Montgomery Village was largely built in the late 1960s and 1970s, so many homes have had several water heaters and the current one may be near its end. When the tank leaks or hot water turns rusty, replacement is usually the answer, and WSSC Water issues the plumbing and gas permit here. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Montgomery Village.
Which permits does a Montgomery Village water heater need?
The plumbing or gas permit comes from WSSC Water Permit Services (301-206-4003). Only master plumbers and gasfitters registered with WSSC, or their proxies, can apply through WSSC ePermitting, and all gas work, including a gas water heater swap, must be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC license. If the project grows into remodeling, building permits go to the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services in Wheaton (240-777-0311). Most quotes for a heater replacement include the WSSC permit; ask to be sure.
What comes up when replacing a heater in a 1970s house?
Roughly half the homes in ZIP 20886 were built before 1980, and the 1970s were the busiest building decade by far. A house from that era has usually seen a few heaters come and go, and each install leaves its mark: shutoff valves that no longer close fully, flexible connectors that have aged, a vent connector pieced together from different sizes, or a relief line that ends somewhere current code doesn't allow. A careful plumber points these out before quoting.
Some floor plans also put the heater in a closet off a hallway or under stairs. Those spots limit tank size and make a drain pan more important, since a leak there reaches living space quickly.
Who do I call about gas or a water problem in the street?
Washington Gas is the gas utility named for the area. If you smell gas, leave the house first and call 911 and the Washington Gas emergency line, 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside. For a broken main or other water and sewer emergency outside the house, WSSC Water's Emergency Service Center is 301-206-4002. A leaking heater inside the house is a job for your own shutoffs: close the cold valve above the tank and turn off the gas control or breaker.
A local note
Village addresses carry Gaithersburg mailing names, but Montgomery Village is unincorporated and run as a planned community by the Montgomery Village Foundation, not a city. That means the City of Gaithersburg's permit office doesn't apply here; WSSC and Montgomery County do. If the new heater needs a new vent through an outside wall, it is sensible to check with the Foundation first.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Montgomery Village
Who issues the permit for a water heater replacement here?
Will the new heater need an expansion tank or a drain pan?
What size water heater does my household need?
What happens to the old water heater?
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