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Grundy513 · Feb 1, 2014, 05:17 PM

My water was working fine, I left to the store, when I came back I have absolutely no water hot or cold.
I have checked the pipes I do not see bulges, I know that the pipes can freeze but my basement is not that cold and we have had a space heater on the pipes coming in for several hours but still no water at all.

massplumber2008 · Feb 1, 2014, 05:38 PM

Hi Grundy

You definitely have a problem with the cold water supply and that would also result in the loss of hot water, too (feeds cold water into water heating source)!

Are you on a well system (pump) or on city/town water (metered)?

If on city/town water do your neighbors still have water?

Are you keeping a cold water faucet open at all times? If not, you should as this allows thawed water to flow/drip as it warms and not remain/recrystallize as ice in the pipe.

Let me know more...

Mark

Grundy513 · Feb 1, 2014, 11:04 PM

It's city water with a meter. I haven't been running the cold water through a faucet at all times which I have learned to do. However it would surprise me that the pipes are frozen because I had the hot water running full force not 3 hours prior.

I've had a space heater on the water meter where the water comes in to the house for hours but no change.

Let me add that I can get steady hot water out of the hot water heater directly, but no real water pressure.

massplumber2008 · Feb 2, 2014, 07:45 AM

You are getting steady hot water, "but no real pressure" because there is a head of pressure from the standing water in the water heater...still doesn't sound like cold water is feeding into the water heater.

The next thing I would advise you to do is to loosen one of the nuts at the water meter...use two pliers and be sure the shut off valve behind the nut works so you can shut it off should you need too. Next, loosen that nut and see if you have water pressure...you'll get a head of pressure again from the pipes in the house even if there is no water coming into the house, so don't confuse that for main water pressure. If needed, shut the shut off valve behind the water meter nut and completely disconnect the water meter nut and catch the water from the pipes into a bucket...NOW open the water main shutoff and see if you can get water flowing out of the water meter and into the bucket. If no water shows up at the meter and into the bucket then, most likely, there is a broken water main and you need to call the city/town water department. If water flows freely out of the water meter then you need to look for the next shut off valve or pressure reducing valve (PRV) or anything after the water meter that could be clogged. In this case, I would suspect the PRV (see image...these PRVs vary in look a bit) and it being clogged at the filter...can be pulled and cleaned sometimes, or it may need to be replaced entirely.

Keep me posted, OK?

Mark

Grundy513 · Feb 2, 2014, 11:54 AM

I have not been able to locate this pressure release valve anywhere. However when I pulled the nut off the pipe from the water in to the house, before the meter, some water poured out, and then the water is stopped. The valve is completely open.

massplumber2008 · Feb 2, 2014, 12:01 PM

I suggest calling your water department and have them pop over...sounds like there may be a problem with the pipe in the ground. With any luck, this will be a problem they fix and pay for!

Please let me know the end result, OK?

Grundy513 · Feb 2, 2014, 12:02 PM

I talked to the water department and they can only recommend heat for me. They said I have to call a plumber so it looks like we'll be stuck until tomorrow.

massplumber2008 · Feb 2, 2014, 12:04 PM

Water meters almost never freeze...sounds more like a problem with their stop cock (street shutoff) or something like that to me!!

Grundy513 · Feb 2, 2014, 12:10 PM

I appreciate the Help!

massplumber2008 · Feb 3, 2014, 01:11 PM

Hoping for an update today sometime...hmmmm??

Grundy513 · Feb 4, 2014, 02:58 PM

Sorry for the delay. After calling several plumbers in my area, I was able to find one company that has the equipment to help me. 2 Guys came with 2 trucks, one carrying a giant welder. The grounded an electric line from my neighbor's water, and sent the positive to my water line coming in to the house, and unfroze my pipes. Coincidentally enough, not 2 hours after they left, they were back at another house across the street from me.

The service line coming in to the house was frozen! But all is well now.

massplumber2008 · Feb 4, 2014, 03:31 PM

Thank you for the update...