A Hyattsville water heater that has gone cold, leaks at a fitting or sounds like gravel in a pot usually needs a part or a flush rather than a new tank, and a plumber can usually tell which in one visit. If the tank itself is leaking, replacement is the only real option. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Hyattsville.
Signs the heater needs a plumber
- Water that never gets fully hot, or showers that turn cold early
- A wet floor or rust stains around the base
- Banging or rumbling as the heater fires
- A relief valve pipe that drips or has let go
- Hot water that comes out tinted or smells off
- A gas pilot that keeps going out, or a breaker that trips on an electric unit
Hyattsville homes and their water heaters
Hyattsville is one of the older inner-ring suburbs. The city's median home was built in 1963, and about half are older than that, including the late-1880s Victorians and interwar Sears and Arts and Crafts bungalows in the National Register historic district. In houses that age, the heater is usually far newer than the pipes around it. Basement installs with old galvanized connections, tired gate valves and flue pipes that have been patched over the years are common, and a plumber replacing a thermocouple or element may recommend fixing those at the same time so the next repair is easier.
WSSC Water supplies the city's water and sewer, and its water quality report says it disinfects with free chlorine rather than chloramine. Washington Gas serves the area, though a few edge addresses in the county are on BGE, so check the bill. If you smell gas, leave first and then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1.
The City of Hyattsville has no permits office of its own. Prince George's County says water heater replacements need a permit and that WSSC Water issues all plumbing permits and does the inspections, so a replacement goes through WSSC.
What the price depends on
- Which part failed and whether it is a common one
- Old valves or connectors that break when they are disturbed
- Basement stairs and tight spaces in older houses
- Whether the tank is past saving and needs a permitted replacement
- Evening or weekend scheduling
What happens when you call
You are connected with an independent plumber who works in Hyattsville. Describe the symptoms and give the heater's fuel type, size and age from the label. The plumber can explain what is likely wrong and when a visit can happen.
Water Heater Repair questions in Hyattsville
Should I repair a water heater that is more than 10 years old?
Does a water heater job here need a permit?
Why is water coming out of the relief valve pipe?
Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?
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