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Do Fridges and Freezers have COP ratings?

 
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)
Last Post by Toodles 5 months ago
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Toodles
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Topic starter 03/03/2026 11:58 am   [#2860]

Err that’s it really, if they do have a COP, how is it specified? Just curious really! Toodles.


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Majordennisbloodnok
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03/03/2026 12:06 pm  

Pure opinion and not backed by any actual data, but I don't believe they do.

They do, of course, have an energy efficiency rating and that is simply based on their power consumption. My guess is that that's power consumed to maintain a standard internal temperature (so as to make direct comparisons valid), so I'm sure you could calculate a CoP or SCoP, but I'm pretty sure neither of those latter two are explicitly mentioned in any appliances documentation.


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JamesPa
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03/03/2026 12:22 pm  

If I recall correctly the efficiency measure for cooling is different to that for heating, because the energy used by the compressor doesn't add to the useful energy moved.


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Toodles
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Topic starter 03/03/2026 12:23 pm  

@majordennisbloodnok Perhaps such documentation is given a cold shoulder or is too hot to handle? (Sorry) 😉 Toodles.


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 upnorthandpersonal
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03/03/2026 1:22 pm  

Technically they do, and you could calculate it (and is used for the energy efficiency rating), but it's not something that is generally reported directly for fridges. Air conditioning (cooling heat pump) does have a COP, but are typically expressed with SEER (USA) and ESEER (Europe). UK also uses SEER, but similar to ESEER (with different ratios). 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_seasonal_energy_efficiency_ratio  


This post was modified 5 months ago by upnorthandpersonal

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Mars
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03/03/2026 2:38 pm  

I looked into this a few years ago, and yes, fridges and freezers have a COP because it’s the same thermodynamic principle as a heat pump, but they don't use the metric. I guess it might be too confusing for consumers. So in the UK and EU the SCOP is essentially replaced with the Energy Efficiency Index (EEI). 

From what I remember, fridges (maintaining around 4-5C) generally achieve a SCOP in the region of 2-2.5. More expensive units and 'better' brands can approach or exceed 3 largely due to better compressors, better insulation and variable-speed drives.

Freezers (running around -18C) naturally operate at lower COPs because the temperature lift is much greater. You’ll typically see figures between 1-2.

So the COP is very much there... it just sits behind the scenes. 

On a semi-related note, I've checked the refrigerant in our fridges. Our kitchen fridges use R600 (GWP of just 3) and our drinks fridge (which is well over 10 years old) uses 134A (with an awful GWP).


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Toodles
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Topic starter 03/03/2026 2:46 pm  

@editor Thank you all for your replies and submitted information - I feel my curiosity has been satiated! I wonder if the awful GWP for the refrigerant in that drinks fridge is there to encourage you to drown your sorrows?😳 Toodles.


Toodles, heats his home with cold draughts and cooks food with magnets.


   
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