Choosing a Water Heater for Your Home
Your next water heater will probably live in your basement for a good many years. Choose it on purpose.
- Plain steps you can follow before calling
- What to check, what to leave alone
- When the job needs a plumber
- Milton water, weather and housing in mind
- Licensed plumbing trade
- Booked around your day
- Price agreed before work
- Phone only, no forms
2 minute read
Written for Milton homeowners doing the first look themselves.
Have handy
- Flashlight and a bucket
- Rags or old towels
- Your main shut-off located
Stop and call when
A ceiling is dripping, a drain is pushing sewage back up, or you smell gas.
The short version
Most Milton homes choose between a gas tank, an electric tank and a gas tankless unit. Tanks store hot water and are simpler. Tankless units heat on demand and never run out, but they cost more up front and need good gas supply and venting. Size the unit to your household's peak use, not to the average day. Also decide whether to buy or rent, since many Ontario homes rent their heater.
The routine, in order
- Count your peak demand. Picture your worst morning, with showers back to back while the dishwasher and washer both run all at once.
- Check the fuel. If you have natural gas, a gas tank or tankless unit is common. Without it, electric is the default.
- Look at venting. Older chimney-vented heaters may not be compatible with newer furnaces. Power-vented and high-efficiency units vent through a side wall with plastic pipe.
- Measure the space. Townhome mechanical rooms can be tight. Larger tanks may not fit.
- Consider your water. Hard water shortens the life of both tanks and tankless units. Our hard water pamphlet explains why. If scale is heavy, plan for treatment or regular flushing.
- Compare ownership. Buying means you own the equipment. Renting spreads the cost, but read the agreement terms, buyout schedules and removal conditions carefully.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing on the sticker price alone. Operating costs, maintenance and lifespan matter more over the years.
- Undersizing to save money, then running out of hot water every morning.
- Going tankless without checking that the gas line can supply it.
- Ignoring the rental contract fine print before switching to an owned unit.
- Letting an unlicensed installer handle gas work. Gas appliance installation in Ontario requires a licensed gas technician.
Low pressure? A new heater will not fix it. If hot water runs weakly from every tap, read our low water pressure guide first.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is the warranty on the tank, and on the parts?
- Does the quote include removal of the old unit and any venting changes?
- Will the installer handle the gas connection and any permit required?
- For a rental, what are the buyout terms and the removal charges if I switch later?
- What maintenance does the unit need, and how often?
Write the answers down. They will be useful years from now, when you have forgotten who installed it.
When to ring the shop
Call us for help sizing, for a look at your venting and gas supply, or when your current heater is leaking and the decision has suddenly become urgent. We install across Milton, including newer areas such as Derry Green. If you are also replacing old fixtures, our toilet repair page covers that side of the house.
Questions we get asked
Is tankless always better?
No. Tankless suits homes with steady, high demand and good gas supply. A standard tank is simpler and often perfectly adequate.
How long do water heaters last?
It varies with water quality, maintenance and model. Hard water and no maintenance shorten life noticeably.