Water Heater Replacement in Hyattsville, MD

Signs to watch for

• A wet floor around the base of the heater
• Rust-tinted water from hot taps while the cold side runs clear
• Sizzling or popping as the heater runs
• Water that won't get as hot as it used to
• Scorch marks or soot near the burner on a gas unit

Soot or scorching is a venting warning, not just an age sign. Shut the heater off and have it checked before using it again.

Hyattsville homes and utilities

Hyattsville is one of the older towns near the District. The median home dates to about 1963, and about half of the houses are older than that, including late-1880s Victorians and interwar Sears and Arts and Crafts bungalows in the historic district. Basements in these houses can be cramped, with low ceilings, narrow stairs and a chimney flue shared with the furnace. A plumber needs to confirm the new heater fits the space and vents properly.

WSSC Water provides water and sewer service, disinfecting with free chlorine rather than chloramine. Washington Gas supplies most of the area, but BGE covers parts of Prince George's County, so check your bill. If you smell gas, leave the house first. Then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1, from outside.

Price factors

• Fuel, capacity and efficiency of the new heater
• Venting work, especially in older chimneys or where a liner is needed
• Replacing corroded shutoffs or galvanized nipples at the tank
• Getting a heater down an old, steep basement stair
• Expansion tank and pan requirements
• The WSSC permit, inspection and disposal

Newer townhouses and apartments around University Town Center and the Route 1 corridor are a different job: heaters there are often in a closet, and the size of the unit that fits the space matters as much as its capacity. Condo owners should check building rules before work starts.

When you call

You'll reach an independent plumber who covers Hyattsville. Tell them the age of the house as well as the heater; it helps them plan for venting and fittings. Get each quote to spell out what's included, from permit to haul-away, so you can compare them fairly.