Electricity Bills from Heat Pumps During Frost and How to Reduce Them

The Ministry of Climate and Environment has issued a statement aiming to dispel concerns about the operation of heat pumps during winter frosts. The ministry emphasizes that facts contradict myths and properly selected and installed devices operate efficiently even at very low external temperatures, including in older buildings. According to experts cited by the ministry, the source of most problems, such as high electricity bills, is errors at the design and implementation stage, not flaws in the technology itself. The main causes include incorrect selection of heat pump power for the building's heat demand, improper installation, lack of an energy audit before installation, and dishonest practices by some installation companies. „"Facts contradict myths: properly selected and installed heat pumps work efficiently at very low temperatures and in older buildings."” (Facts contradict myths: properly selected and installed heat pumps work efficiently at very low temperatures and in older buildings.) — Ministry of Climate and Environment In the context of the growing popularity of this technology in Poland, such explanations aim to calm sentiments and promote informed investments. Heat pumps, as heating devices using energy from air, ground, or water, have been gaining popularity in Poland since the beginning of the 21st century, especially in the context of fighting smog and diversifying heat sources. Their mass installations have intensified in the last decade, often supported by subsidy programs such as "Clean Air". For users already struggling with high bills, specific calculations and optimization methods were provided. A typical heat pump with a power of 6 to 16 kW, operating in frost conditions, can consume from a dozen to several dozen kilowatt-hours of electricity per day. The exact value depends on many factors, such as the building's thermal insulation, its area, external temperature, and the device's own efficiency. 16 kW — Typical power of a domestic heat pump To limit electricity consumption, experts primarily recommend investing in a heat pump equipped with inverter technology, which smoothly adjusts the compressor's operation to current demand, instead of turning on and off cyclically. Another recommendation is to avoid too frequent activation of the defrost cycle, which consumes additional energy. Proper setting of this cycle's parameters by the installer can bring significant savings. Ultimately, the key to economical operation remains a professional energy audit before purchase and installation performed by a certified company, which guarantees optimal matching of the device to the building's individual conditions.