‘It’s been a revelation’: how heat pumps can cool your home in a heatwave
Heat pumps, typically installed to heat homes, can also provide cooling during heatwaves by reversing their operation and moving heat out of indoor spaces. Owners including Andrew and Sue Ingram in Berkshire say the technology has made their home far more comfortable in very hot weather, highlighting a potentially important adaptation as UK temperatures rise.
The Ingrams’ air-to-water heat pump cools their living room through a fan coil unit, reportedly reducing temperatures from 35C outside to about 21C indoors; their £18,600 energy-system installation included roughly £1,700 for cooling. Government support in England and Wales offers heat-pump grants of £7,500, rising to £9,000 for eligible off-grid households, and planning rules have been changed so cooling-capable heat pumps can use permitted development rights.
- Heat pumps can cool homes as well as heat them.
- One household cooled a room to 21C during 35C heat.
- Grants may help cover installation costs.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of heat pump cooling argue it represents a valuable climate adaptation solution. These systems efficiently handle both heating and cooling in a single installation, reducing reliance on less efficient separate units. With government grants and simplified planning approval, the technology is becoming more accessible and offers households a practical, environmentally friendly way to manage rising temperatures.
The case against
Critics acknowledge heat pump benefits but highlight significant practical barriers to widespread adoption. The £18,600 installation cost remains unaffordable for many households despite partial government grants, and property type constraints exclude many homes. They argue resources would be better invested in universally accessible approaches such as improved building insulation, passive cooling design, and urban greening that benefit all residents regardless of their property or financial circumstances.