Tankless water heaters need electricity to operate, even the gas-fired models — the electronics control ignition, flow sensing, and modulation, so a power outage means no hot water regardless of gas supply.
Tell us what you need—we’ll call you back fast.
Quick answer: Yes — even "tankless" gas water heaters need electricity. Unlike old-style tank heaters with a standing pilot light, modern tankless units use an electronic control board, igniter, and sensors to detect water flow and fire the burner safely. In a power outage, a gas tankless unit will not produce hot water, and an electric tankless unit obviously needs power to run at all.
Need this looked at now? Call (604) 359-1081 or request a free quote.
Most tankless water heaters installed in Metro Vancouver homes are gas-fired, but that doesn't make them electricity-free. Unlike an old tank-style heater with a standing pilot light that burns continuously, a tankless unit has no pilot to keep it running. Instead, it relies on a printed circuit board, a flow sensor, an igniter, and often a small fan to manage combustion air and venting. When you open a hot tap, the flow sensor detects water movement, the board fires the electronic igniter, and the gas valve opens in a precisely controlled sequence. None of that happens without power.
This is actually part of what makes tankless units more efficient than tank heaters — the electronics let the burner modulate output to match demand instead of constantly reheating a stored tank. The tradeoff is that the unit is a small computer as much as it is a water heater, and computers need electricity.
It helps to separate the two types homeowners in our area typically consider.
| Type | Needs gas line? | Needs electricity? | What power is used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas tankless | Yes (natural gas or propane) | Yes, low-voltage | Ignition, flow sensing, exhaust fan, digital display/controls |
| Electric tankless | No | Yes, high-voltage (often a dedicated circuit) | Heating the water directly with electric elements |
A gas tankless unit uses electricity only to run its controls and combustion fan — the actual heat comes from burning gas, so the electrical draw is relatively small, similar to a furnace's control board. An electric tankless unit is a different animal: it needs enough amperage to heat water on demand, which usually means a dedicated high-amp circuit and sometimes a panel upgrade. Given BC Hydro rates and the older electrical panels common in many Metro Vancouver homes, most of our tankless installs are gas-fired for that reason, but both types require a properly wired, code-compliant electrical connection either way.
Metro Vancouver sees its share of winter windstorm outages, and this is the question we hear most from homeowners who just switched from a tank heater. If the power goes out, a standard gas tankless unit will not produce hot water, even though the gas supply is unaffected. The control board can't fire the igniter or run the fan without electricity, so the unit simply shuts down and waits.
This surprises people coming from an older tank heater with a standing pilot, which could often keep heating through a power outage. It's a genuine tradeoff of the technology. Some tankless models offer a battery-backup ignition option or can be paired with a home battery/generator, which is worth discussing at quote time if outage resilience matters to your household — for example if someone in the home has medical needs tied to hot water access.
A licensed CANRO technician can diagnose it accurately — same-day response across Metro Vancouver.
📞 (604) 359-1081 Request a free quoteIf your tankless unit stops producing hot water, a few things are safe to check yourself before calling in a professional.
What should NOT be attempted without a licensed technician: opening the unit's control panel, working on the gas valve or gas line, replacing the circuit board, altering the venting, or adding a new dedicated circuit for the heater. Under BC law, gas work requires a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter, and electrical work on a dedicated circuit requires a licensed electrician. This isn't just red tape — a mis-set gas valve or a poorly sealed vent on a combustion appliance is a genuine carbon monoxide risk.
When one of our Red Seal certified technicians comes out for a tankless issue, the visit typically includes checking the error code history on the control board, testing the flow sensor and igniter, inspecting the venting for blockage or improper slope, and verifying gas pressure at the unit. For hard water areas common across Metro Vancouver, we'll often also check for mineral scale buildup on the heat exchanger, since that's a frequent cause of intermittent shutdowns that can look like an electrical fault but isn't.
For a new tankless installation, expect a technician to size the unit to your home's fixture count and simultaneous demand, evaluate whether your existing gas line and vent run are adequate, and confirm the electrical connection meets code. Tankless water heater installation in Metro Vancouver typically runs in the $3,500-$7,500 range installed, with the exact price depending on venting complexity, gas line sizing, and whether electrical work is needed. We provide a free written quote after an on-site assessment rather than a phone estimate, since venting and gas line factors vary a lot house to house — especially in older housing stock and condos with tighter mechanical rooms.
Technical Safety BC requires a permit for gas water heater installation and replacement, and that permit work must be pulled by a licensed contractor — this protects you as the homeowner since it means the installation gets inspected against current code. On the incentive side, the federal Canada Greener Homes grant closed to new applicants in early 2024, but the Canada Greener Homes Loan (interest-free, up to $40,000) may still apply toward eligible efficiency upgrades, and the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program exists for homes transitioning off oil heat. CleanBC, BC Hydro, and FortisBC also run rebate programs that shift from time to time. Because program details and amounts change, we confirm exactly what you currently qualify for at the time we provide your written quote rather than quoting a number that may be outdated.
⚠️ Safety note: Never attempt to bypass a tankless unit's electronic controls or run a jumper to force ignition without power — this can defeat built-in safety shutoffs for gas pressure, flame sensing, and venting, creating a carbon monoxide risk. If you ever smell gas near your water heater, leave the home immediately, do not operate switches, and call FortisBC's emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 from outside. Any wiring, gas line, or venting work on a tankless unit must be done by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas fitter and, where applicable, a licensed electrician — this is a BC code requirement, not just a best practice.
Family-run, upfront pricing, rebates and financing handled for you.
📞 (604) 359-1081 Request a free quoteReviewed by the CANRO Heating & Cooling service team — July 07, 2026. CANRO holds Technical Safety BC gas licence LGA0043870 and boiler licence LBP0046450, employs Red Seal certified technicians, and carries WorkSafeBC and liability insurance. 4.9★ from 85+ Google reviews · serving Metro Vancouver since 1999 · (604) 359-1081 · info@canroheat.ca.
“Canro does an amazing job! Super professional and skilled with everything—boilers, furnaces, and AC. Always a pleasure working with them!”
“Five stars for Canro. We needed a replacement of a 30-year-old boiler. A new high-efficiency unit was installed—clean, professional work.”
“I can’t speak highly enough about George, who was recommended for a boiler service call for my parents’ home. George is excellent.”
25+ years keeping Metro Vancouver homes comfortable. Honest advice, upfront pricing, work that lasts.