Is tankless right for your house?
Tankless units suit households that run out of hot water from a tank, or that want floor space back in a finishing basement. They deliver a steady flow rather than a stored volume, so the question is how many litres per minute you need at once. Two showers and a dishwasher running together is a very different load from one shower.
- Gas line size and meter capacity must support a high-input burner.
- Venting usually exits through a side wall in plastic pipe, with clearances to windows and the gas meter.
- A condensate line is needed on high-efficiency units, with a neutralizer where required.
- Our cold groundwater in winter means the unit must lift temperature a long way.
What installation involves
- We measure the gas line run and confirm the pipe size from the meter can feed the new appliance alongside the furnace and stove.
- We empty and haul out the old cylinder, then seal or resize the chimney connection if the furnace still uses it.
- The unit is mounted, vented to the outside and connected to a condensate drain.
- Isolation valves with service ports are fitted on hot and cold lines so the heat exchanger can be flushed later.
- We fire the unit, check combustion and set the outlet temperature.
Riding along on the truck
- Drain hose and pump for emptying the tank.
- Combustion and draft test tools for gas units.
- New T&P relief valve and discharge pipe.
- Dielectric unions and copper or PEX connectors.
- Descaling pump and solution for tankless units.
Gas work and permits
In this province, only a certified gas fitter may connect the appliance, under rules administered by the TSSA. Ask any installer to confirm their certification. Our page on gas line installation covers supply pipe changes.
| Item | Tank | Tankless |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water supply | Stored volume | Continuous flow |
| Space | Floor footprint | Wall mounted |
| Maintenance | Drain sediment | Descale the heat exchanger |
Looking after it
Our local supply carries enough minerals to crust the exchanger over time. See tankless descaling and our comparison guide, tank or tankless.
Markham note: village-core houses tend to hide cast iron and galvanized behind plaster, while Cornell and Box Grove builds run PEX to a manifold. We ask the year your house was built so the right fittings ride along on the truck.
Straight from the phone log
Will hot water take longer to reach the tap?
A few seconds more in certain layouts, because the burner has to ignite first. A recirculation option can shorten the wait.
What happens in a blackout?
Their fans and circuit boards need power, so they shut down with the grid.
Ready to get it fixed?
One call, a clear explanation, and work finished tidily before we leave.