Five checks before you call anyone

  1. Ask a neighbor

    If nearby homes have no water too, the issue is likely in the street or a planned shutdown.

  2. Check your main shutoff

    Make sure nobody closed or partly closed the house valve, especially after recent work.

  3. Look for water where it should not be

    A sudden pressure drop can mean a large leak. Check the yard, the garage and around the meter box.

  4. Test hot and cold separately

    If only hot water is weak, the water heater or its valves are a more likely cause.

  5. Look at the pressure regulator if you have one

    Many homes have a pressure regulator near the main. A failing regulator can cause sudden drops.

Who to contact

  • IfNeighbors are out tooContact the city of Fullerton's water utility about outages or work in the street.
  • IfWater is bubbling up near the meter boxReport it to the city's water utility; the meter and street side are theirs.
  • IfOnly your house is affected and the main is openA licensed plumber should check the service line, regulator and main valve.
  • IfPressure is fine at one fixture but weak at anotherThat is usually a fixture or aerator issue, not an emergency.

Why pressure fades in older pipes

Galvanized steel supply lines, still found in some older Fullerton homes, corrode on the inside over decades. The opening narrows and pressure falls slowly, which is different from a sudden loss. Hard water also leaves scale in aerators, showerheads and valves.

A sudden drop across the whole house usually has a sudden cause: a closed or failed valve, a break in the service line, or work by the utility. A slow decline over months points more toward pipe condition.

Parts worth knowing

Service line
The pipe from the meter to the house. A break here can cause a sudden pressure loss and a wet spot in the yard.
Pressure regulator
A bell-shaped valve near the main that lowers incoming pressure. It can fail and cause either too much or too little pressure.
Aerator
The screen at the tip of a faucet. Mineral scale here reduces flow at just that fixture.
Meter box
The concrete or plastic box near the curb holding the city's meter and often a utility-side valve.

Questions for the plumber

  1. Is the problem on my side of the meter or the city's?
  2. Did the pressure regulator fail, and should it be replaced?
  3. Is the service line leaking or corroded?
  4. Would you test the incoming water pressure and show me the reading?

Common questions

Is no water at all an emergency?

It is a real problem but not always a plumbing emergency. Check with neighbors first; a street outage is the city's to fix.

Can I flush toilets with no running water?

You can pour a bucket of water into the bowl to flush. Avoid it if there is any sign of a sewer backup.

Should I turn off the water heater during an outage?

If the outage is long or the heater may lose water, set gas units to pilot or switch off an electric unit as a precaution.

General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.