How Thermosoft Electric Radiators Transformed a Victorian Home in Melbourne
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28 Jul 2026
Customer Profile
Names: Dylan James and Cate
Location: Carlton North, Melbourne, Victoria
Property Type: Victorian home renovation
Heating Solution: Purmo electric radiators from Thermosoft Australia
The Background
When photographer Dylan James and his wife, Cate, began looking for a home, they hoped to find somewhere they could move into and improve over time.
After six months of searching, they found a Victorian terrace in Carlton North, an inner suburb of Melbourne.
The home had been in the same family for around 75 years, with the previous resident living there for more than three decades.
It needed more work than they had planned, but it had good bones and was exactly where they both wanted to be.
Dylan and Cate decided to renovate in stages rather than take on the whole home at once. They restored the front section first, including the three bedrooms and main living area, while continuing to live there and plan the next stage together.
The Heating Challenge
Like many older Victorian homes in Melbourne, winter quickly exposed the home’s biggest weakness.
High three-metre ceilings and solid internal brick walls gave the house plenty of character, but they also made it difficult to keep warm. Even when the air heated up, the walls stayed cold.
The existing gas ducted heating worked, but it never created the kind of comfort Dylan and Cate wanted fortheir home.
“It would blast out hot air, but it didn’t actually warm anything. It would feel hot for a whileand then dissipate within ten minutes.”
As soon as the system switched off, the cold returned. It was also noisy enough that the television volumeoften had to go up whenever it started.
After their first winter—and an almost $800 gas bill—Dylan and Cate knew they wanted a different solution.
Looking for Hydronic-Style Comfort
Through his work photographing architecture and interiors, Dylan had experienced many premium heating systems, including hydronic and underfloor heating.
He knew he preferred radiant warmth over forced air, and he and Cate agreed that the next system needed to make the home feel comfortable rather than simply warm the air for a short time.
Their first thought was to install a traditional hydronic system, but the timing was not right. The timberfloors had already been restored, and adding pipework would have meant unnecessary disruption and cost.
Together, they began looking for a way to enjoy the same style of warmth without major building work.
“I was really looking at radiant heating alternatives. I’ve experienced lots of different types of heating through my work, so I knew how much better radiant heat could feel.”
Moving away from gas also fit with Dylan and Cate’s long-term plans. While reducing their reliance on gaswas important, the deciding factor was finding a heating system that delivered the kind of comfort theywanted to live with every day.
Finding a Heating Solution That Suited the Home
Performance mattered, but so did appearance.
Dylan and Cate had put a great deal of thought into restoring the home, and they wanted the heating tocomplement its character rather than compete with it.
Split systems had been suggested for the bedrooms and living areas, but they did not feel right for thecarefully considered interiors. Decorative cornices and full-length sheer curtains also limited where wall-mounted units could go.
“I just couldn’t get my head around having split systems on the walls. They weren’t going towork aesthetically in this house.”
When Dylan and Cate discovered Thermosoft’s Purmo electric radiators, they felt like a much better fit. Theyoffered the classic look they wanted, delivered gentle radiant warmth, and could be installed withoutdisrupting the renovation.
The Thermosoft Solution
Dylan shared the home’s floor plan with the Thermosoft team as part of the process he and Cate wereworking through together.
The team looked at the room sizes, ceiling heights, layout and heating requirements before recommending electric radiator sizes for each space and helping plan the installation.
The radiators arrived quickly, and installation was straightforward. Dylan fitted the plug-in models himselfand used an electrician for the hardwired units.
“The whole process was super easy. The consultation gave me a clear understanding of how the heating could best be implemented, delivery was quick, and installation was very straightforward.”
The flexible installation options helped Dylan and Cate achieve the clean finish they wanted without unnecessary building work or exposed cables.
Living with Thermosoft Electric Radiators
The biggest difference was not how quickly the home warmed up. It was that it stayed comfortable.
Instead of arriving home to a cold house and turning the heating up full, Dylan and Cate now keep a gentle background temperature throughout the day.
