--- title: "Hydronic Heating & Cooling Specialists, Melbourne" date: 2025-02-12T17:18:00+11:00 author: Geoff Pennington canonical_url: "https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling" section: Pages --- ![Hydronic Radiators]() # Hydronic Heating & Cooling Specialists, Melbourne SóGeo designs and installs hydronic heating and cooling systems across Melbourne - [radiator](/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-radiators-stylish-energy-efficient-heating-for-your-home), [underfloor](/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-heating-comfort-efficiency) and fan-coil systems powered by [air-source](/air-source-heat-pumps) and [ground-source heat pumps](/ground-source-heat-pumps). Director Darren Burch has been installing hydronics for over twenty years, fourteen of those years in Australia, drawing on three generations of hydronic experience from Ireland. Every install begins with a site visit and heat-loss calculation, then a fixed quote - no estimates, no surprises. Installs start at [$15,000 for a straightforward boiler-to-heat-pump swap](/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-switch-from-gas-to-hydronic-heat-pumps) retaining existing radiators; most installs run higher with home size, scope, hot water integration and any emitter or insulation upgrades the heat-loss calculation identifies. Larger or new-build hydronic systems are quoted from drawings. ## What is hydronic heating? Hydronic heating delivers heat through water, not air. A heat pump warms water to between 35 and 55 degrees, then circulates it through pipes to radiators, underfloor coils or fan-coils that release the heat into your home. The room temperature rises gently, evenly, and without the dust, noise or dryness of forced-air systems. In summer the same water-based pipework runs cool water through underfloor coils and fan-coils, providing radiant cooling and silent dehumidification. One system handles both seasons, with no separate air conditioner needed. ## Three ways to deliver the heat (and cooling) How the water-based heat reaches each room is a design decision driven by the building, the budget, and how the space will be used. SóGeo installs three emitter types across Melbourne. [**Hydronic radiators**](/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-radiators-stylish-energy-efficient-heating-for-your-home) are the workhorse of European hydronic systems. They suit retrofit installs where existing radiators can be reused, period homes where wall-mounted heat looks right, and any project where future flexibility matters. Modern designer panels look nothing like the cast-iron radiators most people picture. [**Underfloor heating**](/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-heating-comfort-efficiency) hides the entire system in the slab or screed. The floor itself becomes the emitter, giving even radiant warmth and a clean architectural finish. Best fit for new builds, slab extensions, and renovations where the floor is being replaced anyway. [**Underfloor cooling**](/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-cooling-efficient-comfort-for-your-home) uses the same pipework as underfloor heating, just with cooler water in summer. It works beautifully alongside ventilation systems and is the only way to get silent, draft-free radiant cooling. Best paired with underfloor heating from day one. Most SóGeo installs combine emitter types. A typical Melbourne family home might run underfloor heating downstairs (open plan kitchen, living, bathrooms) and panel radiators upstairs (bedrooms), with the same heat pump powering both zones independently. ## Two ways to generate the heat The heat source matters as much as the emitter. SóGeo installs two heat pump types. [**Air source heat pumps**](/air-source-heat-pumps) sit outside the building, extracting thermal energy from outdoor air. Lower upfront cost, faster install, and a strong fit for most Melbourne homes. A correctly designed SóGeo air-source install delivers a minimum SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) of 4 across the year. This is the path most homeowners take. [**Ground source heat pumps**](/ground-source-heat-pumps) draw thermal energy from the ground instead of the air. Higher upfront cost because of the drilling work, but the running cost is lower because ground temperatures stay stable year-round. COP holds at 4 to 7 even in heatwaves, and the buried pipework lasts 50+ years. This is the path for new builds, premium homes, and any project where decades of low running cost beats the upfront premium. ## Performance in the Melbourne climate Melbourne is a near-ideal climate for hydronic heat pumps. Cold winters where the system runs heating, hot summers where it runs cooling, and a long shoulder season where weather-compensated control delivers its biggest gains. A SóGeo air-source install holds SCOP 4 to 5 across a typical year. A ground-source install holds COP 4 to 7. The market average for ASHP installs sits at SCOP 3.0 to 3.5. We treat that as a poor result, not a benchmark. The gap between average and SCOP 4 is design discipline: correct sizing against the heat-loss calculation, weather-compensation control tuning, and proper hydraulic balancing. The equipment is the same. The design decides the SCOP. ## Why the design matters more than the brand Any installer can buy a Stiebel Eltron heat pump. What they cannot buy is twenty years of figuring out how to make it run at SCOP 4+ across a Melbourne winter. Every SóGeo project starts the same way: a site visit, a full heat-loss calculation room by room, then a fixed quote against the design. No surprises after the contract is signed. The system runs the way it was designed for the next twenty