Why has my cold water stopped working? If your water is lukewarm or even hot when coming out of the faucet, the most likely cause is a blockage somewhere in the system. These blockages are created by limescale buildup, leading to a steady decrease in water pressure and, eventually, the disappearance of cold water.
Your Pressure-Balancing Valve Needs Replacement
If your other showers and faucets all have cold water, then the most likely problem is that the pressure-balancing valve has gone bad.
If your cold water has frozen but water comes out of your hot water pipe, let the hot water run for 20 minutes. Sometimes this can help to thaw a frozen cold water pipe. If that doesn't work or your hot water pipe is frozen, use a hair dryer set on high heat.
Over time, corrosion or buildup can occur in pipes, affecting the temperature of the water coming out of your taps. If your pipes are old or in poor condition, this could be the cause of warm water coming from the cold tap. In this case, replacing the affected pipes may be necessary to remedy the issue.
Why has my cold water stopped working? If your water is lukewarm or even hot when coming out of the faucet, the most likely cause is a blockage somewhere in the system. These blockages are created by limescale buildup, leading to a steady decrease in water pressure and, eventually, the disappearance of cold water.
If it's winter and your hot water pipes are exposed to the cold, they might be frozen. In this case, you will need to safely thaw them out. If you suspect a blockage in your pipes, it might be best to call a professional to inspect and clear them. DIY attempts could potentially damage your pipes.
Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
The simplest possibility is that the valve under the sink is closed. This can happen if someone recently worked on the faucet and forgot to turn the water back on. The fixture could also be clogged, dislodged, bent, or broken. The worst-case scenario is that you'll have to replace the faucet, which isn't a big deal.
Whistling and banging coming from pipes, or strange bubbling sounds when you flush a toilet. Dampness, puddles, or rings on drywall or ceilings—signs of an urgent issue. In some cases, the pipe may appear fine and a homeowner may not see any signs of small fractures caused by ice expansion.
If there's no cold water in your home, check the main water shut-off valve. Most of the time, cold water stops flowing if this valve has been closed. Hot water will continue working for longer since it's supplied by your water heater tank. If this fixes the issue, you're good to go.
Her tips for taking cold showers include: Keep the water below 60 degrees: In a typical home shower, make the shower as cold as it can go. Take it slow: Start with 30 seconds of cold water. Work up to a minute and progress until you take a cold shower for two to three minutes.
The most probable cause is either the washer needs replacing or the tap body itself needs servicing. The worst-case scenario would be the complete outside tap needs replacing, but fear not, it is a relatively simple job for a professional plumber.
Typical Cause
Debris or an obstruction in the balancing spool is causing it not to move freely within its housing. In some models, a lack of pressure feeding the hot and cold will be the cause. The valve also may need to be calibrated.
You can often solve small, local clogging problems yourself. First of all, turn off the water supply. Then open the connection of the pipe and let water flow through it. In the meantime, tap the pipe gently, for example with a rubber mallet, to loosen the rust or deposits.
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 no cold water is coming through your taps at all don't despair. It's likely that the tap is faulty at the valve which is common in many different tap types. If you can still turn the stop valve to the on position, then it's definitely the valve you want to look into.
Try wrapping an electronic heating pad around the pipe, heating the area with a hair dryer, or both. Towels soaked in hot water will help as well. Apply until water runs normally. If possible, locate the section of pipe that is frozen and thaw it yourself using gentle heat (slowly warm it up).
Pipes will eventually unfreeze on their own naturally, but this takes far more time and before thawing occurs the freezing could become much worse. This could eventually lead to the pipe bursting and causing significantly more damage. It's better to proactively thaw a frozen pipe size than let it persist.
When should I call a plumber if my pipes are frozen? As soon as possible, Garton said. Pipes are more likely to burst the longer they stay frozen, said Garton. He said that the likelihood of your pipe bursting depends on the material.
Water Expansion Tank Valves
Water expansion tanks have an operational valve that lowers water pressure on demand. If hot water is coming out of your cold tap on your sink, this is a sign of a damaged operational valve. To prevent this issue, replace the operational valve if it's malfunctioning or broken.
If the problem is localized to your home, check faucet and water main shut-off valves, look for leaks or burst pipes, rule out frozen pipes, and perform similar checks to diagnose the issue. If you can't find a reason, it's best to call a plumber near you.