b'Heating a whole houseConsult an experienced heating engineer before you start to make sure youre on the right track. Have the size and complexity of the job detailed in writing and quoted, and make sure that you get a certi cate of compliance for electrical work.Under- oor heatingThis is most appropriately installed when a house is under construction, although retro tting is possible in some situations. Usually, hot water pipes are installed in the concrete foundation slab, but an alternative is under-tile heating, where electric cables are laid between the existingoor and your ceramic tiles. Ducted central heatingA gas, diesel, or electric central heating unit or heat pump can be installed under theoor or outside the house, with warm air ducted to the different rooms.WoodburnersModern, fuel-ef cient woodburners are a cheap form of heating. They are effective in open-plan houses, but are not so good in older homes with separate rooms. Remember, your wood must be dry. Heating a roomElectric heatersFeatures and functions: Thermostat: forne-tuning the power to maintain your preferred room temperature. Timer: for turning a heater on and off automatically. Tilt switch: good safety featureit switches the heater off if it topples over. Thermal cut-out switch: stops heater from overheating. Weight/wheels: is portability important to you? Convection heaters or oil- lled column heatersThese provide background warmth, circulating the warm air by natural convection. Advantages: Valuable in situations where theyll be left on for long periods or used overnight in a bedroom. Silent when fan not in use. The surface is not as dangerous to touch as some other heaters.Check: Does the heater have a fan? This is a must. Use it at intervals to heat up a room quickly. Does it have a thermostat? Does it have a tilt switch? Does it have a thermal cut-out if the heater tips over? Does it have a range of heat settings and a timer?'