If your Upper Marlboro tankless water heater has stopped heating, check power, the fuel supply and the vent before calling it a failure. Most Upper Marlboro addresses are outside the small incorporated town, so water service and fuel vary, but WSSC Water still permits plumbing and gas work across Prince George's County. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Upper Marlboro.
About Upper Marlboro
The Town of Upper Marlboro is the county seat and home to only a few hundred residents; the Upper Marlboro mailing area around it covers roughly 77 square miles of horse-farm countryside and newer subdivisions. The median home there dates to about 1982. WSSC Water runs mains in the area, but outlying rural parcels may be on private wells, so water service varies by address. Fuel varies too: some homes have natural gas from Washington Gas or BGE, and others rely on propane or electricity. In larger homes on big lots, the heater can sit far from the bedrooms, which affects how long hot water takes to arrive and whether a recirculation pump is worth adding.
What to do now
- Read the error code. Note it before resetting anything.
- Check power. A tripped breaker or outlet will shut down a gas unit.
- Check the fuel. If other gas appliances are out too, or the propane tank gauge is low, the issue is supply, not the heater.
- Clear the vent. Look for debris, snow or nests at the outside termination.
- Clean what you can reach. On well water, the cold-water inlet screen can clog with sediment; follow the manual or leave it to the plumber.
- Leave the gas side alone. WSSC Water permits and inspects gas work, and it has to be done by a registered gasfitter.
If you smell gas or propane, leave the house first. From outside, call 911 and your gas utility or propane supplier.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| No display at all | Power loss or a failed control board |
| Ignition fault | Empty propane tank, closed valve or gas pressure issue |
| Flow falling over time | Sediment at the inlet screen or scale in the heat exchanger |
| Hot water fades with two showers on | Unit undersized for winter inlet temperatures |
| Water at the base of the unit | Condensate line issue or an internal leak |
Cost factors
- Flushing and screen cleaning versus replacing a fan, igniter or heat exchanger
- Distance from the heater to bathrooms in larger homes, if recirculation is added
- Gas or propane line corrections, which need a WSSC Water permit
- Full replacement, since Prince George's County requires a permit for water heater replacements
Tankless Water Heaters questions in Upper Marlboro
How do I find out which utility supplies my water?
Can a tankless water heater run on propane?
Should I repair or replace a tankless unit that keeps showing error codes?
Does well-sourced water with iron or manganese affect a tankless heater?
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