A gas smell in a Clarksburg home calls for leaving right away, then calling 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside. For new appliance lines, tankless conversions and repairs past the meter, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Clarksburg.
Clarksburg sits at the northern end of the I-270 corridor, about 26 miles from downtown Washington, and it is among the newest communities in the county: the median home was built in 2010, and roughly 84% of housing went up between 2000 and 2019. Gas systems here are mostly young, so the calls tend to be about additions rather than worn-out pipe: an outdoor kitchen, a range upgrade, a standby generator or a tankless water heater.
What to do now
- Smell gas indoors? Leave. Don't operate switches or the garage door on the way out.
- Call from the yard or street. Dial 911 and the Washington Gas leak line.
- Let responders clear the house before anyone goes back in or relights a pilot.
- Book the house-side repair with a plumber once the supply is safe.
- For an upgrade, gather the new appliance's input rating and the ratings on your furnace and water heater.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| New range or fireplace runs weak when the furnace is on | Branch tapped into a line without spare capacity |
| Tankless heater shuts down at high demand | Supply line or meter undersized for the unit |
| Odor near an outdoor grill or fire pit connection | Loose quick-connect or outdoor fitting |
| Faint smell at the water heater after a swap | Connector or union not fully sealed |
| Gas dryer slow to heat after a move-in | Kinked connector or partly closed shutoff behind the unit |
What affects the cost
- Distance from the meter and routing through finished basements or garages
- Whether the existing line can carry the new load or must be upsized
- Flexible stainless tubing versus steel, and bonding where tubing is used
- Trenching for patio or generator lines, and restoring sod or pavers afterward
- The WSSC Water permit and inspection
WSSC Water issues permits for and inspects all natural gas and propane installations in Montgomery County, and gas appliance replacements need a WSSC-registered plumber or gasfitter. Some older rural parcels on Clarksburg's edges may not be on public services, so if your home has no gas meter, it may be all-electric or on propane.
Gas Line Services questions in Clarksburg
Will a tankless water heater need a bigger gas line?
What is the yellow-coated flexible gas tubing in newer houses?
Can gas be piped outdoors to a grill, fire pit or generator?
Why does new gas pipe get a pressure test?
More plumbing services in Clarksburg
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