Water Heater Repair in Glenn Dale, MD

Is a 1990s Glenn Dale house due for a new heater?

Not automatically. Glenn Dale's median home was built around 1991, so most houses are on at least their second heater, and some of those are now old enough to start acting up. A heater that is dry and has a single failed part, such as an element, thermostat, thermocouple or igniter, is usually worth repairing. A tank with rust at the seams, water at the base or a history of repeated repairs is better replaced. The date on the label tells you more than the age of the house, and a plumber can give you a straight answer after a look.

Who handles the permit if the tank has to go?

WSSC Water is the permit and inspection agency for plumbing and gasfitting work in Prince George's County, and Glenn Dale, as an unincorporated area, follows the county setup. Building permits come from the county's Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) in Largo. Most plumbing and gas work in the county has to be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding the required license, which covers the replacement of a gas heater. Ordinary part repairs that leave the installation unchanged usually do not involve the permit office, but the plumber can confirm.

Gas or electric, and who do I call about a gas smell?

Washington Gas serves Prince George's County, but some parts of the county are BGE territory, so the company on your gas bill is the one to call. If you smell gas around the heater, leave the house first, then call 911 and your gas utility once you are outside. Electric heaters have their own failure points, mainly elements, thermostats and the high-limit reset button, and none of them involve gas safety.

One local note

WSSC Water serves most of Prince George's County, but service in Glenn Dale should be confirmed by address on your water bill. WSSC owns the water service line only up to the property line, so a leak between the property line and the house is the owner's to repair.