Expert Boiler Installation in Calgary

It depends on the boiler tier, the output your home actually needs, and what's already in your mechanical room — and we won't quote it over the phone, because a number given sight-unseen is a number that changes on install day.

The main variables: the unit itself (entry-tier single-stage condensing through premium modulating), whether it's a straight swap or a re-pipe, whether your gas line needs upsizing, whether the old chimney can be re-used or a new vent has to be cut, and whether you're pairing an indirect-fired tank or going combi.

We come out, run the heat-loss calc, and give you the model, the AFUE rating, the full scope, and the all-in price in writing at no charge. Financeit monthly payments are available to spread the cost.

Most boiler installations take 6-10 hours for a straight replacement, or 1-2 days for complex installations with new piping or electrical work. Calgary's older homes often need additional work like upgrading gas lines or installing new venting systems. We'll give you an accurate timeline after assessing your specific installation requirements.

Boiler sizing depends on your home's square footage, insulation levels, ceiling heights, and Calgary's −35°C design temperature. Most Calgary homes need 20-30 BTU per square foot, but older homes with poor insulation may need more. We perform proper Manual J heat-loss calculations instead of just matching your old boiler's size, which may have been wrong to begin with.

Yes, in nearly every case. Condensing boilers extract extra heat from exhaust gases, achieving 90-95% efficiency compared to 80-85% for standard units.

Calgary's heating season runs roughly October through April, so that efficiency gap is working in your favour for most of the year. On a typical home the gas savings pay back the install premium well inside the boiler's service life, and the unit keeps running long after it's paid for itself.

The only times non-condensing makes sense: a temporary install (selling the home soon), or a mechanical room where condensate drainage genuinely can't be routed.

A furnace heats air and pushes it through ducts. A boiler heats water and pumps it through pipes to radiators, baseboards, or in-floor radiant loops.

Boilers deliver more even heat (no temperature swings between cycles), are quieter, and pair naturally with hydronic radiant systems and indirect-fired domestic hot water. Furnaces are simpler, work with AC integration, and cost less upfront.

Most Calgary homes built before the 1990s with radiators or baseboards already have boilers and benefit from staying on the same system rather than converting.

Yes, but it's a major project — and it costs many times what a straight boiler replacement does. Converting means installing a full hydronic distribution system (pipes, radiators or in-floor tubing, pump, expansion tank) on top of the new boiler itself. In-floor radiant runs considerably higher than radiators, because the floors have to come up.

Most conversions only pencil out during a major renovation where the floors are already open. If you're considering it, we'll do an honest assessment of whether the comfort and efficiency gain justifies the cost, and we'll tell you if it doesn't.

Modern condensing boilers installed and maintained properly last 18-22 years on average in Calgary. Cast iron non-condensing units can run 25-30 years.

The biggest factors in longevity: annual boiler service (combustion check, condensate trap clean, expansion tank verification), water quality (a water softener upstream extends heat exchanger life), and not running at extreme low-load operation that causes excess condensation cycles.

Yes, we install boilers year-round, including during Calgary's coldest months. Winter installations require extra care to prevent pipes from freezing during the changeover, but our technicians carry freeze-protection equipment and work quickly to minimise downtime. Emergency winter installations typically take longer due to weather precautions.

Yes, boiler installations in Calgary require a gas permit and inspection. FlameTech handles all permit applications and city inspections as part of our installation service. We know Calgary's inspection requirements and schedule inspections to avoid delays in getting your system operational.