Heat pumps and cast iron radiators. Back to “Clean Air”

Heat pumps are one of the few products that can be said to be manufactured in Europe. Heat pumps are produced in over 300 European factories. There are 14 such factories in Poland. In 2025, approximately 80,000 were sold in Poland. air-water heat pumps. Ground heat pumps – 6,600 pieces, thanks to which the market for these devices in Poland increased by 10% in 2025. year to year – these are estimates from the PORT PC organization.

Last year, the “Moje Ciepło” program co-financed approximately PLN 12,000. these devices in new buildings, and about 6 thousand from “Clean Air”. heat pumps in buildings undergoing modernization. One of such subsidies – despite the best intentions – ended in disappointment. Due to the type of radiators.

Cast iron radiators require care

As Mariusz Szczygieł presented the case on his FB account, the family received over PLN 132,000 in support. PLN subsidy. The money was used to replace windows and doors, install a heat pump and perform partial thermal modernization. The family also got rid of an outdated coal stove. The mother, as the main beneficiary of the program, was to cover only VAT.

The heat pump installer was found very quickly. “He did not mention that the old installation with cast iron radiators is not suitable for pumps, and the pumps themselves cannot cope with severe frosts. He determined the power of the pump himself, because we didn’t know anything about it. We have completed the first two stages,” the beneficiary’s son described the case.

It turns out that cast iron radiators (old type) have less power at low temperatures, so when using a heat pump, they may require a higher temperature than modern radiators, which automatically reduces the efficiency of the pump. If the building is poorly insulated, a high-temperature heat pump may be a better solution.

Poorly insulated houses cause problems

The family did not have time to complete the entire thermal modernization. “The application lady wrote a letter to WOŚiGW on behalf of my mother, asking for an extension of the deadline for completing the last stage of work, saying that they usually agree,” the story continues. The letter was submitted before the work was completed. Meanwhile, the family began receiving bills for extremely high amounts.

“The bills last year were about PLN 15,000. In December 2025 and February 2026, we received forecasts for electricity of about PLN 4,000 every two months. My mother’s pension is not enough for electricity alone and we don’t know what to do.” – a program participant described the case.

According to Paweł Lachman, president of PORT PC, a huge part of Polish houses that receive heat pumps are still without proper insulation, which means that regardless of the heat source system, heating costs remain high. He estimates that this situation applies to over 90 percent. cases in the Clean Air program.