Water Heater Replacement in Haymarket, VA

Which permits does a Haymarket water heater replacement need?

For properties inside the Town of Haymarket, building permits of every kind, plumbing and mechanical included, have been issued by Prince William County Development Services since 2018. The order matters: you, or your plumber, first get Zoning Approval from the Town (Town Hall is 703-753-2600), then the County permit. The Haymarket postal area also covers large unincorporated areas outside the town, and those addresses go straight to the County. Ask your plumber to confirm which path your address follows.

Who supplies gas, and what do I do if I smell it?

Haymarket is Columbia Gas of Virginia territory, not Washington Gas, according to the Town's utility contacts. If you smell gas near the water heater or anywhere in the house, leave first. Then, from outside, call 911 and Columbia Gas of Virginia at 1-800-544-5606. Don't switch lights or appliances on or off on your way out. Homes outside the town that use propane should call 911 and their propane supplier instead.

What about the water, and does it change which heater I pick?

The Town lists Prince William Water for water and sewer. Its West System draws on the Potomac River, treated at Fairfax Water's Corbalis plant, and Lake Manassas, treated by the City of Manassas, while the Bull Run Mountain and Evergreen systems use public groundwater wells. Prince William Water's annual water quality report covers each system, and it's the place to check hardness for your address. Moderately hard water is the norm across the region, so plan on flushing any tank yearly and descaling a tankless unit on schedule.

For most 1990s and 2000s homes, a same-size tank is the easy choice. If the family has grown, a larger tank or a tankless gas unit may fit better, but a tankless switch needs a County gas permit for the piping and venting.

A local note

Haymarket's historic core dates to the 1880s, and older homes there may have tighter basements, older valves and venting that need attention during a replacement. Mention the age of your house when you call so the plumber can plan for it.