My Kitchen sink isn't running. what can I do?

Question

everything else is running perfectly but for some reason this one sink isnt working. i turned the k***s under the sink, i played with the boiler, i turned all the k***s i could possibly find on and off. i got nothing. it is a basement kitchen sink immediately next to the boiler room. what is the major malfunction here??? i need help. thank you

Answer 1

Have you cleaned your aerator that's on the spout?

Answer 2

If you're in your basement, you can probably see all the piping.  If not, then open up the drop ceiling until you can.  The plumber will have to do this anyway, so you're no worse off by trying it yourself.  

Follow just one pipe back from the hot water tap of the sink to the water heater.  The cold water may come from another source, so it's easier to follow the hot water.  If it's not connected somewhere or there is a k**b that's "off" in between, you found your problem.  

Keep all k***s in an "in between" setting until you figure this out.  Hang a note with a wire and piece of paper to show what the k**b was set on before you messed with it (so you can set it back).  Generally speaking, "left is loose" and "right is tight" - or counterclockwise is off on the k***s. But don't totally depend on that.  Listen for water.

Whatever the solution is, if it's not totally obvious to you, you'll need a plumber to fix it.  That said, it might be possible, if you can figure out how to turn the water supply to the sink totally off, to replace just the faucet (the rubber tingies in it, or the cartridge, may be worn out).  The faucet may be gummed up tight or the cartridge (if it has one) may be full of rusty bits or plasticky bits.  

How long has the sink been unused?  If it only stopped working recently, then I'd suspect the cartridge is full up with bits of something.  They're cheap, but complex to replace.  The "little bits" that fill up cartridges come from municipal changes in water quality (such as when they turn the water off, then back on, and you get a ton of rusty water),  or they come from a disintegrating hot water heater dip tube (usually plastic).  

Check out Stanley's Complete Plumbing repair book, it's about $20, and it's great.  Good luck!

PS:  to find the source of the cold water, follow the "intake" pipe from the hot water heater back to something that looks like a huge pipe.  Now you can follow the cold water tap back to its source, and check k***s.

Answer 3

use dynamite till you hit water.

Answer 4

You have to take her to the mall and feed her first..

Answer 5

did you yell and scream at it?  sounds like you need to just call a plumber

Answer 6

Did you pay the water bill?

What about the main water outside of the house?  Is the water in the bathroom running?  Better call a plumber.

Answer 7

oh ok

Answer 8

tap (hit) the valves under the faucet with a wrench, hammer, anything hard. Assuming the basement faucet doesnt get much use, the valves could be clogged with sediment or rust  which would keep water from coming out no matter how many k***s you turn.