Lorton falls in Washington Gas territory, so a gas smell at home means leaving and then calling 911 and 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside. Repairs and new piping on your side of the meter are permitted by Fairfax County. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lorton.
Lorton is an unincorporated part of southern Fairfax County between Fort Belvoir and the Occoquan River, and the postal name also covers the Laurel Hill area around the former reformatory. Housing is mostly new: in ZIP 22079 only about 17% of homes predate 1980, and the 2000s were the biggest building decade. Fairfax County names only parts of Chantilly and Herndon as possibly on Columbia Gas of Virginia, so Lorton homes with gas fall under Washington Gas.
Steps to take
- Gas odor indoors: get everyone out. Skip the light switches and the garage door.
- Call from outside. 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1.
- Stay out until cleared. Responders handle the meter and decide when it's safe.
- Arrange the house-side fix. A plumber repairs your piping or appliance connection and tests it.
- Planning a new line? Note the appliance, its gas rating and where it will sit.
What the symptom usually means
| Symptom | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Smell near the furnace in a finished basement | Loose appliance connection or valve |
| Fireplace pilot goes out | Thermocouple, draft or low supply |
| Grill line hisses at the deck | Worn quick-connect or hose |
| Range burner slow to light | Clogged ports or igniter wear |
| Weak flame with the dryer running | Branch undersized for the combined load |
In newer homes like most of Lorton's, piping rarely fails from age. Trouble usually comes from later work: a basement finish that enclosed valves, a deck built around the meter, or a new appliance tied into a small branch.
What drives the cost
- The Fairfax County permit: a household appliance permit for a like-for-like gas appliance swap, or a residential plumbing permit for new gas pipe, both through PLUS
- Length of the run and whether ceilings must be opened in a finished basement
- Whether the trunk from the meter can carry the added appliance
- Tubing, fittings, shutoffs and sediment traps
- Outdoor routing and any trenching for a patio line
Older homes along Route 1 and in Newington can have steel piping several decades old, which may need more than a single joint repaired. Townhouse owners in the newer communities should check HOA rules before any exterior line, vent or wall penetration is added.
Gas Line Services questions in Lorton
I smell gas inside. What should I do first?
Can gas be run to an outdoor grill, fire pit or patio heater?
What is the yellow flexible tubing some houses have for gas?
Where should carbon monoxide alarms go in a home with gas appliances?
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