Water Heater Repair in Sterling, VA

Signs your heater needs a repair

• No hot water, or only lukewarm water at every tap
• Hot water running out in the middle of a shower
• Popping or rumbling as the heater runs
• Rust-colored hot water or rust at the top connections
• A wet floor or drain pan under the tank
• A tripped breaker on an electric unit, or a gas burner that will not stay lit

Sterling conditions that affect water heaters

Sterling is one of the older parts of Loudoun County. It began with the Sterling Park development in the early 1960s, and about 43% of homes in ZIP 20164 were built before 1980, with the 1970s and 1980s the busiest building decades. In houses that age, the water heater has been replaced several times, and the gas line, venting and shutoff valves around it are often original. A plumber called for a failed part may also suggest replacing a stiff valve or an old connector while the water is off.

Sterling is unincorporated and gets its water and sewer from Loudoun Water. Its Central System draws mainly on the Potomac River, with Goose Creek as needed, and uses chloramine for disinfection. Loudoun Water's annual water quality report is the place to check hardness, but any tank that has gone years without draining will hold sediment, and a plumber can show you what comes out of the drain valve.

Loudoun County says Columbia Gas and Washington Gas each serve parts of the county, with propane where neither does, so your bill tells you who to call. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and your gas utility or propane supplier from outside. Trade permits for gas, mechanical and plumbing work are handled by Loudoun County Building and Development as sub-records of a building permit; the plumber can tell you whether a repair needs one.

What affects the cost

• The part that failed and whether it is a standard size
• Sediment that has to be flushed before the repair
• Old valves, connectors or venting that need attention
• How easy the heater is to reach in a basement, closet or garage
• Evening or weekend calls

What happens when you call

You are connected with an independent plumber who works in Sterling. Say whether the heater is gas or electric, how old it is and what you have noticed. The plumber can then tell you whether it sounds like a repair or a replacement and arrange a time to come out.