Water Heater Repair in Boyds, MD

Is my Boyds home on public water or a well, and does it matter?

Boyds is a rural corner of upper Montgomery County, and water service varies by address. WSSC Water is the public utility for the county, but some properties around Boyds may rely on private wells instead. The quickest way to know is your bill: a WSSC bill means public water, and no water bill usually means a well. It matters for the heater because well water carries its own minerals, iron or sulfur, which can mean more sediment in the tank, a rotten-egg smell from the hot side, or a shorter anode life. On WSSC water, the utility disinfects with chlorine and adds an orthophosphate corrosion inhibitor, and its annual water quality report describes the treatment.

What if my heater runs on propane?

Some rural parcels in outer Montgomery County have no gas mains, so homes there may use propane or be all-electric. Propane heaters work much like natural gas units, with different burner orifices and settings. WSSC Water issues permits for and inspects all natural gas and LP gas installations in Montgomery County, so replacing a propane water heater still needs a WSSC permit and a gasfitter registered with WSSC. If you smell gas around a propane heater, leave the house, then call 911 and your propane supplier from outside. On utility gas, call 911 and your gas utility, whose emergency number is printed on your gas bill.

Who do I call about permits?

For plumbing and gas work, WSSC Water Permit Services. Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services handles building, electrical and mechanical permits for unincorporated areas like Boyds. Most part repairs don't need a permit at all; a replacement usually does, and the plumber or gasfitter doing the work files for it.

One local note

Rural homes are often farther from a plumber's base than suburban ones, so when you call, give the nearest crossroads or landmark, such as Route 117, Barnesville Road or the Boyds MARC station. Mention whether the house is on a well and which fuel the heater uses, and have the model number from the rating label ready. That lets the plumber bring the right parts on the first trip.