In Haymarket, most water heater repairs involve a failed element, thermostat, igniter or gas control, or a leak at a valve, and a plumber can usually fix them in one visit. A tank leaking from its body needs replacing. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Haymarket.

Which gas company do I call in Haymarket?
Haymarket is Columbia Gas of Virginia territory, not Washington Gas; the Town lists Columbia Gas as its gas utility. If you smell gas near the water heater, leave the house first, then call 911 and Columbia Gas of Virginia at 1-800-544-5606 from outside. Do not try to relight a pilot or switch anything on while the smell is present. Once the utility has made the area safe, a plumber can repair the heater's gas control, connector or venting.
Do I need a permit, and who issues it?
All building permits in town, including plumbing and mechanical, are issued by Prince William County Development Services, but you first need Zoning Approval from the Town of Haymarket. The County requires a gas permit for gas water heater piping and venting, and a plumbing permit when water piping is extended more than 10 feet or the pipe material changes. A routine part repair usually does not trigger that process, and the plumber can tell you if yours does. The 20169 postal area also covers a lot of unincorporated county land outside town, where the Town step does not apply.
Is my heater worth fixing?
Haymarket's 1880s core is small, and most of the surrounding growth along I-66 is much newer; the median home in town dates to 1997. Many heaters are original to houses built in the late 1990s and 2000s, so the tank's age is the first thing to check. Inside town, water and sewer come from Prince William Water, whose West System blends Potomac River water treated by Fairfax Water with Lake Manassas water treated by the City of Manassas and uses chlorine as its disinfectant. Prince William Water's annual report lists the current water quality figures. A dry tank with one failed part is usually a good repair candidate; a corroded tank is not.
A local note
Outside town toward Bull Run Mountain, some customers are on Prince William Water's groundwater-fed Bull Run Mountain and Evergreen systems, and outlying homes may have their own arrangements. Mention your water source on the call, since groundwater can change how often a tank should be drained.
Water Heater Repair questions in Haymarket
What should I do if I smell gas near the water heater?
Does water heater work here need a permit?
Is it worth fixing a water heater that is 10 or more years old?
Why does the burner on my gas water heater keep shutting off?
More plumbing services in Haymarket
Water Heater Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Town of Haymarket utility contact information
- Town of Haymarket building and zoning permits
- Haymarket housing by year built (city-stats.com)
- Prince William Water: 2026 water quality reports
- Prince William Water annual water quality report
- Prince William County: gas-fired residential tankless water heater permits
- Columbia Gas of Virginia: gas safety
Last updated: