# The cost of defrost

**URL:** <https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/the-cost-of-defrost/28429>\
**Category:** Heatpump\
**Created:** [10 April 2025 12:35 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/the-cost-of-defrost/28429 "2025-04-10T12:35:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![SarahH](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/sarahh/32/27116_2.png) [@SarahH](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/SarahH)\
**Post date:** [10 April 2025 13:03 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/the-cost-of-defrost/28429/2 "2025-04-10T13:03:20Z")

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Hi @DannyB,

> [@DannyB](#):
>
> I know there’s often significant variation from system to system…

…probably more than you realise. Obviously cost depends on 1) how much energy each defrost consumes (including that needed to re-warm the circulating fluid and also the house, which loses heat during the defrost), and 2) how often defrosts occur. It also depends on how you run your heat pump - if you run it continuously you might get more defrosts per day.  
Some manufacturers (e.g. Samsung) have put a lot of effort in to minimising both (e.g. including an economiser circuit in their HTQ range which makes defrosts quite rare, and ensuring very short defrosts with a sensible controller algorithm). I only saw a handful on mine in the whole of the winter, each lasting less than 5 minutes. I put a couple of relevant numbers in [Samsung ASHPs: Anatomy of a Defrost](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/samsung-ashps-anatomy-of-a-defrost/27767).  
Owners of some other makes curse defrosts for their frequency and duration.

> [@DannyB](#):
>
> if defrost could be avoided

Not easy, unless you buy a GSHP (or move to the Bahamas…)

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