In Great Falls, a water heater that leaks from the tank or can't keep a large household in hot water is usually due for replacement, and the job depends partly on whether the home is on a private well or Fairfax Water. Fairfax County requires a permit for gas water heater replacements, even like-for-like. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Great Falls.
What happens when you call
The number on this page connects you with an independent plumber who works in Great Falls. You'll be asked about the heater's size, fuel and location, whether it's leaking, and whether the house is on a well or public water. If water is spreading, close the cold supply valve above the tank and turn off the gas or the breaker. On a well system, switching off the well pump's breaker also stops the pump from refilling a leaking tank.
The plumber then checks the tank, venting, fuel supply and shutoffs, and prices a matching replacement plus any upgrade you ask about.
Cost factors
- Fuel and type: natural gas, propane, electric, heat pump or tankless
- Larger homes that need more capacity or a second heater
- Sediment or water quality issues on a well that call for filtration
- The Fairfax County permit, and a Residential Plumbing permit if new gas piping is added
- Access, expansion tank, drain pan and disposal
Great Falls conditions
Great Falls is partly rural, with large lots, and the Great Falls Citizens Association notes that many homes rely on private wells while some neighborhoods are on Fairfax Water. Many homes are also not on municipal sewer and use private onsite wastewater systems. For a water heater, the well question matters most: no utility reports hardness or treatment for a private well, so a recent water test is the best guide to how quickly sediment and scale will build in a new tank. The citizens association recommends testing well water every year, and sooner if smell, taste or appearance changes. Homes on Fairfax Water get water with total hardness averaging around 7.5 grains per gallon at the Corbalis plant.
Washington Gas runs pipelines throughout Great Falls, though not every home is connected; some use propane or electricity. With Washington Gas, a gas smell means leave the house, then call 911 and 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1. Propane homes leave and call 911 and their propane supplier. The median home was built in 1985.
Checklist before the visit
- Know whether you're on a well or Fairfax Water, and have any recent water test handy
- Note the heater's capacity, fuel and age from the label
- Find the main shutoff and, on a well, the pump breaker
- Clear the area around the heater
- Ask that the permit and haul-away be in the quote
Water Heater Replacement questions in Great Falls
My home is on a private well. Does that change the job?
What if the house runs on propane or is all-electric?
Does replacing a water heater here need a permit?
Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?
More plumbing services in Great Falls
Water Heater Replacement nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Great Falls Citizens Association: water, wells and onsite systems
- Fairfax County Land Development Services: household appliance permits
- Fairfax Water: Corbalis plant finished water analysis
- Fairfax Water: annual report on water quality
- Great Falls housing by year built (city-stats.com)
- Washington Gas: safety and the emergency leak line
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