Chevy Chase has some of the oldest houses in the county, and replacing a water heater in one often means dealing with an old chimney flue, tight basement access and piping from earlier eras. WSSC Water issues the plumbing and gas permit, and the work must be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC license. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Chevy Chase.
Signs it's time to replace
- Water seeping from the tank seam or a rust ring on the basement floor
- Rusty or muddy hot water while cold water stays clear
- Popping and rumbling from sediment
- Pilot outages or a burner flame that looks lazy and yellow
- Hot water that no longer lasts through back-to-back showers
A younger heater with a single failed part may be worth repairing. A tank that leaks from its body, or an old unit needing a major part, usually isn't.
Chevy Chase homes and what they mean for the job
Chevy Chase began in the 1890s as a streetcar suburb along Connecticut Avenue. In ZIP 20815 about two-thirds of homes were built before 1980, and more than 2,600 date from 1939 or earlier. Heaters in houses like these often vent into a masonry chimney shared with the furnace, and changing one appliance can leave the flue oversized or in need of a liner. Older supply piping and valves may also need attention once the plumber is working at the heater.
The area is a patchwork: an unincorporated part governed by Montgomery County plus several incorporated towns and villages, including the Town of Chevy Chase. For the heater itself, the plumbing or gas permit comes from WSSC Water Permit Services (301-206-4003). If the work turns into a larger project, the Town of Chevy Chase issues its own permits and won't approve one until the County permit is issued, so check with your town or village before expanding the scope.
What affects cost
- Size, fuel and efficiency of the new heater
- Chimney liner or new vent work
- Narrow basement stairs or tight utility rooms
- Replacing old shutoff valves, connectors or nearby piping
- The WSSC permit and inspection, plus any town step on larger projects
- Disposal of the old tank
What happens when you call
The number on this page connects you with an independent plumber who works in Chevy Chase. Describe the heater, where it sits and how the house is laid out. If you smell gas instead of seeing water, leave the house first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside. Ask for a written quote that names the permit, any vent work and haul-away.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Chevy Chase
Does the town have its own approval step?
My old heater vents into a chimney. Is that a problem?
What size water heater does my household need?
Who do I call if I smell gas near the water heater?
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