Is it normal for my heat pump to run all day in cold weather?

Q: Is it normal for my heat pump to run all day in cold weather?

Yes. A heat pump works best low and steady. Running for hours at low power usually costs less than short bursts at high power.

Updated 29 September 2026

Short answer: yes. A heat pump works best low and steady. Running for hours at low power usually costs less than short bursts at high power.

A gas boiler heats in quick, hot bursts. A heat pump is the opposite: it keeps the water in the radiators only just warm enough and tops the house up gently. On a cold day that can mean running most of the day, and that's the efficient way to do it.

The thing to watch for is the opposite pattern: switching on and off every few minutes. That's short-cycling, and it wastes energy. It often means the water is running too hot for the house, or the heat pump is bigger than the house needs on a mild day.