Water Heater Replacement in Fairfax Station, VA

Signs to watch for

• Moisture, rust or a mineral crust at the base of the tank
• Hot water that's cloudy, rusty or carries a metallic taste
• A heater that rumbles or pops as it heats
• Baths or showers running cool sooner than they used to
• A relief valve that drips or a discharge pipe with water in it
• A manufacture date more than a decade old

A single failed part on a younger heater can often be fixed. A plumber can test the burner, thermocouple, elements or thermostat before recommending a new unit.

What Fairfax Station homes bring to the job

Fairfax Station is mostly residential, with a median home built in 1982 and many houses on larger, wooded lots. Many have full basements with room for a standard tank, a larger one or a heat pump unit. Fairfax County lists Fairfax Water as the water provider for county residents, drawing on the Occoquan Reservoir and the Potomac River. Testing at its Corbalis plant shows total hardness from about 70 to 185 mg/L, averaging near 7.5 grains per gallon, which leaves sediment in a tank over time. Fairfax Water owns the meter, and the line from the meter to the house is the homeowner's.

Washington Gas serves most of the county. If you smell gas, leave the home first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside. Some homes here may run on propane or electricity instead; if yours uses propane, call 911 and your propane supplier.

What drives the price

• Fuel, capacity and efficiency of the new heater
• Fairfax County permits: Household Appliance for a like-for-like gas unit, Residential Plumbing if new gas piping goes in
• Venting changes for high-efficiency or tankless models
• Basement access and the distance to a floor drain
• Expansion tank, drain pan and haul-away

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who covers Fairfax Station. Have the capacity, fuel and age from the label handy, and say whether water is on the floor. If it is, shut the cold supply and the gas or breaker. Ask each plumber to list the permit, code items and disposal on the quote, so you can compare offers fairly and know what the price covers before work starts.