“It really is night and day. We went from coming home to a cold house and cranking the heater to walking into a home that is already warm.”
The electric radiators automatically adjust throughout the day and overnight. Once everything was programmed, there was very little left for either of them to think about.
When the family travels, Dylan and Cate simply lower the temperature rather than switching the system off completely. It keeps the house comfortable for their cat and prevents the brick walls from becoming cold again.
“You almost forget about them. They’re programmed, they blend into the house and the home just feels warm all the time.”
How Radiant Heating Warms the Home, Not Just the Air
One of the biggest changes has been the way radiant heating works with the home’s solid brick construction.
The old ducted system briefly warmed the air, but the walls remained cold.
Over time, the electric radiators gently warm the surrounding surfaces, creating a more even and lasting sense of comfort.
Dylan noticed the difference in the bedroom, where the adjoining brick wall gradually became warm to the touch.
“With the ducted heating, you could almost feel the cold radiating from the brick. Now it’s theopposite. The walls themselves actually feel warm.”
Rather than creating bursts of hot air, the whole room simply feels comfortable.
Silent Comfort
Dylan and Cate both wanted their home to feel calm and comfortable.
The radiators quietly do their job without fans, airflow or background noise. There is no need to pause a conversation or turn the television up when the heating starts.
“The fact that they’re silent might sound like a minor thing, but it’s a big thing for me. I hated the noise of the ducted heating.”
It is one of those details that is easy to overlook until you have lived with both.
Smart, Set-and-Forget Control
Dylan and Cate use the Unisenza+ gateway to control and program the radiators.
While Dylan would like to see Apple HomeKit integration in the future, day-to-day use could not be muchsimpler.
Once the schedules were set, the system quietly looked after itself. They generally only adjust it when theyare going away or staying up later than usual.
“I went through, set the programs and now I don’t really have to touch it.”
Hydronic-Style Warmth Without the Installation Complexity
Having spent plenty of time in homes with traditional hydronic heating, Dylan believes the experience is remarkably similar.
“If you can tell the difference, I’d be amazed. In terms of how the warmth feels, I don’t think you can.”
For Dylan and Cate’s Victorian renovation, Thermosoft delivered the comfort they were looking for without lifting restored floors or installing pipework.
As they continue renovating, they would confidently extend the system into the next stage if underfloorheating is not the right fit.
Key Benefits
Since installing Thermosoft electric radiators, Dylan and Cate have enjoyed:
- Consistent warmth throughout their home
- Gentle radiant comfort that feels comparable to hydronic heating
- Better comfort in rooms with high ceilings and solid brick walls
- Quiet operation with no fans or rushing air
- A design that suits the home’s original character
- Straightforward installation without plumbing or major building work
- Heating that quietly looks after itself once programmed
- Less reliance on their existing gas ducted heating
- The flexibility to expand the system as future renovations are completed
The Thermosoft Experience
From the first conversation through to installation, Dylan describes the experience as simple and reassuring.
“The whole team has been amazing. The consultation was helpful, the delivery was quick and the installation was about as easy as it could be.”
For Dylan and Cate, who are renovating their older home room by room, the system struck the right balance between comfort, appearance and practicality.
“The units have honestly been perfect. They’re neat, easy to live with and the home is warm all the time.”
Considering Radiant Heating for an Older Home?
Older homes have plenty of charm, but they can also be some of the hardest homes to heat well.
If you are renovating a home like Dylan and Cate’s, replacing ducted heating or comparing electric radiators with hydronic heating, electric radiators can provide gentle, consistent radiant warmth without lifting floors, installing ductwork or adding plumbing.
We are happy to help you explore your options. Our team can review your floor plan, calculate your heating requirements and recommend a solution tailored to your home, whether you are updating a single room, renovating in stages or planning a whole-home project.
Get a Free Quote & Home Heat Loss Calculation
Our friendly team can determine your exact home heating requirements and provide a comprehensive quote. Use our online quote tool to upload your floorplans or measurements, answer a few quick questions, and we'll be in touch.
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