Tankless Water Heaters for On-demand Hot Water Supply

Tankless water heaters are a water heater that only heats water when it is required, delivering an on-demand and unlimited supply of domestic hot water (DHW). Tankless water heaters can also come equipped with built-in re-circulation pumps to ensure that you always (or as scheduled) have hot water readily available at your hot water faucets and outlets.

Whether you are looking to reduce your greenhouse gas footprint, lower your utility bills, never run out of hot water mid-way through a shower, or just need to free up precious floor space, BPH Sales has a tankless hot water solution for you!

What is a tankless water heater?

A tankless water heater is a water heater that only heats water when it is required, delivering an on-demand and unlimited supply of DHW. In comparison, a water heater tank maintains a tankful of hot water in a well insulated container but which does have a continuous loss of thermal (heat) energy. Since a tankless water heater does not suffer from this continuous loss of heat (because it is a demand-based supply), tankless hot water heaters are typically a more energy efficient hot water solution for a home.

Tankless water heaters are often also referred to as (but not necessarily completely correctly) On-demand Water Heaters, Tankless Hot Water Heaters, On-demand Hot Water Heaters, or High Efficiency Water Heaters.

Are tankless water heaters efficient?

Yes, definitely! A modern condensing gas tankless water heater can reach thermal efficiencies in the range of 99%!

Additionally, almost all modern condensing gas tankless water heaters are Energy Star rated, the golden standard for home appliance efficiency ratings across Canada and North America.

Why should I consider a tankless water heater?

Tankless water heaters do tend to have higher operating efficiencies than a water heater tank. Additionally, tankless systems can normally be wall-mounted, saving precious floor space in your home.

Probably the largest personal benefits of a tankless water heater is the on-demand, unlimited supply of domestic hot water, something a water heater tank just can’t compete with. A water heater tank eventually empties of hot water and is filled with colder water that is being warmed up, but often not fast enough.

Which tankless water heater is best?

This all depends on what YOU are looking for. Some considerations that will impact what is the best tankless hot water heater include:

• How much domestic hot water supply do you require? Usually provided in GPM or LPM
• Do you require a built-in recirculation pump? Do you WANT a built-in recirculation pump?
• Personal budget considerations
• Availability of local service or spare parts suppliers (not usually a problem for our offered brands, but something to consider)

Overall, our personal favourite (and also our most popular!) tankless water heaters are the Bosch Greentherm tankless heaters, but, these do come at a premium compared to some other quality brands (such as a Navien tankless water heater). So, as we said, there are multiple factors to consider when determining which tankless water heater is best for YOU.

How much does a tankless water heater cost?

The cost of a tankless water heater varies with what you require from it. Options like built-in recirculation pumps or WiFi connectivity can increase the purchase cost, while things like brand and overall product quality also come into consideration.

That being said, we 100%, unequivocally recommend every potential tankless water heater purchaser to invest in a high-quality brand and model, as this will likely save you money over the course of the water heater lifetime. So, although it may hurt a bit more upfront to both upgrade from a water heater tank to a tankless system AS WELL AS investing in a high-end, quality brand, this will definitely save you stress and money in the long term.

Are tankless water heaters worth it?

This is a tough one to answer, as the operating costs of any gas or electric appliance vary drastically across Canada with the variable costs electricity and gas. Tankless water heaters do tend to have a higher upfront cost than a water heater tank, but, over the course of their approximate 10 year lifetime, tankless water heaters will typically have lower overall costs.

Are gas tankless water heaters or electric water heaters better?

This all depends on how we define better! Tankless gas water heaters typically have a longer operating life when operating under normal conditions as compared to an electric on-demand water heater. But they may also come with added maintenance or service activities.

Plus, as always, the decision to go full electric or not also depends on your home and region - is electricity cost efficient? Does your home have a modern electrical system able to hand the high power loads that come with all-electric utilities? So every homeowner needs to consider all these aspects for themselves.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask our team for support - that is what we are here for!

Is a gas water heater or an electric water heater cheaper?

The utility costs, whether gas or electricity, required to operate a hot water heater vary widely across Canada, so this isn't such a straightforward answer. Costs will vary per home, as will installation and commissioning. So every homeowner needs to make this comparison for themselves.

One thing we can say for sure is, buying a cheap water heater upfront may end up costing you more over the lifetime of your system as compared to buying a higher quality product from the start. Plus, you avoid all the stress involved with no hot water when visitors arrive mid-winter.

Of course, our team is always there to help you better understand your options and help determine an optimal solution for your home. Never hesitate to reach out for support!

What sizes of tankless water heaters are available?

We have a selection of the best tankless water heater brands and models available, with sizes ranging from a small home or apartment sizes 3.4 gallons per minute (GPM) up to a large-home sized 5.8 GPM.

Where are tankless water heaters available?

Tankless water heaters are available across Canada!

What are other uses for a tankless water heater?

Aside from dedicated domestic hot water (DHW) supply, tankless water heaters can be used in a variety of applications, a couple of which we have listed below. Please keep in mind that, although tankless water heaters can be used for these applications, there may be a better suited product available; contact our team of hydronics experts if you have questions!

• In-floor heating systems
• Back-up DHW supply for solar or geothermal systems
• Hot water supply for hydronic furnaces
• Back-up hot water heating for hot water heat pumps
• Back-up heating for heat pump systems