UK Red Heat Warning Closes Schools and Boosts Air-Conditioning Sales

A red warning for extreme heat has closed schools and disrupted transport for millions of people across the UK, The BBC reported. Churches, community centres, museums and libraries opened free cool spaces to provide relief from indoor temperatures that often exceed 25C to 27C. Demand for home air conditioning has risen sharply in response.

Aircon Services in Tamworth recorded a 300% increase in domestic inquiries over the past six years, with calls rising from two per week to about 25 during the current hot spell. Co-founder Marc Newbold said customers now view the systems as a necessity rather than a luxury. Aervue Air Conditioning in Birmingham reported sales that have doubled since March.

Staff are visiting about five homes a day for installations and surveys, and the company is fully booked until the end of August, owner Jasheem Benson said. Entire-home units cost up to £6,500, while a small-bedroom system starts at roughly £1,500. The National Housing Federation stated that 90% of UK homes will overheat during summer by 2050.

Only 4% of homes in England currently have air conditioning, according to the University of Reading. Newbold noted that the units typically last 15 years. The National Housing Federation added that overheating is more common in lower-income households and is linked to heat exhaustion, cardiovascular issues and sleep disturbance.