It’s summer and Europe has already been hit by more than one heatwave – not exactly the ideal moment to talk about heat pumps. Or is it? Heat pumps can also provide cooling during summer, and their popularity is rising. With around 139,000 units sold in the first half of 2025, heat pumps are now outselling gas boilers in Germany for the first time! But what’s it really like to live with a heat pump – not just in summer, but all-year round?
Heat pumps have so much more going for them
First of all, heat pumps can actually help you stay cool during summer as well as warm in winter. You can replace a gas boiler and air conditioning system with one efficient year-round system.
Second, although many in Brussels are on holiday, at BEUC we are busy contributing to the EU’s ‘Citizens Energy Package’ consultation and preparing input for the ‘Heating and Cooling Strategy’.
Our members’ on-the-ground experience – supporting households to switch to clean heating – will feed into both consultations to ensure the transition truly works for consumers. And one thing is clear: heat pumps will play a key role in how consumers heat and cool our homes in the future. That’s because they are the most affordable and sustainable heating option for consumers.
Third, it’s always a good idea to talk about heat pumps! Most people – including myself – do not yet have access to one. At the same time, many of us have heard stories about heat pumps in the media or online, where information can often be misleading or too complex. That’s why, as someone who hasn’t experienced living with a heat pump, hearing from other consumers is not only interesting, but also important to get the real picture.
Above: with so much misinformation around, we wanted to hear the real consumer story about living with a heat pump
Consumers see the benefits
At BEUC, we recently asked 30 consumers in the Czech Republic, France, Spain and the Netherlands about their personal experience with their heat pump.
We found that the majority of consumers interviewed reported being highly satisfied with their heat pump. They highlighted greater comfort, better heat distribution in their home, lower energy consumption and better control over their heating and cooling system.
“It’s more comfortable with a heat pump, because it provides constant, gentle heat, whereas with the old oil-fired boiler, the radiators were sometimes scalding” – Philippe from France
A more comfortable home
When it comes to improved comfort, the cooling feature is seen as a major benefit in all four countries in our study. A Spanish consumer told us: “It’s simply the best air-conditioning system I’ve ever had”. Also, in cooler climates like the Netherlands or the Czech Republic, consumers appreciate the cooling function of heat pumps. It was perceived as a major factor in improving comfort.
“I live in an apartment under a roof, so it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Now I cool in the summer and heat in the winter, all for about half the cost of an electric boiler” – Czech consumer
Quality installation is key
One important factor that consumers highlighted is a trustworthy installer. In Spain, France and the Netherlands, consumers were mostly happy with their installation, but the consumer journey does not end there. Across all countries, some heat pump users had issues with their heat pumps shortly after installation.
While most of these problems were resolved fairly quickly, it shows the importance of providing consumers with reliable post-installation support and maintenance services. And when things go wrong, consumers must have clear ways to complain, get proper support and have access to fair and quick dispute resolution.
Why should policymakers take account of consumers’ feedback?
In the report, we look at both the changes heat pumps can bring to people’s homes and what policy makers can learn from their experience. But why should policymakers take note?
It’s something I asked myself before we started the interviews. After a year as a consumer policy officer working on heat pumps and after participating in many technical discussions about efficiency rates and refrigerants, I’ve realised how important consumer experiences are and how often this perspective is missing in policy debates.
Consumer experience reveals what is working (or not), and shows that consumers have different needs, interests and expectations. As I once heard an EU official say: “We need to understand that people do not operate on the basis of spreadsheets.”
Misleading information in the media and online has led to a distorted and false perception of heat pumps, but it is the consumer experience that can tell us the real story. Positive experiences can also be surprisingly influential in helping others make the switch to heat pumps and encouraging policymakers to better consider consumer needs.
Unleashing heat pumps’ potential
Finally, the testimonials show that heat pumps are no longer a technology of the future. They are already heating and cooling consumers homes across Europe, reducing energy consumption and increasing comfort. But let’s remember: the full potential of the heat pump has yet to be realised. We need to make it a simpler, more affordable and even cooler option to make it a go-to technology for everyone!