In Poolesville, a gas smell means leaving the home first and then calling 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside; homes on propane call 911 and their supplier. For repairs and new lines past the meter, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Poolesville.
Poolesville is a small historic town in western Montgomery County, about 26 miles from downtown Washington and ringed by the county's Agricultural Reserve. The Town names Washington Gas as its natural gas utility, though service may not reach every property, and farms outside town often rely on propane or electricity. The median home in town was built in 1985, so most gas piping is original with later additions.
What to do right now
- Gas smell inside? Leave. Avoid switches, phones and the garage door until you're out.
- Call 911 and Washington Gas from outside, or 911 and your propane supplier if the house is on a tank.
- Stay out until cleared by the utility or fire crew.
- Schedule the house-side repair once the supply is safe.
- For planned work, check with Town Hall early if the project also involves building or zoning approval.
Signs and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Odor near the water heater or furnace | Loose union, worn valve or old connector |
| Weak flame when several appliances run | Line too small for the combined load |
| Dead grass over a line to an outbuilding | Buried pipe leaking underground |
| Hiss at a propane regulator | Regulator or fitting failure; call the supplier |
| Yellow, sooty burner flames | Burner adjustment or combustion air problem |
What affects the cost
- Run length, especially to barns, shops or detached garages on bigger lots
- Trenching and restoration for buried lines
- Natural gas versus propane regulators and fittings
- Upsizing for a tankless heater, generator or larger range
- Permits: WSSC Water handles plumbing and gasfitting permits and inspections, while the Town of Poolesville issues building and zoning permits
Poolesville runs its own water and sewer systems rather than WSSC's, but that doesn't change who oversees gas piping. Gas work in Montgomery County still goes through WSSC, done by a plumber or gasfitter registered with WSSC.
When you call, mention whether the property is inside town limits or out on the surrounding farmland, whether it uses utility gas or a propane tank, and how far the appliance sits from the meter or tank. Those details let the plumber plan pipe size, fittings and any digging before the first visit.
Gas Line Services questions in Poolesville
Does the town have its own approval step on top of WSSC?
Which gas company serves my address, and where does its part end?
What if the house runs on propane instead of utility gas?
Why does new gas pipe get a pressure test?
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