Tankless water heaters Calgary
Tankless Water Heater Installation & Repair in Calgary
Unlimited hot water, zero standby energy waste. DHL Mechanical professionally sizes, installs, and services tankless water heaters built to perform through Calgary's coldest months — when incoming water temperatures drop to near freezing.
Quick Facts
Why Tankless Sizing Matters More in Calgary Than Anywhere Else
Most tankless water heater complaints come down to one problem: the unit was undersized for the climate. A unit rated for 8 GPM in Phoenix might only deliver 4 GPM in Calgary during January — because it has to work twice as hard to heat near-freezing incoming water.
Calgary's groundwater temperature drops to approximately 3–4°C in winter. That means your tankless unit must raise the water temperature by roughly 50°C to reach a comfortable 55°C at the tap. A unit sized for milder climates simply can't keep up, resulting in lukewarm water and frustrated homeowners.
DHL Mechanical calculates the required temperature rise and peak flow rate for every installation. We factor in the number of bathrooms, simultaneous fixture use, and Calgary's specific groundwater temperatures to ensure you get consistent hot water — even on the coldest day of the year.
Calgary Groundwater Reality
Most manufacturers publish flow rates at a 35°C rise — not the 50°C+ rise Calgary demands in winter. We size based on real-world Calgary conditions, not spec-sheet numbers.
Tankless Water Heater Services
DHL Mechanical provides complete tankless water heater service — from new installations and tank-to-tankless conversions to annual maintenance and emergency repair.
- New Installation — Properly sized gas tankless units with all venting, gas line upgrades, electrical, permits, and old system disposal included.
- Tank-to-Tankless Conversion — Complete transition from conventional hot water tank to on-demand tankless, including all required infrastructure modifications.
- Annual Descaling & Maintenance — Vinegar flush, filter cleaning, burner inspection, and combustion analysis. Essential for Calgary's hard water.
- Repair & Diagnostics — Error code diagnosis, ignition failure, flow sensor issues, heat exchanger faults, and all other tankless repair needs.
- Recirculation Pump Install — Eliminate the wait for hot water at distant fixtures with a dedicated recirculation loop or integrated pump system.
Pricing Guide
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| New tankless installation (gas) | $3,500 – $5,500 |
| Tank-to-tankless conversion | $4,500 – $6,500 |
| Annual descaling & maintenance | $150 – $250 |
| Diagnostic & repair | From $180 + parts |
| Recirculation pump add-on | $400 – $800 |
All prices include labour, materials, and applicable permits. Exact pricing provided after assessment.
Tankless Water Heater Brands We Install & Service
We install and service all major tankless brands, but we most frequently recommend these three for Calgary homes based on reliability, cold-climate performance, and local parts availability:
Navien NPE-2 Series is our most-installed tankless unit in Calgary. It includes a built-in recirculation pump (eliminating the "cold water sandwich" problem), a stainless steel dual heat exchanger that handles hard water better than copper, and a compact wall-mount design. It's also one of the most energy-efficient units available, with an Energy Factor of 0.96.
For homeowners who prefer Rinnai, the RU199 series is a proven performer with excellent parts availability across Alberta. Noritz offers some of the most compact high-output units on the market, making them ideal for tight mechanical rooms.
See our full brand comparison guide for detailed breakdowns.
Why We Recommend Navien for Most Calgary Homes
- Built-in recirculation pump — no cold water sandwich
- Stainless steel dual heat exchanger — handles Calgary hard water
- 0.96 Energy Factor — top of class efficiency
- 15-year heat exchanger warranty
- Compact wall-mount design
- Strong parts availability in Alberta
Tankless vs. Tank vs. Combi Boiler
Not sure which hot water system is right for your home? Here's how the three main options compare for Calgary conditions.
| Feature | Tankless Water Heater | Traditional Tank | Combi Boiler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Water Supply | Unlimited (on demand) | Limited by tank size | Unlimited (on demand) |
| Energy Efficiency | High (0.90–0.96 EF) | Low–Medium (0.58–0.70 EF) | High (0.90–0.95 AFUE) |
| Provides Space Heating | No | No | Yes (radiant/baseboard) |
| Space Required | Wall-mount, minimal | Floor space for tank | Wall-mount, minimal |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years | 8–12 years | 15–20 years |
| Installed Cost (Calgary) | $3,500–$6,500 | $1,500–$3,000 | $7,500–$10,500 |
| Best For | Homes with furnace heating | Budget-conscious, low usage | Homes needing heat + hot water |
Tankless Water Heater Questions
The most common questions Calgary homeowners ask before switching to tankless.
A professionally installed tankless water heater in Calgary typically costs $3,500–$6,500, depending on the unit selected and installation complexity. Converting from a traditional tank to tankless usually adds $500–$1,500 for gas line upgrades, venting modifications, and electrical work. Every DHL Mechanical quote includes the unit, installation, permits, and disposal of your old system.
Yes, but sizing is critical. Calgary's groundwater drops to approximately 3–4°C in winter, meaning the unit must raise water temperature by roughly 50°C to reach 55°C at the tap. A unit that performs well in Vancouver or Toronto may underperform in Calgary. DHL Mechanical calculates the required temperature rise and flow rate for every installation to ensure consistent hot water delivery even in the coldest months.
Annual descaling is required in Calgary due to the city's hard water (11–15 grains per gallon). Without annual flushing, mineral scale builds up inside the heat exchanger, reducing efficiency and eventually causing error codes and shutdowns. DHL Mechanical's annual maintenance includes a full vinegar flush, filter cleaning, burner inspection, and combustion analysis.
For Calgary homes, we most commonly install Navien (excellent value, built-in recirculation pump on NPE series), Rinnai (proven reliability, strong parts availability), and Noritz (compact design, strong cold-climate performance). The best brand depends on your household size, number of fixtures, and budget.
If you only need hot water (your home has a furnace for heating), a tankless water heater is the right choice. If you need both hot water and hydronic heating from a single unit (radiant floors or baseboard radiators), a combi boiler is the better option. DHL Mechanical can assess your home and recommend the right system.
Yes. Calgary requires permits for gas appliance installations. DHL Mechanical handles all permit applications, scheduling, and inspections as part of our standard installation price — you simply need to be home to let the inspector verify the work.
Yes, when properly sized. A single high-output gas tankless unit (199,000 BTU) can typically supply 2–3 simultaneous fixtures in Calgary's winter conditions. For larger homes with 4+ bathrooms or simultaneous heavy use, we may recommend a higher-capacity unit or a parallel configuration. Proper sizing prevents the lukewarm water complaints that give tankless units a bad reputation.