Is tankless right for your home?
A tankless (on-demand) water heater heats water as it flows instead of keeping 50 gallons hot all day. Done right, it means you don't run out of hot water, it frees up floor space, and it can last 15–20 years. Done wrong, it means lukewarm showers in January and error codes.
Tankless is usually a great fit if:
- Your family runs out of hot water with a tank.
- You're finishing the basement and want the space back.
- You plan to stay in the home long enough for the longer lifespan to pay off.
It may not be the best value if your current gas line would need a long, expensive upgrade, or if your hot water use is low.
Sizing for Edmonton is everything
A tankless heater is rated by how many degrees it can raise the water at a given flow. In Edmonton, incoming water in winter can be just a few degrees above freezing, so the heater has to raise it by roughly 40–45 °C for a hot shower. Many units that are fine in Vancouver can only run one shower at a time here in February.
We size using winter inlet temperatures and your real peak use (for example, two showers and the dishwasher at once), which usually means a high-input unit around 180,000–199,000 BTU for a typical family home.
Gas line and venting
A high-input tankless unit needs far more gas than a tank. Many Edmonton homes need a larger gas line from the meter or manifold. Our licensed gasfitters size the gas piping for every appliance in the house, and we include this in the quote upfront instead of discovering it on install day. Venting is usually PVC through a side wall, kept clear of windows, decks and snow lines.
Hard water and maintenance
Edmonton's hard water is the main enemy of tankless heaters. Scale builds up in the heat exchanger and leads to error codes, reduced flow and early failure. We install isolation valves so the unit can be flushed easily, and recommend annual descaling, or a water softener to protect the unit long-term.