years. Weather-compensated control is the SóGeo brand pillar. The system continuously adjusts flow temperature based on outdoor conditions. Lower flow temperature means higher COP, which means the heat pump runs longer at part load and the customer pays less. Most installers do not bother to commission this correctly. We always do. [ ![Hydronic Underfloor Cooling System]() ](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-cooling-efficient-comfort-for-your-home)### [Hydronic Underfloor Cooling: Efficient Comfort for Your Home](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-cooling-efficient-comfort-for-your-home) Learn about hydronic underfloor cooling systems. Efficient, eco-friendly cooling that complements your existing cooling system for maximum comfort for Melbourne homes and businesses [Continue reading](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-cooling-efficient-comfort-for-your-home) [ ![Hydronic In-screed Underfloor Heating System in Melbourne]() ](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-heating-comfort-efficiency)### [Hydronic Underfloor Heating in Melbourne: Ultimate Comfort & Efficiency](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-heating-comfort-efficiency) Hydronic underfloor heating provides even, energy-efficient warmth by circulating warm water through pipes installed beneath the floor. It’s ideal for those looking for consistent comfort, energy savings, and a clean aesthetic with no visible heat emitters. [Continue reading](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-underfloor-heating-comfort-efficiency) [ ![Hydronic Radiators]() ](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-radiators-stylish-energy-efficient-heating-for-your-home)### [Hydronic Radiators Melbourne – Stylish & Efficient Heating | SóGeo](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-radiators-stylish-energy-efficient-heating-for-your-home) Hydronic radiators are especially popular in Melbourne’s existing homes and retrofits, as they can be added to older houses without major renovations [Continue reading](https://sogeo.com.au/hydronic-heating-cooling/hydronic-radiators-stylish-energy-efficient-heating-for-your-home) ## Frequently asked questions about hydronic heating in Melbourne ### What is hydronic heating? ➕ Hydronic heating is a system that uses heated water — not heated air — to warm a home. A central heat pump (or boiler in older systems) heats water and pumps it through pipework to emitters: panel radiators on walls, underfloor pipework, or fan-coil units. The water releases its heat into each room, then returns to the heat pump to be reheated. Compared with ducted reverse-cycle air systems, hydronic heating is silent, allergen-free, and delivers radiant warmth that holds for hours after the system cycles off. ### How much does hydronic heating cost in Melbourne? ➕ Installs start at $15,000 for a straightforward boiler-to-heat-pump swap retaining existing radiators. Most installs run higher with home size, scope, hot water integration, emitter sizing, and any radiator or insulation upgrades the heat-loss calculation identifies. Larger or new-build hydronic systems are quoted from drawings - submit your plans for a design and fixed quote. SóGeo provides a fixed quote after a site visit and heat-loss calculation. See our [**cost guide**](https://sogeo.com.au/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-switch-from-gas-to-hydronic-heat-pumps) for full pricing detail. ### Is hydronic heating worth it for a Melbourne home? ➕ For most Melbourne homes upgrading from ducted gas or a failing gas boiler, yes. Hydronic heat pumps run on electricity at a coefficient of performance of three to five (three to five units of heat delivered per unit of electricity), which is meaningfully cheaper to run than gas at current Victorian tariffs. The thermal mass of a hydronic system also keeps Melbourne homes comfortable through long cold spells without the constant on-off cycling of ducted reverse-cycle. The trade-off is upfront cost, hydronic installs are a larger initial investment than a ducted split system. ### How long does a SóGeo hydronic system last? ➕ A correctly specified hydronic heat pump system is engineered for 20+ years of service. The heat pump itself runs 15 to 20 years with annual maintenance; ground loops on a geothermal system are designed for 50+ years. The hydronic piping inside the house, copper or multilayer composite typically outlives the equipment. Heat-loss calculation and weather-compensation control extend equipment life by reducing cycling. ### Can SóGeo service or replace my existing hydronic system? ➕ Yes, SóGeo provides hydronic heating service across Melbourne for existing systems, including [**boiler replacements**](https://sogeo.com.au/replace-gas-boiler-hydronic-heat-pump), heat pump retrofits, power flushing, and emitter upgrades. The most common request we see is a gas boiler nearing end of life: we remove the boiler, install a hydronic heat pump in its place, and retain the existing radiators wherever they are correctly sized. Fixed-price quote provided after a site visit. ### Can SóGeo replace my existing gas boiler with a hydronic heat pump? ➕ Yes, this is one of SóGeo’s most common installs. We can retain your existing radiators where they are correctly sized for heat-pump flow temperatures (typically 45 to 55°C), and upsize them where the heat-loss calculation says they need it. The pipework, valves and zoning generally stay; the [**gas boiler comes out** ](https://sogeo.com.au/replace-gas-boiler-hydronic-heat-pump)and an electric heat pump goes in its place. Fixed-price quote provided after the site visit. ## 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/)