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How to Make a Garden Room Usable All Year: Heating & Cooling Explained

Heat Pumps & Air Conditioning

In the last few years, garden buildings have gone from being nice-to-haves to becoming essential spaces for work, creativity or simply getting some peace and quiet.

But there's a recurring problem: uncomfortable temperature fluctuations.

Often too hot to focus in summer. Too cool to enjoy in winter. And too unpredictable to rely on the rest of the year.

This article explores how modern climate control, specifically heat pumps and infrared, can solve this quietly and efficiently without turning your garden room into a glorified boiler cupboard.

Why Temperature Control in Garden Buildings is So Challenging

 Most garden buildings are built differently from our homes. They're usually:

Lightly insulated

Separated from central heating

Quick to overheat in the sun

Quick to cool in winter

And because they're often used differently (a few hours a day, not full time), it's easy to under-invest in comfort, only to realise that without proper heating or cooling, the space doesn't get used much at all.

FIRE + ICE : One System for Every Season

At ARC, we've been looking at systems that can truly adapt to the way people actually use garden rooms.

The standout solutions is FIRE + ICE, a compact system that provides both heating and cooling, with a discreet design that suits home environments. 

It uses inverter heat pump technology. The same principle as an air-source heat pump, but in a neat, indoor-ready unit. There's no need for an external condenser and it can switch between heating and cooling, depending on the season.

Heats and cools

Quiet Operation

Year-round comfort

COP (coefficient of performance) at 7°C = 3.28

EER (Energy efficiency ratio) = 3.25

Sleek modern design

No large external unit

repairing

No refrigeration tech needed

Efficiency that matters:

FIRE + ICE has a COP (coefficient of Performance) of up to 3.28 meaning it produces up to 3.05kW of heating of cooling for every 1kW of electricity consumed. That's around 300% efficiency versus the 100% you might get from a standard electric heater.

And it uses PFAS-free refrigerant reflecting the direction the industry is going in; and where we believe it should go.

 This means it can:

Keep your space cool in summer

Keep your space warm in winter

Maintain comfort through spring and autumn

Do it all quietly and efficiently

Other Options: When Simplicity is Best

While FIRE + ICE is ideal for all-year use, it's not the only route.

Some users prefer simpler options, especially when the space is used occasionally or only requires help with heating:

Infrared Panels

These heat surfaces and people, not the air, offering instant warmth. Ideal for studios therapy rooms or yoga spaces.

Explore the range

LAVA Desk Heaters

A smart plug-in personal heater. Costs around 3p/ hour to run and makes a big difference in focused work zones.

Explore the range

Infrared Bathroom Heaters

Perfect for shower rooms or WCs where keeping surfaces dry and warm prevents damp and mould. 

Explore the range

These are low-maintenance options that still offer great performance and are particularly well suited to smaller or zoned spaces that only require warming.

What to look for in a Heating or Cooling system

Heat pumps and infrared systems - especially compared to plug-in fan heaters or portable air conditioners which are typically expensive to run and ineffective in the long term.

If you're researching heating or cooling for a garden space, consider:

How often you'll use the space

Whether you need year-round comfort

How well insulated the building is

If noise matters

(e.g. Working from home or using as a treatment room)

Running costs and efficiency

Visual appearance and space impact

Final thoughts

As the way we live and work continues to evolve, spaces like garden offices and studios are becoming far more than temporary stopgaps. They are principal living spaces. They deserve the same level of comfort and consideration as the rest of your home. 

Whether you're planning a new build, upgrading an existing room or just thinking about your options, the right heating and cooling system will determine how useful, usable and enjoyable that space becomes.

More on FIRE+ICE

Need Help Exploring Your Options?

We're always happy to advise. No pressure, no jargon. Just practical insight from people who care about comfort, energy performance and making use of all the spaces in and outside the home.

Explore Heating & Cooling Solutions Call Us Email Us

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