Underfloor heating
Coordinate the floor build-up
Check room heat loss, slab or screed construction, insulation, floor finish and circuit layout. These determine the floor output and water temperature the heat source needs to provide.
Hydronic heat pumps
Heat Pumps for Hydronic Heating in Sydney & NSW
Air-to-water heat pumps selected around your building, underfloor heating or radiators. SmartHeat coordinates system design, equipment supply and installation for Sydney and NSW projects.
Air-to-water hydronic sources
Underfloor and radiator system planning
Sydney and NSW project support
Design, supply and installation coordination
Hydronic heat source selection
The heat pump must match the hydronic system it serves.
An air-to-water heat pump transfers heat from outdoor air into water. In a hydronic heating system, this water circulates through underfloor pipes or radiators, which release heat into the rooms. Pipework carries the water around the system, while controls regulate the temperature.
Selecting a heat pump for hydronic heating starts with the building heat load and the water temperature needed by the underfloor heating or radiators. The model must be checked against those requirements at the project's local outdoor conditions.
SmartHeat's project services cover system design, equipment selection and supply, installation coordination, commissioning and handover. The agreed scope depends on the building, project stage and support required.
Choose by application
Space heating and household hot water are different jobs.
A hydronic heating heat pump serves the water circuit that heats rooms. A domestic hot water heat pump is selected around water used at taps and showers, storage and recovery. A hot water unit should not be assumed suitable for a space-heating circuit. Where one system is intended to serve both, the selected equipment, separate loads, storage and control priorities must be checked together.
Start with the complete hydronic heating system, then choose a heat source that suits the way each room will be heated. Review the floor construction for hydronic underfloor heating or the room output requirements for hydronic radiators and towel rails before selecting the heat pump.
Building and heating system design
Match the heat pump to the building, floors and radiators.
The building's heating needs and the underfloor heating or radiators set the conditions the heat pump must meet. Review these before choosing a model or committing to pipework and plant locations.
Radiator heating
Check output at the design temperature
Each radiator must meet its room load at the proposed flow and return temperatures. Existing radiator sizes and output ratings need review when the heat source or operating temperature changes.
New buildings
Resolve the system before construction
Coordinate heat loads, underfloor zones, manifold locations, plant space, electrical supply and controls with the drawings before slab, screed and service routes are finalised.
Existing buildings
Assess the existing circuit
Review the current heat source, underfloor heating or radiators, pipework, controls, insulation and available installation space. A boiler replacement may also require changes to the heating circuit; compatibility must be assessed for the project.
Information for your project review
What to send before equipment selection.
Share the information you have now. The technical review establishes the missing design details before the final heat pump and system components are selected.
- 01
Describe the building
Provide the suburb or NSW location, new-build or renovation stage, building use, rooms to be heated, insulation and glazing information, and any heat-load calculations.
- 02
Share plans and floor details
Send floor plans, room dimensions, slab or screed details, floor finishes and proposed zones where available. Identify whether the system uses underfloor heating, radiators or both.
- 03
Record existing equipment
For an upgrade, include the boiler or heat-source model, radiator sizes, known operating temperatures, pipework, pumps, tanks and controls. Equipment photos can help explain the current arrangement.
- 04
Identify site constraints
Show the available plant area, access and pipe routes, known power supply, construction timing and any separate hot water or cooling requirements for assessment.
Technical planning
Water temperature and load drive the final selection.
The heating circuit defines the duty. The selected model's technical data must then be checked for the required capacity, water temperature and local climate.
- Floor heating and radiator output
- Confirm that floors and radiators can meet the room loads at the planned water temperatures. Systems combining underfloor heating and radiators also need their temperature and zoning requirements coordinated.
- Model and climate
- Check the manufacturer's capacity and operating limits at the design outdoor and water temperatures. Cooling or combined hot water capability must be confirmed for the particular model and system.
- Hydraulics and controls
- Review circulation pumps, valves, manifolds, buffer or storage requirements and zone controls as part of the full circuit, including how the heat pump responds when zones open or close.
- Electrical supply and location
- Check the selected unit's power requirements, airflow, noise, equipment clearances, service access and pipe routes before finalising its location.
Suitable projects
Projects to discuss with SmartHeat.
- New homes planning hydronic underfloor heating
- Renovations with a suitable floor heating design
- Radiator systems assessed for the proposed water temperature
- Projects combining underfloor heating and radiators
- Residential and commercial hydronic heating projects
- Existing boiler systems being assessed for a heat pump
FAQ
Hydronic heat pump questions
Can heat pumps run hydronic underfloor heating?
Yes, when the heat pump and floor system are designed together. The room heat load, floor construction, insulation, finish and circuit layout must support the required output at the planned water temperature.
Can a heat pump also provide domestic hot water?
Some systems can be designed to serve both loads, but this depends on the selected equipment. Heating water for rooms and supplying hot water to taps have different demands, so storage, temperatures and operating priorities need to be assessed together.
Can a heat pump replace the boiler in an existing hydronic system?
It may be possible after a system assessment. Check the building heat loss, the heat output of existing underfloor heating or radiators at the proposed water temperature, pipework, controls, electrical supply and plant space. The existing circuit may need changes; a heat pump is not automatically a direct replacement for every boiler.
Do I need completed drawings before contacting SmartHeat?
No. Start with the project location, building type, stage and heating requirements. Plans, room dimensions, floor details and information about existing equipment help the review when available. Heat loads and design water temperatures need to be established before final equipment selection.
Guides
Plan with practical guidance.
Product Selection
R290 Multifunctional Heat Pump Guide
Explore SmartHeat R290 multifunctional heat pumps for residential heating and cooling, with inverter technology, high efficiency and multiple capacity options.
Product Selection
Hydronic Heat Pump vs Gas Boiler
Compare hydronic heat pumps and gas boilers, including how each produces heat, water-temperature requirements and suitability for new or existing systems.
Projects
Hydronic heat pump projects
A 9kW R290 inverter heat pump and 100L buffer tank supplying two zones of hydronic in-slab heating at a new Gladesville home.
Gladesville, Northern Sydney, NSW
9kW R290 Hydronic Heat Pump – Gladesville
Heat Pump Installation - Residential Models
A new Gladesville home with two-zone hydronic in-slab heating, electric heating in three bathrooms, and a 9kW R290 inverter heat pump with a 100L buffer tank.
Gladesville, Northern Sydney, NSW
Hydronic In-Slab Underfloor Heating - Gladesville
Hydronic Underfloor Heating - In-Slab · Heat Pump Installation - Residential Models · Electric Underfloor Heating - Heating Mat
A Darling Point renovation with 10 designer hydronic radiators, a 22kW R290 inverter heat pump, outdoor seating-area in-slab heating and electric underfloor heating.
Darling Point, Eastern Suburbs, NSW
Designer Hydronic Radiators – Darling Point
Hydronic Radiators · Heat Pump Installation - Residential Models · Hydronic Underfloor Heating - In-Slab · Electric Underfloor Heating
Plan your heat source
Discuss Your Hydronic Heating Project
Tell us the Sydney or NSW project location, building type, project stage and rooms to be heated. Attach plans, heat-load calculations or existing equipment details if available. You can start the discussion without completed drawings.
Need full delivery support?
Review SmartHeat's design, supply and installation service for complete project coordination.
Design, Supply & Installation