Key takeaways
- Insulation and draught-proofing come first, because they cut the heat you need before you spend on how you make it.
- Solar panels reduce your electricity bills; a heat pump changes how you heat; the right order depends on your home.
- If your gas boiler is near the end of its life, that often decides the timing for you.
- Doing the basics first makes everything that follows cheaper to run.
Solar, a heat pump and a new boiler all cost real money, and the order you tackle them in changes how well each one pays off. Here is a sensible way to sequence the big energy upgrades.
Start with the fabric of the house
Insulation and draught-proofing are the unglamorous first step, and the most important one. Loft and cavity wall insulation, draught-proofing and better glazing reduce how much heat the house needs in the first place. Do this before sizing a heat pump, or you will pay for a bigger system and higher running costs than necessary.
Then decide on heating
How you heat the home is the next big lever. If your gas boiler is old and failing, that often forces the timing, and a heat pump becomes the natural replacement, helped by the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. If your boiler is fairly new, you may choose to wait and focus elsewhere first.
The catch: a heat pump fitted before the house is insulated will be larger, pricier and more expensive to run than it needs to be. The order genuinely matters here.
Solar and battery
Solar panels cut your electricity bills and pair well with a heat pump, since the pump runs on electricity. Adding a battery lets you store what you generate for the evening. Solar can come before or after the heating decision, but it works hardest once your home is efficient and, ideally, electrically heated. See our solar panel costs guide and the solar battery storage guide, plus available home energy grants.
FAQ
Should I get solar or a heat pump first?
Insulate first, then let your boiler’s age guide the heating decision. Solar can come either side, but it works best once the home is efficient and heated with electricity, which a heat pump provides.
Is insulation really the priority?
Yes. Reducing heat loss lowers the size and running cost of any heating system you fit afterwards, so it makes every later upgrade cheaper.
What if my boiler is still fine?
If your boiler is fairly new, you can focus on insulation and solar first, and plan the switch to a heat pump for when the boiler nears the end of its life.