If a Springfield home smells of gas, get out, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from a safe place. Gas leaks and new lines on the house side of the meter are plumbing work permitted by Fairfax County. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Springfield.

What happens when you call
The number on this page connects you with an independent local plumber who handles gas work across the Springfield ZIPs. Explain what you've noticed or what you want added. Useful details: the house's age, whether the furnace and water heater share a utility room, and how far the appliance is from the meter. If the gas was shut off by the utility, say so, since the plumber may need to repair and test before it can be turned back on.
Typical visits involve locating the leak, replacing the faulty fitting, valve or section, then testing and relighting. New lines get sized, installed, pressure tested and inspected.
What changes the price
- Run length and whether the route crosses finished rooms
- Pipe condition: older steel lines sometimes need more than a single joint repaired
- Total appliance load and whether a larger trunk is needed
- The Fairfax County permit and inspection
- Restoring drywall or ceilings
Springfield conditions
Springfield is unincorporated, so Fairfax County handles permits. In everyday use the name covers ZIPs 22150 through 22153, including North Springfield, West Springfield and Newington Forest, and all of it is permitted by the County. Fairfax County names only parts of Chantilly and Herndon as possibly on Columbia Gas of Virginia; Springfield falls under Washington Gas.
Land Development Services says permits are needed for new, repaired or relocated plumbing or gas fixtures, and that like-for-like replacement in the same location is exempt. Whether a particular water heater swap falls under that exemption is worth asking about before the work starts; the plumber or LDS at 703-222-0801 can tell you.
Much of Springfield was built in the 1950s through the 1970s, and the median home dates to 1974. In houses of that age, gas pipe is often original steel, extended a few times as kitchens and laundries changed. Old valves, corroded pipe in damp basements, and branches too small for today's appliances are typical findings.
Before the visit
- Clear space around the meter, furnace and water heater
- Write down the model and gas rating of any new appliance
- Know whether the house is a townhouse with shared walls
- Test carbon monoxide alarms
- Plan for the gas to be off for part of the visit
Gas Line Services questions in Springfield
I smell gas inside. What should I do first?
What gas piping problems show up in older homes?
Does new gas piping need a permit here?
We are all-electric. Can natural gas be brought in?
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