Why do I have no water at all?
Every tap in the house is dry, or the first taps give a short burst of air and then nothing.
This one can get worse fast. Call before it spreads.
Key takeaways
- This is an emergency. Shut things down and call a plumber now rather than waiting.
- Most likely cause: Main shutoff or meter valve closed.
- Do this first: Open the main shutoff fully and check the meter valve.
- Call right away if water is surfacing in the yard while the house has none.
- The repair starts with: Verify valves and confirm there is no utility outage.
What it is
No water at all No water at all means every fixture in the house is dry, which points to a cause upstream of the whole system such as a closed main valve, a municipal supply interruption, or a major break in the service line.
This needs immediate action if a running or hissing sound suggests a broken line, in which case close the main water shutoff and call a plumber right away.
The short answer
If no fixture in the house produces water, the supply is interrupted before it reaches the plumbing. Check the main shutoff valve first, then the meter valve, then whether the utility has an outage or is doing main work in your street. In winter, a frozen service line or a frozen section near the foundation is a common cause. A broken buried water line will also cut supply, usually with wet ground or a sinkhole in the yard.
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What it usually means
These are the causes we find most often, ranked from most likely to least.
- 1
Main shutoff or meter valve closed
Most likely
The fastest thing to check, and often the answer after other work in the home.
- 2
Municipal outage or main break
Common
Neighbors will be affected too. The utility has the timeline.
- 3
Frozen service line or interior main
Common
A hard Denver freeze can lock the line solid, especially at shallow or exposed sections.
- 4
Broken buried water service line
Less common
Often preceded by a pressure drop, wet ground, or a spike in the water bill.
- 5
Failed pressure reducing valve stuck closed
Occasional
The valve fails shut and cuts the house off entirely.
What to do right now
- 1Open the main shutoff fully and check the meter valve.
- 2Ask a neighbor whether they still have water.
- 3In freezing weather, check exposed pipe near the foundation and crawlspace for frost.
- 4Walk the yard for wet or sunken ground along the service line route.
When it is an emergency
- Water is surfacing in the yard while the house has none.
- The loss follows a hard freeze and pipes may already be split.
- The home has no water and someone in it needs it for medical reasons.
What the fix involves
The diagnosis decides the work. A closed or failed valve is replaced. A frozen line is thawed under control and then inspected for splits. A broken service line is located and either repaired at the break or replaced along its run.
- 1Verify valves and confirm there is no utility outage.
- 2Locate the point where supply stops.
- 3Thaw, repair, or replace the affected section.
- 4Pressure test and restore service.
What drives the cost
Every job is quoted before work begins. These are the factors that move the number on this kind of repair.
- Valve replacement versus service line repair or replacement
- Depth of the buried line and excavation required
- Landscaping, driveway, or sidewalk restoration
- Emergency response during freeze events
Related problems homeowners ask about
What should I do about frozen pipes?
A faucet that trickles or gives nothing during a cold snap, frost on exposed pipe, or bulged pipe in a crawlspace or exterior wall.
Read this nextWhy is water pressure low in my whole house?
Weak flow at every tap, showers that lose force when another fixture runs, and appliances that take much longer to fill.
Read this nextWhat do I do when a pipe bursts?
Water spraying or pouring from a pipe, a sudden pressure drop, water running down a wall, or a ceiling bulging and dripping.
Read this next
Licenses, credentials, and company proof
- Colorado Master PlumberLicense MP-00189274
- Colorado State Plumbing ContractorLicense 2110
- Family Owned & OperatedServing Denver since 2006, 20 years
- Better Business BureauAccredited Business, A+ rating
- Angie's List Super Service Award2012 through 2017
- Serving Denver since 2006Residential and commercial properties across the metro
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Stop guessing and get it diagnosed
Family owned, licensed Colorado master plumbers serving the Denver metro since 2006.