Heat pumps, primarily known for heating, are proving effective in cooling homes during heatwaves, according to some homeowners. Andrew Ingram, who lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire, stated that his living room, equipped with an air source heat pump and a fan coil unit, can reach 21C when the outdoor temperature is 35C.
The Ingrams installed their system in 2023, with the cooling aspect costing £1,700 out of a total £18,600. They have used the cooling function increasingly since 2024.
Research conducted at the University of Salford's Energy House 2.0 facility supports these findings. Scientists found that pairing a heat pump with fan coils in a modern house kept rooms between 19C and 24.9C when the simulated outdoor temperature was 32C. Running the heat pump for cooling cost £2.50-£3 a day in this study.
Permitted development rights rules have been updated to allow heat pumps that also provide cooling without requiring planning permission. The government also offers grants of £7,500 through the boiler upgrade scheme for homeowners in England and Wales installing air-to-water or ground-to-water heat pumps, with an additional £1,500 for households not connected to the gas grid.