Water Heater Repair in Chantilly, VA

How old is the typical Chantilly water heater?

The median Chantilly home was built in 1987, and neighborhoods such as Franklin Farm and Greenbriar went up over a couple of decades. Most houses have already replaced their original heater at least once, so the useful question is the date on your current unit's label. A tank in its first several years with one bad part is a good repair candidate. One with rust at the base, a damp floor or repeated breakdowns is usually better replaced, and a plumber will tell you which you have.

What does Chantilly water do to a tank?

Chantilly is on Fairfax Water. Most of its customers are served from its Potomac and Occoquan treatment plants, and some receive Potomac water treated by the Washington Aqueduct, depending on the address. Fairfax Water's Potomac plant tests show total hardness of about 70 to 185 mg/L, a moderately hard range that leaves a sandy layer in tanks and scale on electric elements. Draining a few gallons once a year slows that down, and a plumber can flush a heavily loaded tank. Fairfax Water also uses free chlorine generally from April through June and chloramines the rest of the year.

Which gas company serves me, and do I need a permit?

Most of Chantilly is on Washington Gas, but Fairfax County notes that Columbia Gas of Virginia serves some parts of Chantilly, so look at your bill. If you smell gas, leave the house first. From outside, call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, or Columbia Gas of Virginia if that is the company on your bill. For permits, Fairfax County Land Development Services requires one for water heater replacement, even a direct swap, and for new, repaired or relocated gas fixtures. A routine part repair may not need one; the plumber can confirm.

A local note

Chantilly sits right on the Loudoun line. If your heater is in a garage or an unfinished basement, note that when you call. In a garage, winter cold makes a gas burner work harder and can expose a weak thermocouple or igniter, so a heater that fails on the first freezing night is a common call here. When you phone, mention where the unit sits and what you see on the floor or display.