Blog:Sept16 2025 By James C

The Best Water Heater System for Your Home in 2025? It Depends.

From Calgary’s Only Plumbing Advocate

When it comes to choosing a water heater in 2025, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. Plumbers, HVAC salespeople, and even influencers will often push tankless systems as the “best” option — but the truth is: the best water heater system is the one that fits your home’s design, usage needs, and your willingness to do ongoing maintenance.

This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a reality check from someone who installs, repairs, and maintains every type of water heating system you’ve heard of — and probably a few you haven’t.

⚖️ Tankless vs Tank: The Real Cost of Ownership

Tankless Systems

• High efficiency, yes.
  
  

• Endless hot water? Absolutely.
  
  

• But low maintenance? Not even close.
  
  

A well-installed tankless system (like a Navien NPE 240A) can last 20–25 years, but you’ll likely spend ~$6,400 over its lifespan on:

• Heat exchangers
  
  

• Flow sensors
  
  

• Pumps
  
  

• Annual service calls
  
  

• Descaling
  
  

• And many frustrating part failures just after warranty expires.
  
  

Assume $400/year in plumber visits unless you’re willing to handle annual maintenance yourself — and that’s assuming you're still under warranty on major components.

Standard Tank-Style Water Heaters

Take a Bradford White atmospheric or direct vent units, for example. It may only last 8–12 years, but:

• Minimal maintenance (flush a few gallons once a year)
  
  

• Easy to service, (vacuum  out burner once every 3-5 years and clean flame sensor)
  
  

• Lower upfront cost
  
  

• And best of all — you don’t need a factory tech degree to understand how it works.
  
  

If one fails, you replace it. No sensors, no error codes, no recirculation valves to fail in the middle of a cold snap.

🧠 What Do We Recommend at Champion Plumbing?

Our honest answer:

Replace what’s already there(Direct replacement)… unless you’re renovating.

Most residential plumbing systems are built around a specific style of water heater. Trying to shoehorn a tankless system into a tank setup (or vice versa) often creates a mismatch in venting, drainage, flow rate, or control logic. That’s where plumbing gets expensive — and sometimes wasteful.

If you are renovating, talk to your plumber about designing your system from the ground up. For larger homes, we’ve installed tandem tankless systems — two tankless units working together or independently. It’s not cheap, but you’ll never be without hot water. For a standard home we maily recommend doign with a high-output power direct vent tank unit. Lots of water, quick recovery and much less maintenance. 

🔥 Real-World Examples: What We’d Install

In our own Calgary bungalow?

A high-output natural gas tank with an external recirculation line.
Yes, we run out of hot water sometimes — but a 50-gallon tank recovers fast. It’s not a problem. If anything, it helps signal to the kids: “Shower’s over, time for bed.”

Two-story home?

Same idea, just add that recirculation line to reduce wait times at distant fixtures.

Infloor heat or snow melt system?

Go big — combi tank meant for combination heating connected to a Tamas panel.
Set your domestic water mixing valve to 125–140°F, crank the tank to 160°F, and dial in your system design temp for the floor.
The bigger you go, the more maintenance you'll need.  Go to a full on boiler with indirect tank you'll be doing annual maintenance. 

🚿 What About “Endless Hot Water”?

Tankless systems absolutely shine here. Want to fill a deep soaker tub slowly over an hour while sipping wine? A tankless unit will deliver — just don’t be shocked by your gas bill.

But here’s something most plumbers won’t tell you:
Many modern tankless systems come with built-in recirculation pumps and buffer tanks. These features solve the dreaded “water sandwich” — when hot water starts, turns cold, then gets hot again. It happens because the heat exchanger needs a few seconds to catch up. A good Navien “A” model solves this with built-in smart recirculation. You save water and time.

💡 A Final Word About Maintenance & Manuals

Before you commit to a tankless system, do this:

1. Visit the brand’s website
   
   

2. Download the user manual
   
   

3. Read the maintenance and troubleshooting sections
   
   

If you’re comfortable doing the descaling, cleaning filters, and replacing sensors — great! If not, budget accordingly. Some Calgary plumbers charge $300–$800 per visit for annual servicing.

Here’s a blunt truth:

The plumbing industry profits from complexity. Simpler systems get you hot water — not a service plan.

✅ In Summary: What’s the Best Water Heater System in 2025?

• For simplicity, low cost, and low maintenance:
  A high-output tank system with a recirculation line is tough to beat.
  
  

• For flexibility, endless hot water, or custom hydronic design:
  Tankless or combi systems can be incredible — if your system supports it.
  
  

• Most importantly:
  Talk to your plumber. Design the system around your home — not around a trend!
  
  

Have questions? Reach out to James at Champion Plumbing — Calgary’s only Plumbing Advocate. We’ll give you honest advice, no pressure, and no 24/7 fear tactics. Just real solutions that work.