Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection

VIEW REPORT ON GAS APPLIANCES   This report by the Montgomery County Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection was undertaken at the request of the County’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) after a joint investigation by OCP and WSSC discovered that out of more than 3,000 gas appliance installations from 2010 and 2011 in Montgomery County by six large retailers and one installer subcontractor for a large retailer, more than two thirds had either not been properly inspected following installation or had been installed by unlicensed individuals.  Under the “Plumbing and Fuel Gas Code” for Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, it is against the law for anyone other than WSSC-licensed plumbers/gas fitters to install gas appliances, including water heaters, dryers,  heating systems and stoves.  All such appliances must then be inspected by WSSC within 5 days of installation.  After reviewing comments from consumers, retailers, Fire and Rescue Services and WSSC, the Advisory Committee made seven independent recommendations which are contained in the report.