Ashburn's homes are young, but the original builder-installed water heaters in many of them are now old enough to leak or lose capacity, which makes replacement the usual answer. Loudoun County Building and Development handles residential plumbing, gas and mechanical trade permits for unincorporated Ashburn. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Ashburn.
Why are so many Ashburn water heaters failing at once?
Ashburn grew fast from the 1980s onward, and in ZIP code 20147 only about 2 percent of homes predate 1980, with the 2000s as the largest building decade. Whole neighborhoods went up within a few years of each other, so their original heaters are aging in step. When neighbors start replacing tanks, yours is often close behind. The upside of newer construction is that venting, shutoff valves and supply lines are usually in good shape, which keeps a straight swap simple.
What permit does a replacement need in Ashburn?
Ashburn is unincorporated, so Loudoun County Department of Building and Development is the permit office. Residential gas, mechanical and plumbing trade permits are filed as sub-records of a parent building permit, either online through LandMARC or in person in Leesburg. The County's plan review line is 703-777-0220. Most plumbers file the paperwork as part of the job; ask that it's listed on the quote.
What should I know about Ashburn water and gas?
Loudoun Water supplies Ashburn from the Potomac River, with Goose Creek reservoirs used as needed, treated at its Trap Rock facility and at Fairfax Water's Corbalis plant. Both are disinfected with chloramine. For the exact hardness at your address, Loudoun Water's annual water quality report is the place to look, and it helps decide whether a softener belongs with the new heater.
Loudoun County says both Columbia Gas and Washington Gas serve parts of the county, with propane where neither reaches, so check your gas bill to know which utility serves your street. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside. Homes on propane call 911 and their propane supplier.
One local note
Ashburn homeowners with lawn irrigation or a pool should know Loudoun Water requires backflow preventers on those systems to be tested every year by a certified tester. It's separate from the water heater, but if a plumber is already on site for the replacement, it's an easy question to raise. Also ask whether the new heater needs an expansion tank, since many newer homes have check valves or pressure reducing valves that make one necessary.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Ashburn
Does replacing a water heater here need a permit?
What should I do if I smell gas near the water heater?
Will the new heater need an expansion tank or a drain pan?
Can I change from gas to electric, or the other way around?
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