Tankless Water Heater in Capitol Heights, MD

Signs a tankless unit may suit you

• Your tank is old, noisy or showing rust at the fittings
• The household regularly runs out of hot water
• You'd like a heater mounted on the wall instead of taking floor space
• A tankless unit already in place shows errors or delivers uneven temperatures
• You're renovating and want to plan the heater, gas pipe and vent together

Capitol Heights conditions

Capitol Heights began in 1904 as a subdivision just past the District's eastern edge, and the median home was built around 1967. Older houses here often keep the heater in a basement next to the furnace, sharing its flue, with original gas pipe and valves. Switching to gas tankless means a new dedicated vent and a gas line able to carry the unit's full burner input, which is several times what a typical tank uses.

Being next to Washington doesn't put a home on DC Water. WSSC Water provides water and wastewater service here, and its plumbing permits and rules apply; if your home sits right at the line, the name on your water bill settles it. WSSC treats Potomac and Patuxent river water with chlorine and a corrosion inhibitor and doesn't publish a hardness figure for Capitol Heights, so a tap test should guide any scale treatment.

What affects the cost

• Gas supply. Larger pipe from the meter for a whole-house unit.
• Vent path. A short route through a side wall versus a long one in a tight lot.
• Electrical. An outlet for a gas unit; possibly a service upgrade for electric.
• Permit. Prince George's County requires one for water heater replacement, issued by WSSC Water.
• Old fittings. Valves and connectors that should be replaced during the swap.

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who covers Capitol Heights. Mention the age of the house, where the heater sits, the fuel it uses and how many bathrooms you have. If you smell gas at any point, leave the house first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1, from outside. The plumber can come back to work on the line once the utility has made it safe.