The Town of Clifton has no natural gas utility, and homes there use their own propane tanks, so a gas smell means leaving the house and then calling 911 and your propane supplier from outside. Piping repairs and new lines are permitted by Fairfax County with the Town's sign-off. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Clifton.
Signs to act on
- The rotten-egg smell. Propane carries an odor too. Leave, then call 911 and your supplier.
- Hissing at the tank regulator, a valve or an appliance connection
- Yellow, sooty or lifting burner flames
- A pilot that keeps going out
- Frost forming on a regulator or fitting in mild weather
Propane is heavier than air and can collect in basements and low spots. If you smell it, don't go down to look.
Gas service in Clifton
Clifton is a tiny historic village, a National Historic District since 1984, set among wooded lots in southwestern Fairfax County. The Town has no gas utility: residents keep their own propane tanks for fuel. The Town also has no water system, and most homes are on private wells. The wider 20124 ZIP covers a much larger unincorporated area around the town, where some homes may differ, so check with your fuel supplier or utility bill.
Permits run through Fairfax County Land Development Services, which handles plumbing and household appliance permits through PLUS. But the Town comes first: the Mayor or a designee signs building permit applications before they go to the County. For interior-only work, the Town clerk can issue a letter to LDS instead.
The town's small housing stock is old, with a median year built around 1940. Houses of that age may have fuel piping that's been modified repeatedly as heating systems changed. Propane systems also tend to grow piece by piece, for example when a generator or fireplace is added to a line that started with a furnace and water heater, and each addition is a chance for an undersized branch or a poorly made joint.
What affects the cost
- The distance from the tank to the appliance, and trenching on wooded lots
- Pipe sizing for propane, which differs from natural gas
- Coordination with your propane supplier for the tank and regulator
- Town sign-off, the County permit and inspection
- Restoring historic finishes or landscaping
When you call
An independent local plumber who handles propane piping around Clifton will ask which appliances run on propane, how far they sit from the tank and who your supplier is. Mention if the house is in the historic district, since exterior changes may need extra care.
Gas Line Services questions in Clifton
Our home uses propane. Who handles leaks and new piping?
We are all-electric. Can natural gas be brought in?
Does new gas piping need a permit here?
Where should carbon monoxide alarms go in a home with gas appliances?
More plumbing services in Clifton
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