When a water heater in Potomac leaks from the tank or keeps failing, replacing it is usually the sensible call, especially on a unit with a decade or more behind it. WSSC Water issues the plumbing and gas permit for Potomac homes, and a gas heater replacement must be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC license. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Potomac.
Potomac grew from farmland into a suburb centered on Potomac Village, where Falls Road meets River Road, and some older farmhouses still stand among the subdivisions. The median home here dates to about 1977. Most of the area draws on WSSC Water, which adds orthophosphate to coat pipe interiors, but Montgomery County gives every property a water and sewer service category, and some are set up for a private well and a private onsite wastewater system instead of public service. Large houses often have big or multiple heaters, sometimes in basements far from the main living space, so a leak can run a while before anyone sees it.
What to do now
- Shut the cold water valve above the heater, or the house main if that valve is stuck.
- Set a gas heater's control to off, or turn off the breaker for an electric one.
- On a well, you can also switch off the well pump breaker to stop the system refilling the leak.
- Open a hot tap to release pressure, then put towels or a pan under the drip.
- Write down the size, fuel and model from the label.
- Smell gas? Leave the house, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1, from outside.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Puddle under the heater | Tank corrosion, or a leaking valve or fitting |
| Hot water fades quickly | Sediment, a failed element, or a tank too small for the house |
| Gritty or discolored hot water | Sediment in the tank, sometimes carried in from a well |
| Sulfur smell from hot taps | Reaction at the anode rod, more common with well water |
| Relief valve discharging | Excess temperature or pressure, or no expansion tank |
Cost factors
- Capacity and fuel, or more than one heater in a large home
- Tankless, heat pump or high-efficiency models and the venting they need
- The WSSC permit and inspection
- Basement access and distance from the driveway
- Expansion tank, pan, relief line and gas connector updates
- On well homes, any sediment filter or pressure work done at the same time
Ask each plumber to list the model, the permit and every correction in writing, so the quotes line up side by side.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Potomac
My home is on a private well. Does that change anything?
Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?
Who issues the permit for a water heater replacement here?
Should I switch to a tankless water heater?
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