Water Heater Replacement in Bowie, MD

Signs your Bowie water heater is finished

• Water collecting under the tank that isn't coming from a valve or fitting
• Brown or rusty water from the hot taps only
• Crackling or knocking sounds as the heater fires up
• Showers turning lukewarm sooner than they used to
• Corrosion around the top connections or the relief valve
• A heater old enough that a new thermostat or gas valve isn't worth the money

Bowie water, gas and housing

Bowie is one of the few places in the county with two water systems. The City of Bowie serves the Levitt-era sections, including Somerset, Tulip Grove, Kenilworth, Whitehall and others, with groundwater from five wells in the Magothy, Patapsco and Patuxent aquifers, treated to remove naturally occurring iron and manganese. The rest of the city is on WSSC Water, which draws on the Potomac and Patuxent rivers. Your bill tells you which one you have, and each utility's water quality report covers its own water.

The city's median home dates to about 1981, but the Belair section goes back to the early 1960s. In the older houses, expect the plumber to check the shutoff valve, the flue connection and the space around the heater, since a modern unit can be taller or wider than the original.

The City lists Washington Gas for natural gas. If you smell gas, leave the house first. From outside, call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1.

What affects the price

• Gas or electric, tank size and efficiency level
• Venting work if the new unit doesn't match the old flue
• Code updates such as an expansion tank or a pan with a drain line
• Basement, closet or garage location and how easy it is to carry units in and out
• The WSSC permit and inspection, and hauling away the old tank

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Bowie. Mention whether the tank is leaking now, the fuel type and the size on the label. If water is on the floor, close the cold supply valve and turn off the gas valve or breaker. When quotes come in, check that each one includes the permit and disposal so you're comparing the same job.