Potomac water heater problems usually come from a worn control part, sediment or a failing valve, and a larger home with two heaters or a tankless unit can usually have both looked at in the same visit. A tank leaking through its shell needs replacement. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Potomac.
Potomac grew from farmland into an affluent suburb centered on Potomac Village, and older farmhouses still sit among the subdivisions. Census-based figures put the median home around 1977. Most homes get water and sewer from WSSC Water, which disinfects with a chlorine residual and adds orthophosphate to coat pipe interiors. Montgomery County gives every property a water and sewer category, though, and some are planned for a private well and a private onsite wastewater system rather than public service. If you are on a well, sediment and water chemistry from the well matter as much to your heater as anything else.
What to do now
- If the tank is leaking, close the cold supply valve at the top of the heater.
- Switch off the breaker for an electric unit, or turn a gas control to off or pilot.
- Smell gas? Leave the house first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1, from outside.
- On a well, note whether the cold water also looks cloudy or smells, since that points to the well rather than the heater.
- Photograph the rating label on each heater if the house has more than one.
Symptoms and what usually causes them
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| One end of the house has hot water, the other doesn't | A second heater or recirculation pump has failed |
| Pilot won't stay lit | Thermocouple, dirty pilot or flue draft problem |
| Tankless unit shows an error code | Clogged inlet screen, scale in the heat exchanger, failed sensor |
| Sulfur smell from hot taps | Anode reaction with the water, common on wells |
| Hot water runs out early | Sediment, broken dip tube or a failed element |
| Water around the base | Drain valve, fitting or tank failure |
Cost factors
Cost depends on the part, the type of heater and how easy it is to reach. Large homes with high-capacity tanks, multiple units or tankless systems take longer to diagnose, and well water can mean extra descaling or an anode change. If a gas heater has to be replaced, Montgomery County requires the work to be done by a plumber or gasfitter registered with WSSC Water under a WSSC permit, and that is part of the job.
Water Heater Repair questions in Potomac
Does a private well change anything for my water heater?
Can a plumber repair a tankless water heater?
What should I do if I smell gas near the water heater?
Can I replace a gas water heater myself in Montgomery County?
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