Quick Answer:
If every tap and hose in the house goes dead at once — no cold, no hot, no hose bib — treat it like a supply-side shutoff. First check if neighbors are affected, then confirm the curb stop/meter valve and your main shutoff are fully open. Try the hose bib nearest the meter to prove water is reaching your property. Also check any whole-home smart shutoff device for a trip. If there’s no pressure on the meter side, call the utility immediately.
Why This Happens
When every fixture stops at once the cause is almost always outside or at the point where the house connects to the supply. Common reasons:
- Utility work or a burst main that interrupts neighborhood pressure.
- Your curb stop or meter valve (or the water company’s valve) is partly or fully closed.
- A whole-home automatic shutoff or smart shutoff device has tripped because of a leak detection or power issue.
- Less common: an emergency shutoff by a contractor or a deliberate shutoff at meters for non-payment or safety.
If you recently had work done on your plumbing, check for issues described in Water stops working after plumbing repair. If the problem is intermittent across time or households, see guidance on Whole house water intermittent.
Step-by-Step What to Do
1. Confirm neighbors’ status
- Ask one or two neighbors whether they have water. If they do, the problem is likely at your service line or inside your shutoffs. If none have water, it’s likely a utility outage.
2. Check the curb stop and meter valve, then your main shutoff
- Locate the curb stop/stopper near the street and the meter. Make sure those valves are fully open (turn clockwise to close, counterclockwise to open for most valves).
- Locate your home’s main shutoff (usually near the water meter or where the service enters the building) and confirm it is fully open.
- Operate valves gently — don’t force a stuck valve. If a valve won’t move or leaks when moved, stop and call the utility or a plumber.
3. Try the hose bib nearest the meter
- Connect a short hose or simply open the outdoor spigot closest to the meter/entry point. This proves whether water is reaching the meter and service line.
- If water flows here but not inside, the shutoff between meter and house or an internal valve is likely closed or failed.
4. Check whole-home smart shutoff devices
- If you have a smart or automatic shutoff, check its app, LED indicators, or control panel. These devices can shut water off automatically on power loss or when they detect a leak.
- Follow the manufacturer’s reset instructions; if unsure, leave it off and call a pro if you suspect a malfunction.
5. If meter-side has no pressure
- If the hose bib at the meter and the meter itself show no pressure, do not attempt to repair the municipal system. Call your water utility — they control the meter-side supply and can confirm outages, repairs, or meter shutoffs.
6. If there’s pressure at the meter but no water inside
- There may be a closed service valve, a failed pressure-reducing valve, or a shutoff inside the house. Check isolation valves (basement, crawlspace) and any visible pressure regulators.
- If you can’t find the problem or valves are inaccessible, call a plumber to diagnose and restore service safely.
What Not to Do
- Don’t assume a single clogged aerator caused a total outage—prove supply at the meter/hose bib first.
- Don’t start cutting pipes or forcing valves without confirming the source and isolating the right section; that can cause flooding when pressure returns.
- Don’t try to repair meter-side equipment yourself — the utility owns that equipment in most areas.
- Don’t use open flames or heat to thaw pipes indoors. If freezing is suspected, follow safe thawing procedures or call a pro.
When to Call a Professional
- Call the water utility immediately if there’s no pressure at the meter or neighbors also have no water.
- Call a licensed plumber if you find pressure at the meter but cannot restore water inside, if valves are stuck, or if you see leaks when you open valves.
- Call an emergency plumber if opening a valve releases high-pressure water or if you cannot control a leak safely.
Safety Notes
- Avoid operating valves beyond their normal range — a broken valve can worsen an outage or cause a sudden flood.
- Turn off electrical devices near any leaks until the water is controlled to reduce shock risk.
- If you suspect contamination after a repair or outage, boil water or follow your utility’s guidance before drinking.
Common Homeowner Questions
- Could my water heater be the problem? No — if both hot and cold are out everywhere, the heater is not the cause; the issue is upstream.
- Is it safe to open the curb stop myself? You can gently operate the curb stop if you know its location, but if it’s stuck or you’re unsure, call the utility or a plumber to avoid damage.
- What if I smell sewage or gas after the outage? Evacuate if you smell gas and call emergency services; for sewage odor or backups, call your utility or a plumber promptly.
For more related articles, see the Whole-House Water Supply Interruption hub.