Gas Line Services in Chantilly, VA

Is my Chantilly home on Washington Gas or Columbia Gas?

Most likely Washington Gas, but not certainly. Fairfax County says Washington Gas serves most county residents and names parts of Chantilly, along with parts of Herndon, as areas where Columbia Gas of Virginia may be the provider. Chantilly also sits right on the Loudoun County line, and Washington Gas notes that Columbia Gas serves some areas in Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax counties. The name on your gas bill is what counts. Put that utility's emergency number on the fridge so nobody has to search for it during a scare.

What does Fairfax County require for gas work here?

Chantilly is unincorporated, so Fairfax County Land Development Services issues the permits. LDS lists permits as required for water heater replacement and for new, repaired or relocated plumbing or gas fixtures; replacing a fixture like-for-like in the same location is exempt. Applications go through the PLUS system. A new line to a kitchen range, a relocated dryer or a tankless conversion will need a permit, a pressure test and an inspection before the gas is turned on.

What gas piping is typical in Chantilly houses?

The median home here was built in 1987, and much of the area filled in with planned subdivisions during the 1980s and 1990s. Those houses usually have black steel trunk lines, sometimes with flexible stainless branches added later. The pipe itself tends to be in decent shape. Problems show up at connections: a water heater union disturbed during a replacement, a fireplace valve that has started to seep, or a dryer connector crushed when the machine was pushed back. Capacity is the other issue. Homes built with a gas furnace and water heater may not have enough line size to add a large range, a tankless heater and an outdoor grill without upgrades.

One Chantilly note: if you live in a townhouse, the gas meters may be grouped together at one end of the building. Make sure you know which meter is yours and where its shutoff is, and tell the plumber about the layout when you call.