For many Olney homes built in the 1980s, the question is no longer whether the water heater will need replacing but when. A leak from the tank shell or rusty hot water usually settles it, and in WSSC territory the plumbing and gas permit comes from WSSC Water, with gas work done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC license. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Olney.
Olney's water, homes and utilities
Olney was mostly farmland until the 1960s and filled in around the Georgia Avenue and Route 108 crossroads over the following decades; the median home here was built in 1986. Core Olney is on WSSC Water, and the Patuxent reservoirs, Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett, sit just to the north. WSSC disinfects with residual chlorine. Its tap analysis lists average hardness of about 64 mg/L for Patuxent plant water and about 140 mg/L for Potomac plant water, and which plant feeds a given address varies, so scale in a tank can range from light to moderate.
A few outlying properties sit beyond the planned public sewer area or once relied on wells; public water was extended to Mt. Zion to relieve well problems there. For gas, Washington Gas serves Montgomery County and BGE serves parts of it, so the company named on your bill is the one to call. WSSC Permit Services (301-206-4003) handles the plumbing and gas permit.
Repair or replace?
| Problem | Usually a repair | Usually a replacement |
|---|---|---|
| No hot water, electric unit | Failed element or thermostat on a younger heater | Repeated element failures on an old, scaled tank |
| Pilot won't stay lit | Thermocouple or gas control fault | Burner chamber rusted out |
| Water on the floor | Loose fitting or worn relief valve | Leak from the tank body |
| Rusty hot water | Anode rod worn on a newer tank | Rust inside a tank past about ten years |
Signs to watch
- Moisture or a rust ring under the tank
- Crackling or popping as the burner runs
- Hot water running out partway through a shower
- A sulfur or metallic smell on the hot side only
- Corrosion around the pipe fittings on top of the tank
Timing it well
Winter is when old heaters tend to quit, because the incoming water is colder and the unit runs longer to keep up. It is also the busiest stretch for plumbers. If your heater is original to a 1980s or 1990s house, or simply past about ten years, replacing it on your own schedule in spring or fall gives you time to compare models and quotes. Planning also leaves room to decide on a larger tank, a tankless unit or a heat pump model without a cold house forcing the choice.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Olney
Is the water hard enough to matter for a new tank?
Who do I call if I smell gas near the water heater?
How do I find out who supplies my water?
How do I make the new heater last?
More plumbing services in Olney
Water Heater Replacement nearby
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