Water Heater Repair in Gaithersburg, MD

Local conditions in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg's housing is younger than the inner suburbs. Census-based figures put the median home around 1989, so many houses have already been through one heater, and the planned neighborhoods such as Kentlands have plenty of units tucked into closets and utility rooms. WSSC Water runs the mains here, disinfects with free residual chlorine and has added UV disinfection at its filtration plants.

Permits run on two tracks. WSSC Water is the inspection agency for plumbing and gasfitting work in Montgomery County, while the City of Gaithersburg's Planning and Code Administration handles city building permits. WSSC's homeowner permit path specifically leaves out gas fitting, so any gas water heater replacement is a job for a plumber or gasfitter registered with WSSC.

Repair or replace: a quick comparison

Signs it needs attention

• Showers going cold sooner than they used to
• Crackling or knocking while the burner runs
• Rust-tinted water from the hot side only
• A damp closet floor or wet drain pan
• A breaker that trips again shortly after being reset
• A sulfur smell from the hot taps

Timing and seasonal notes

Winter is when weak heaters get exposed. Incoming water is much colder in January than in August, so a heater with one failing element or a thick layer of sediment that coped all summer can suddenly run short. Fall is a good time for a checkup on the burner, relief valve and anode, and a heater that has never been flushed is worth draining before the cold months arrive. Holiday guests and a full house put the same strain on a tank, so a sluggish heater in November rarely gets better by itself. If you smell gas at any time of year, go outside first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1. Calling at the first drip is usually what keeps a small repair from turning into wet drywall.