To verify the water is off, turn on the water anywhere in your home or around your property. Alternatively, if the water is off, the indicator on the face of the meter will stop turning or counting.
If it's not moving, then there could be a problem with the water supply to your home, such as a shut-off valve that needs to be turned on. Or your water line might be leaking. If the meter is moving, it means that water is being used somewhere in your house, which could indicate a leak.
The valve is closed when the lever is perpendicular to the water line and is open when the lever is parallel to the water line.
To verify the water is off, turn on the water anywhere in your home or around your property. Alternatively, if the water is off, the indicator on the face of the meter will stop turning or counting. To turn the water back on, slowly turn the valve one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Check another faucet in the house: Checking the other taps will confirm if you have a problem with one tap or the whole house. If you've lost water to the whole home, it's time to call a professional plumber. Check your water shut-off valve: If you have an emergency shut-off valve, it could have accidentally tripped.
Loss of water is a maintenance emergency. Sometimes, a broken water main is the culprit. The local water utility will try to complete a repair as quickly as possible.
A blockage in the plumbing pipes may be the reason for your tap problems, even if you find no leaks. The blockage of the water supply is usually caused by sediment buildup. This can be caused by limescale, rust or debris, as well as heavy metal deposits. Call your plumber if you suspect your pipes may be blocked.
Contact us or report a water issue. If an issue is urgent, call 1800 278 278 / international +353 1 707 2828 (lines open 24/7).
Check to see if your circuit breaker has tripped, your well pump has blown a fuse, or the well switch near your pressure tank is turned off. If your well pump won't turn on due to no power, resetting the circuit breaker, flipping a switch, or changing a fuse may be all that's needed to fix the problem.
A foul smell from the drain or faucet is a less-obvious warning sign. Odors are unable to filter out of the frozen pipe and instead are forced back into the home's faucet. No water or a slow trickle when a faucet is used. Whistling and banging coming from pipes, or strange bubbling sounds when you flush a toilet.
If your water suddenly stops running, the first thing you should do is not panic. Common reasons for the water to shut off include a closed valve, a water heater malfunction, leaky pipe, or an issue with your water supply.
If your water meter is still moving, that means the leak is on your half of the plumbing, and you need to call a plumber to repair the leak. If the water meter is not turning when you shut off your water, then that means it's on the water company's side.
Local water line work and neighbor renovations can disrupt your outdoor plumbing. Clogs, leaks, and defrosting after winter can stop up a spigot. Your spigot might have worn-out parts or need to be replaced entirely. If all possible causes have been ruled out, you definitely need to call a local plumber.
Check inside your house first.
If your home has a basement or crawlspace, the shut-off valve is probably located on a wall near the front of your house. If your home is built on a slab, check in the garage or near the water heater for the shut-off valve.
If the ball valve is parallel, it is ON; if it is perpendicular (90° angle), it is OFF. The water meter should also be able to tell you if you have a plumbing leak somewhere in your home. Learn how to read your water meter and conduct a DIY leak detection test here.
Our professional answer after crunching the numbers? No, unless you're going on vacation for a month or longer, you shouldn't turn off your water heater.