If you notice a gas smell in an Olney home, leave the house first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside, using the emergency number on your gas bill; homes on propane call 911 and their propane supplier. For repairs and new lines past the meter or tank, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Olney.
Gas service and permits around Olney
Olney is an unincorporated community in upper Montgomery County, about 16 miles north of downtown Washington, and it was mostly farmland until the 1960s. Today the core is suburban, with a median home built in 1986. Gas service here isn't one-size-fits-all: Washington Gas serves much of Montgomery County and BGE serves parts of it, so the company on your bill is the one to call. Some outlying properties near the Patuxent reservoirs and along rural roads sit outside the public sewer envelope, and homes there may be all-electric or rely on propane.
Whatever the fuel, WSSC Water issues the gasfitting permit and inspects the work, and Montgomery County handles building permits for larger remodels. Gas appliance replacements and new gas piping are done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC license.
Repair or add on?
| Situation | Typical fix | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leak at a connector or valve | Replace the part, leak test, relight | Most common call in 1980s houses |
| Adding a gas range or dryer | New branch with its own shutoff | Capacity check from the meter first |
| Switching to a tankless heater | Upsize part of the supply line | Venting changes too |
| Propane appliance added | Run from the tank regulator | Propane fittings and WSSC permit |
Signs to watch for
- A sulfur or rotten-egg smell indoors, which means go outside before calling
- Hissing at a shutoff valve, the meter or a propane regulator
- Burner flames that run yellow or lift off the burner
- Soot on the wall above a water heater or furnace vent
- A propane tank that empties faster than past winters
Seasonal timing
Olney winters keep furnaces and water heaters busy, and that's when a borderline gas line or a tired connector tends to give itself away. Late summer and early fall are good months to add an appliance or have the piping checked, because heating season brings a rush of no-heat calls. For propane homes, schedule tank-side work around deliveries so the system isn't run low during testing. Buried lines to a grill, fire pit or generator are easiest to install before the ground freezes.
Gas Line Services questions in Olney
Which gas company serves my address, and where does its part end?
What if the house runs on propane instead of utility gas?
What is the yellow-coated flexible gas tubing in newer houses?
Who issues the permit for gas piping work here?
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