to a whole neighborhood, or even a major water line break, which caused all the water to leak into the yard rather than reaching the home,” says Adams. “It’s always good to check these possibilities if the entire house is without water.”
Tripp adds, “This is really rare, but occasionally a mainline will have a leak or be broken between the water meter and the house. You would see a wet area between the house and the water meter if this was the case.”
Also, if the utilities are doing work in your area, you may soon have a clogged aerator, says Schopp, as the work will disturb sediment in the main lines.
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Buildup in the Pipes
Mineral buildup or rust inside pipes can reduce water flow, especially in older plumbing systems. This might be apparent in multiple water sources in your home.
Solution: Disconnect the supply lines and let a flow of water flush out particles. “If this doesn’t stop the poor water flow, corrosion of the pipes could be a more serious underlying problem that may need the attention of a professional plumber,” says Saito.
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Water Softening System
Over time, water softeners can clog with salt buildup and sediment. A clue to this being the problem is if you have low or no water pressure in other faucets, too, plus a crusty salt buildup around the brine tank, says Russum.
Solution: Try switching the water softener to bypass mode by turning the bypass valve, which is usually located on the side or top of the unit, says Russum. This essentially shuts off the softener, allowing water to bypass it and flow directly to your faucets.
If that works, you’ll need to clean your water softener. “This is something you can do yourself with the help of a softener cleaner solution,” says Russum.
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Water Heater Issues
If it is just the hot water that is affected, it could indicate a problem with the water heater, says Boylen. For that, it’s probably best to call a plumber.
Damaged Pipes
If a pipe breaks, gets kinked or is crushed between the main line and the faucet, very little water will reach the faucet. That could create a serious problem, with water rushing into a crawl space or basement. If you see signs of leaks, the safest bet is to call a plumber before more extensive damage occurs.
Frozen Pipes
If you live in a cold climate, frozen water lines can stop water from flowing.
Solution: Open the faucet to relieve any pressure, then carefully thaw the pipes by warming the space they are in with a space heater, plus directly using a hairdryer or heat tape. Once they are thawed, check for leaks caused by the water as it expanded and froze, and call a plumber to be safe. Make sure you know where your main water shut-off valve is before doing this, in case they start leaking once they thaw.
“In cold weather, homeowners should insulate exposed pipes to reduce the chances of them freezing,” says Matt Kunz, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing. “When insulating them, make sure the aerator, cartridge and washer are cleared of debris.”
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Well Pump Problems
If your home uses well water, the pump may not be working. A clue to this is if your other faucets have stopped working, too.
Solution: Check to see if the breaker for your well pump has been tripped. If that doesn’t solve the problem, your pump might need servicing or replacing, you could have a broken supply line, or in extreme cases, your well might have run dry. Either way, your safest bet is to call a well specialist.
About the Experts
- Aaron Adams is a fourth-generation master plumber and the CEO of Aaron Services: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
- Gary Schopp is a Delta Faucet customer solutions expert. He has been with the company for more than 10 years, and has also held positions as a product supervisor and senior product analyst.
- Shu Saito is a plumbing and water filtration expert at All Filters LLC, which he founded in 2009.
- Docia Boylen is owner of Handyman Connection of Golden, Colorado, and was honored with several awards at the 2024 Handyman Connection Annual Conference.
- Kelly Russum is owner of KC’s 23 ½ Hour Plumbing & Air Conditioning in Palm Desert, California, and a plumbing expert with more than 46 years of experience.
- Todd Tripp is a general contractor and founder of Trip Mills Builders in upstate South Carolina, and a home improvement expert with JustAnswer.com.
- Matt Kunz is president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a plumbing and drain cleaning franchise and Neighborly company, serving the U.S. and Canada.
