Ireland’s Deep Freeze: 5 Tips to Keep Your Heat Pump Running Smoothly in a Cold Snap

The extreme cold snap in early January brought many parts of Ireland to a complete standstill. With heavy snowfall and temperatures as low as -7°C, Irish homeowners battened down the hatches and focussed simply on keeping warm.

This was easier for some than it was for others. For those who have already made the switch to a renewable energy heat pump system, the cold weather demonstrated just why heat pumps are so popular in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe, continuing to operate seamlessly in temperatures as low as -25°C.

For homeowners relying on oil or gas boilers, however – especially older boilers whose best days are behind them – the New Year was an anxious time. Although most fossil fuel boilers have a lifespan of up to 15 years, after about 10 years the risk of breakdown is significantly increased, particularly in freezing conditions.

“Winter can be stressful for oil or gas-heated households,” says Fergal Cantwell, Home Energy Upgrade manager with Cork-based Envirobead, one of Ireland’s leading One Stop Shops. “Whenever it gets extremely cold, we always get a surge of inquiries about heat pumps from people who don’t want to go through it all again next year.”

For homeowners whose boiler may be nearing its end of life, Fergal emphasises the importance of planning ahead to take advantage of the SEAI grants process, rather than leaving things to the last minute – or the depths of a cold snap like the one we recently experienced.

As Ireland shivered through that period, meanwhile, those who have invested in a heat pump were finding out just how efficient their new heating system can be. To help these homeowners, we asked Fergal for a few tips on how to get the most out of their heat pump during very cold weather.

“The first thing we tell every customer is to leave the heat pump well alone!” says Fergal. “A lot of us would have grown up with on/off heating systems but heat pumps are not like that. The system has been set up to heat your home to a certain level and that’s what it’s going to do. There’s no need to adjust anything, just let it work away.”

1. Let your heat pump do its thing

Your heat pump will be set up to suit your home heating and hot water needs so there’s no need to interfere with the settings.

2. Steam coming off your outside unit is normal

Daikin heat pumps have a defrost cycle that kicks in when the outside temperature gets down to a certain level. This defrosts the outside unit – which might have ice or snow on it – causing steam to rise. This is all part of the defrost cycle and nothing to worry about.

3. Keep your outside unit clear of snow and debris

All heat pumps need a clear airflow to operate efficiently so if you have a ground-mounted outside unit, make sure it’s kept clear of debris such as leaves or even a build-up of snow. Use a brush to ensure the fan has a clear airflow.

4. Power cut? Superior insulation can tide you over

While power outages are always inconvenient, in most cases they are resolved within a matter of hours and of course they affect boilers just the same as heat pumps. For homes that are heat pump-equipped, however, there’s the reassurance of knowing your property is insulated to a very high standard, so the building will retain a level of heat for longer. When the power does come back on, your heat pump will start up and operate normally.

5. Stay on top of your annual service

During the handover process, your installer will explain the importance of registering your heat pump on Stand By Me and getting your system serviced annually. You will likely also get reminders from Stand By Me when your service is due.

Your local Daikin installer

The deep freeze of January 2025 was exceptional by Irish standards, and hopefully we will not see a repeat of the snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures again this winter. There are no guarantees with mother nature, however, so if another cold snap materialises in the coming weeks, use these tips to keep your heat pump running smoothly. 

In the meantime, if you have any specific queries about your Daikin heat pump system, or if you’re one of the many homeowners thinking about replacing your oil or gas boiler with a heat pump, check in with your local installer and take it from there. 

Browse the Daikin range of heating and hot water solutions here.