In the small City of Lithonia, plumbing is its own trade permit, issued at City Hall on Main Street. Many addresses with a Lithonia mailing label are actually in Stonecrest or unincorporated DeKalb, where a different office handles the permit. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lithonia.
Which office permits my water heater replacement?
That depends on where the address actually sits. Inside city limits, the City of Lithonia Building and Permitting Division handles building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, with plan review and inspections. It is at 6920 Main Street (770-482-8136) and takes applications through the city's Citizen Portal. Addresses with a Lithonia mailing address outside city limits go to the City of Stonecrest or DeKalb County instead. Your property tax bill or the city map will tell you which.
What are the signs a Lithonia heater should be replaced?
Water leaking from the tank body, rust-colored hot water, rumbling as the tank heats, and showers that turn cold early are the common ones. A failed thermostat or element on a younger tank can be repaired; a leaking tank cannot. Lithonia is an old granite-quarrying town with a Main Street core ringed by older residential streets, so in-town houses may have heaters in small closets or utility rooms with older valves and vent pipe. In the wider 30058 ZIP, only about 16.3% of houses predate 1980, so most heaters in the surrounding subdivisions are in newer garages or attics.
Who supplies water, and who owns which pipe?
DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management supplies water from the Chattahoochee River, treated at its Scott Candler plant, and handles sewer. DeKalb is responsible from the main through the meter; the owner is responsible from the meter to the house. Main breaks go to DeKalb's 24-hour emergency repair line at 770-270-6243. DeKalb also publishes a Service Line Inventory where you can check your line's material.
Atlanta Gas Light is the expected gas pipe utility, though not confirmed for every ZIP. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from away from the building.
A Lithonia note
If the heater is in an older house near Main Street, ask the plumber whether the gas cock, vent connector and relief line can be reused or should be replaced. Having that in the quote up front avoids surprises after the old tank comes out.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Lithonia
Who issues the permit for a water heater replacement here?
Who fixes a leak between the water meter and the house?
How can I tell how old my current water heater is?
What should I do if I smell gas near the water heater?
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