No Water from Exterior Spigot? Quick Fixes

It can be frustrating when you go to use your outside water spigot and no water comes out. There are several potential causes for an exterior faucet not flowing properly that range from quick fixes to more complex underlying issues.

With some basic troubleshooting and plumbing know-how, you can often resolve outdoor spigot problems on your own without needing to call a professional.

Clogged Spigot Head

One of the simplest explanations for an outdoor faucet not working is that sediment, minerals, or other debris has built up and clogged the spigot head itself. This prevents water from being able to flow through properly.

Try using a small wire or needle to gently loosen and clear out any material stuck inside the spigot. In some cases, you may need to completely detach and take apart the faucet head to fully clean inside and remove stubborn clogs.

While doing this, examine the washers inside the mechanism as well. If the washers are excessively worn down or cracked, they should be replaced to ensure a proper watertight seal when the faucet is reassembled.

Signs of a Clogged Spigot

• Reduced flow or sporadic sputtering out the end of the spigot
• Cannot get water to turn on at all despite faucet being "on"
• Noticeable debris stuck inside the mouth of the faucet

Unclogging a Spigot Head

1. Turn off shutoff valve for the spigot
2. Disassemble spigot head and handle
3. Check washers for wear and replace if needed
4. Use a small wire brush, needle, or pipe cleaner to loosen debris stuck inside
5. Flush spigot thoroughly before reassembling pieces

Shutoff Valve Closed

Outdoor faucets have a separate shutoff valve that controls water flow specifically to that spigot. If someone has closed this valve, it would stop any water from reaching the outdoor faucet.

Start by locating the shutoff valve for your exterior faucet system (often found inside near the main water line). Ensure it is turned fully counterclockwise to the open position. You may see the valve clearly shifted or hear water begin flowing once opened.

If the shutoff valve itself is damaged or not functioning properly, you may need to replace it. Installing a new outdoor spigot shutoff valve is an intermediate DIY project but will restore reliable control over your outside water line.

Identifying a Closed Shutoff Valve

• No water at outside spigot but other faucets function normally
• Can visually confirm shutoff valve is perpendicular or closed
• May be able to hear water flowing when valve is reopened

Replacing a Faulty Shutoff Valve

1. Turn off main water supply to house
2. Drain any residual water from pipes
3. Disconnect and remove old valve
4. Install new valve and reconnect pipes
5. Check for leaks before resuming water supply

Frozen Pipes

In cold weather climates, one common culprit for an outdoor spigot failing is that the pipes leading up to it have frozen from frost. The water inside essentially turns to ice, blocking normal flow.

As a first step, check whether water is still running properly from indoor sinks. If indoor faucets have also stopped working, that confirms you likely have a whole-house frozen pipe issue. Use a hair dryer to gently thaw ice blockages within pipes to restore household water access.

For isolated exterior spigot problems, inspect along the outdoor length of pipe feeding the faucet. Feel for extremely cold sections or visible ice buildup indicating the freezing point. Insulating this piping can prevent freeze-ups going forward.

Signs of Frozen Pipes

• No water from outdoor spigot but indoor plumbing is unaffected
• Noticeably cold temperatures along the pipe to the outside faucet
• May see frost or ice accumulation on the exposed pipe

Thawing and Insulating Pipes

1. Use a hair dryer on low setting to gently heat pipe and melt ice inside
2. Make sure pipe is fully thawed before turning water back on
3. Wrap outdoor pipe segment with insulating sleeve or heating tape

Broken Pipes

In other cases, you may be dealing with actual cracks or breaks in the pipe feeding water to your exterior spigot. This could result from aging infrastructure, soil shift, excessive water pressure, or other structural issues over time.

Visually inspect along the water line leading to your outdoor faucet, looking for obvious leaks, damp soil, or standing water indicating escaping water flow underground. Also listen closely for the faint sound of running water outside, signalling unseen pipe fractures.

Address broken pipes immediately to avoid water waste, flooding, or further damage. You may be able to patch small leaks, but fully burst pipes likely need replacement of that whole section.

Common Causes of Broken Pipes

• Ground shifting and putting stress on piping
• Freezing temperatures and pipe flexing from ice
• General wear and tear over time
• Extreme water pressure spikes
• Corrosion of older metal pipe materials

Identifying and Repairing Broken Pipes

1. Inspect water line for leaks, listen for running water sound
2. Cut out and replace fully burst sections
3. Use pipe clamps for small cracks or pinhole leaks
4. Consider re-routing pipe away from problem areas

Water Main Shutoff

Don't forget to rule out that the main water supply to your home hasn't been shut off. This could be from routine utility maintenance in your neighborhood, an emergency repair job down the street, or if someone manually closed your house's master shutoff valve.

Check whether water flows properly from indoor sinks and faucets after finding no water from the outdoor spigot. If interior plumbing also has no water, that points to your main home line being disabled.

Locate the shutoff valve where the municipal water line enters your property, typically near your home's foundation or front exterior wall. Make sure this primary valve is turned on to restore overall water access.

