Capitol Heights homes on gas are served by Washington Gas, so a gas smell means leaving the house first and then calling 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1, from a safe place. For leaks after the meter, new appliance lines and gas water heater or furnace replacements, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Capitol Heights.
Signs to take seriously
- A sulfur odor in the house or yard: leave and call from a distance
- A whistle or hiss at the meter, a shutoff or a connector
- Burner flames that are mostly yellow or that lift off the burner
- A furnace that locks out or a water heater pilot that keeps dying
- Soot stains near any vent
Gas service and rules in Capitol Heights
Capitol Heights sits right on the District line where Northeast and Southeast Washington meet, and it began as a 1904 subdivision just beyond the city's eastern edge. Despite that closeness, it's in Prince George's County, so District agencies and rules don't apply here. Washington Gas serves the county, with some areas served by BGE, and your gas bill confirms which company you have. The Capitol Heights mailing area, ZIP 20743, also covers unincorporated neighborhoods around the town.
WSSC Water issues and inspects plumbing and gasfitting permits; Prince George's County DPIE issues none. Water heater replacement needs a permit, and WSSC requires gas water heater and furnace replacements to be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC license. For building permits on a remodel, the county publishes a list of which approvals the town handles and which the county does.
The median Capitol Heights home was built in 1967. Gas piping from that era is usually threaded iron, often sound in the straight runs but weaker at the joints, valves and connectors that have been disturbed through decades of appliance swaps.
What changes the cost
- Length of pipe and whether it runs through finished rooms
- Number of valves, connectors and fittings to replace
- Whether the line has to be upsized for a new appliance
- WSSC permit and inspection
- Repairing walls or ceilings opened for access
What to expect when you call
You'll be connected with an independent plumber who takes gas work in Capitol Heights. Have your gas bill nearby and describe the appliance and its location. The plumber will check the piping for leaks, explain the WSSC permit, pressure-test any new run and relight appliances when the gas comes back on.
Gas Line Services questions in Capitol Heights
Which gas company serves my address?
Does replacing a gas water heater or furnace need a permit?
Can gas be run outside to a grill, patio heater or generator?
Where should carbon monoxide alarms go in a home with gas appliances?
More plumbing services in Capitol Heights
Gas Line Services nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: