--- title: Hydronic Heat Pumps date: 2026-08-25T17:20:00+10:00 author: Darren Burch canonical_url: "https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heat-pumps" section: Pages --- ![Stiebel eltron wpl a hydronic heat pump melbourne]() # Hydronic Heat Pumps SóGeo supplies and installs hydronic heat pumps across Melbourne. We install the full Stiebel Eltron WPL air source range, and we are the exclusive Victorian distributor and installer of the Stiebel Eltron WPE geothermal (ground source) range. We design the system, supply the unit, and commission it to deliver a SCOP that typically reaches 5 or higher across the year. One supplier, one install, one point of accountability. ## The hydronic heat pumps we supply A hydronic heat pump is the heat source for a water-based heating and cooling system. It heats water rather than air, then circulates that water through radiators, underfloor pipework or fan-coils. In summer it reverses to cool the home through the same pipes. SóGeo installs the Stiebel Eltron range, a German manufacturer with a long reputation for inverter hydronic heat pumps. ## Stiebel Eltron WPL-A Trend (air source) The WPL-A Trend is the air source hydronic heat pump SóGeo installs on most Melbourne homes. It handles heating, hot water and summer cooling from a single outdoor unit, and runs on eco-friendly R290 refrigerant. Three models cover most residential needs: - **WPL-A Trend 10.2**: 4.26 kW output, COP 5.40, 63 dB(A) - **WPL-A Trend 13.2**: 5.56 kW output, COP 5.36, 66 dB(A) - **WPL-A Trend 17.2**: 7.96 kW output, COP 5.29, 67 dB(A) (Output and COP rated at A7/W35, the standard 7°C air, 35°C flow test condition.) What sets this range apart: - **A+++ energy efficiency class** across all three models - **Inverter technology** that modulates output to the load rather than cycling on and off - **Flow temperatures up to 75°C**, high enough to drive existing radiators in a retrofit, which most heat pumps cannot manage - **R290 (propane) refrigerant**, a natural refrigerant with very low environmental impact - **Smart Grid ready** for connection to solar PV and home energy management - **Made in Germany** The datasheet COP reaches 5.40 at the A7/W35 test point. What matters on your bill is the seasonal figure, the SCOP. A SóGeo install typically delivers a SCOP of 5 or higher across the year, well above the 3.0 to 3.5 industry average. The WPL-A Trend is A+++ rated, and with correct sizing, weather-compensation tuning and proper hydraulic balancing, most of our systems measure 5 and above. For the ground source option, SóGeo installs the Stiebel Eltron WPE geothermal range, and we are the exclusive Victorian distributor and installer of it. Ground source holds a COP of 5 to 7 year-round because ground temperatures stay stable, and the buried pipework lasts 50+ years. See our [ground source heat pumps](https://sogeo.com.au/ground-source-heat-pumps) page for the full picture. ## One team owns the whole job With SóGeo, the same team designs, supplies, installs and commissions your system. We run the heat-loss calculation, size the system to your building, supply the Stiebel Eltron unit, install it, and commission it to hit its SCOP target. This matters more than it sounds. A hydronic heat pump only performs as well as the design behind it. Most underperforming systems trace back to a unit that was sold by one business and installed by another, with nobody owning the final result. SóGeo owns it from the first site visit to the last commissioning check, so the system runs the way it was designed to. That work is backed by Director Darren Burch, who has been installing hydronics for over twenty years, fourteen of those in Australia, drawing on three generations of the trade from Ireland to Melbourne. ## How a hydronic heat pump works The cycle has four steps: 1. A fan draws outdoor air across a coil filled with R290 refrigerant. Even in cold weather, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air. 2. The refrigerant is compressed, which raises its temperature. 3. The hot refrigerant passes through a heat exchanger, transferring its energy into the building water loop. 4. In summer the cycle reverses, pulling heat out of the home and rejecting it outside. Because it moves heat rather than burning fuel to make it, a well-designed unit delivers roughly 4 to 5 units of heat for every unit of electricity. For the deeper detail on the technology, see our [air source heat pumps](https://sogeo.com.au/air-source-heat-pumps) page. ## What it costs to supply and install A straightforward gas boiler to hydronic heat pump swap that retains your existing radiators starts at $15,000. Most projects run higher with home size, scope, hot water integration, and any emitter or insulation upgrades the heat-loss calculation identifies. Larger or new-build systems are quoted from drawings. The full breakdown is in our [cost guide](https://sogeo.com.au/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-switch-from-gas-to-hydronic-heat-pumps). ## Our process Every SóGeo project runs the same way: 1. Site visit and heat-loss calculation, room by room 2. A fixed quote against the design, no estimates and no surprises 3. Supply, install and commission 4. A system that runs the way it was designed for the next twenty years ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a hydronic heat pump? ➕ A hydronic heat pump heats water rather than air, then circulates it through radiators, underfloor pipework or fan-coils. It extracts heat from the outdoor air, so it delivers roughly 4 to 5 units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses. ### What is the difference between a hydronic heat pump and a hydronic boiler? ➕ A boiler burns gas to make heat and tops out near 90% efficiency. A hydronic heat pump moves heat instead of making it, reaching effective efficiency well above 100%. It also runs on electricity, so it can pair with solar. ### Do you supply the heat pump or just install it? ➕ Both. SóGeo supplies the Stiebel Eltron unit and installs it as one job, so there is one point of accountability for the whole system. We install the full WPL air source range, and we are the exclusive Victorian distributor and installer of the Stiebel Eltron WPE geothermal range. ### How efficient is a hydronic heat pump? ➕ A SóGeo install typically delivers a SCOP of 5 or higher across the year, the seasonal average that shows on your bill. The Stiebel WPL-A Trend reaches a COP of 5.40 at the standard test point and is A+++ rated. The industry average install sits at 3.0 to 3.5, which we treat as a poor result. ### Can a hydronic heat pump run my existing radiators? ➕ Often yes. The Stiebel WPL-A Trend reaches flow temperatures of 75°C, high enough to drive existing radiators that older, lower-temperature heat pumps could not. We confirm it against your specific emitters during the heat-loss calculation. ### Are hydronic heat pumps noisy? ➕ No. The outdoor unit runs quietly (63 to 67 dB(A) depending on the model), and because heat is delivered through water rather than forced air, the indoor experience is silent. ### How much does it cost to supply and install? ➕ A straightforward boiler-to-heat-pump swap retaining existing radiators starts at $15,000. Larger or new-build systems are quoted from drawings after a site visit. Get a free quote for your hydronic heat pump at SóGeo. ## Our Partners [ ![Reece](https://sogeo.com.au/uploads/suppliers/_AUTOx96_crop_center-center_none_ns/Reece.png) ](https://www.reece.com.au/) [ ![Stiebel Eltron](https://sogeo.com.au/uploads/suppliers/_AUTOx96_crop_center-center_none_ns/Stiebel-Eltron.png) ](https://www.stiebel-eltron.com.au/) [ ![Mitsubishi](https://sogeo.com.au/uploads/suppliers/_AUTOx96_crop_center-center_none_ns/Mitsubishi.png) ](https://www.mitsubishielectric.com.au/) [ ![Purmo](https://sogeo.com.au/uploads/suppliers/_AUTOx96_crop_center-center_none_ns/Purmo.png) ](https://www.purmo.com/au) [ ![Viessmann](https://sogeo.com.au/uploads/suppliers/_AUTOx96_crop_center-center_none_ns/viessmann_wordmark_rgb_1_vitorange.png) ](https://www.viessmann.com.au/)