Causes of Whole-House Water Shutoffs

• Routine municipality pipe maintenance or repairs
• Emergency utility shutdowns for neighborhood leaks or breaks
• Accidentally having home shutoff valve turned off

Addressing Whole-House Water Issues

1. Check that master shutoff valve is open
2. Contact utility company for updates if community-wide issue
3. If off internally, trace steps to determine cause

Well Water Problems

Homeowners relying on private well systems can experience output issues if equipment like the pump, pressure tank, or storage mechanisms are not working properly. This manifests as exterior faucets with little to no flow despite adequate pressure inside.

Inspect your well head as well as hookups to components like pressure switches, check valves, and storage equipment. You may spot a malfunctioning part, leak in the line, or gauge indicating low water availability. Complex well repairs are best left to professional well and pump service companies.

Common Well System Problems

• Pressure switch or check valve faults
• Sediment clogged water lines or filters
• Dry well causing pump equipment damage
• Storage tank leaks or insufficient capacity
• Excess demand overwhelming recovery rate

Troubleshooting Well Water Issues

1. Check well system for issues first before calling pros
2. Have regular well maintenance performed
3. If problem persists, hire well repair contractor

Inside Water Pressure

An outdoor spigot may be the first to show symptoms, but insufficient household water pressure from issues like leaks often impact exterior faucets sooner than interior plumbing fixtures. Still, an underlying whole house problem could be to blame.

Test water pressure at a few indoor sinks, tubs, and toilets. If flow rate and pressure is lower than normal across the board, inspect for signs of leaks around the home or excessive usage that is taxing overall supply.

Addressing home leaks and other pressure drains will benefit both indoor and outdoor water access. And consider updating old piping or adding a booster pump if pressure is chronically below household needs.

Causes of Insufficient Water Pressure

• Unidentified leaks wasting available water
• Running multiple fixtures at once
• Outdated or small diameter piping
• Fixtures like shower heads not meeting flow needs
• Peak usage overwhelming water supply rate

Improving Poor Household Water Pressure

1. Check all fixtures to find and repair hidden leaks
2. Install pressure booster pump system if needed
3. Replace inefficient shower heads
4. Consider re-piping service with wider lines

Outside Faucet Installed Incorrectly

It may sound obvious, but another cause of no water reaching your exterior spigot is incorrect installation or positioning of the faucet itself. If hooked up improperly, water flow can be inadvertently blocked or limited.

Examine the physical location and connecting pipework of your outdoor faucet for any noticeable issues. Ensure it is tied properly into your main water line, the shutoff valve is fully open, and that fittings align to facilitate unobstructed flow.

You may simply need to reposition or re-install the outdoor faucet correctly. Use good drainage gravel, caulk seals, and careful pipe angling to do the job right.

Signs ofIncorrect Spigot Hookup

• Newly installed and never fully worked
• Positioned in awkward, cramped location
• Noticeable problems with plumbing connections
• Water leaks from fittings themselves

Tips for Proper Faucet Installs

1. Locate below frost line on exterior wall
2. Keep pipe runs short and straight as possible
3. Caulk fittings and openings to prevent leaks

Mineral Deposit Buildup

In some areas, high mineral content in municipal water supplies can leave calcium, lime, and other residue accumulating inside pipes over time. This gradual buildup eventually hinders water flow, sometimes plugging fixtures and valves entirely.

Detach the pipe from your outdoor faucet and examine the interior for heavy mineral deposits or scaled areas that could block flow. You may be able to dissolve and flush some deposits away with specialty chemicals and thorough water flushing.

For severe mineral buildup, replacement of affected pipe sections may be your best solution to restore full pressure and water volume to the outdoor spigot.

Signs of Mineral Deposit Problems

• Reduced water flow over time
• White or yellow residue around fixtures
• Relatively new piping ruled out size issues

Removing Mineral Buildup

1. Detach pipe and inspect for flow restrictions
2. Use chemical cleaner to break down deposits
3. Consider replacing badly clogged pipes

Metal Water Pipe Deterioration

Older homes may still rely on antiquated galvanized steel or iron piping that has corroded and built up residue over decades of use. These aging pipe materials often begin failing first at distant endpoints like outdoor spigots.

Check dates of home construction and plumbing renovations to determine if your exterior metal water lines may just be at the end of their lifespan. Even small amounts of interior corrosion and rust can eventually impede water flow.

Re-piping services are the best solution, swapping outdated metal lines for durable PEX or copper piping. If not feasible, at least replace smaller sections supplying taps prone to flow issues.

Downsides of Old Metal Pipes

• Corrosion and rust buildup over decades
• Pipe ends and fixture branches fail first
• Can slowly reduce water pressure and flow
• Re-piping is the only permanent solution

Replacing Outdated Water Lines

1. Review home age and pipe materials
2. Get quotes from plumbing firms on re-pipe options
3. At minimum, replace branch lines to affected fixtures

Running out of water when trying to utilize your exterior faucet can certainly be inconvenient. But in most cases, a handful of common issues are the simple explanation behind an outdoor spigot failing to flow properly.

You can often get to the bottom of the problem yourself with a little help. But for complex piping repairs or wells requiring professional equipment, don't hesitate to call a skilled local plumber for assistance.