If you dream of wrapping yourself in warm, cosy towels when you emerge from your bath or shower, a heated towel rail could be just what you’re looking for. They are also excellent for drying used, damp towels and can be very handsome to look at.
Plumbed-in or electric – which to choose?
Plumbed-in heated towel rails are usually cheaper to buy and are designed to be plumbed into your central heating system, much like any other radiator in the house. Of course, this means that you need to have the appropriate pipe work in place and your towel rail will only operate when the central heating is switched on.
Electric heated towel rails are filled with a special heating solution and connect only to your electricity supply, therefore operating totally independently from you central heating. This means they can be switched on an off as required and they are ideal if you do not have central heating pipe work already in place. However, they are more expensive to buy initially.
Dual fuel - If you want the best of both worlds, you can always opt for a dual fuel option. They operate like any other radiator when the central heating is on, and during the summertime when the heating is off they will run on electricity alone, making them a very wise and popular choice.
Heating the whole room
In general, heated towel rails are not designed to be a primary source of heat, and when they are covered in towels the heat is actually insulated away from the room. However, if space is tight and there is no room for a separate bathroom radiator, choose the largest size you can comfortably accommodate, or better still, pick a model that comes with in integrated radiator. A heating engineer will advise you as to the output you require for the size of room, etc.
Where to position you heated towel rail
If your heated towel rail is a secondary heat source, it really doesn’t matter. Bear in mind though that electric models require wiring to a fuse spur external of the bathroom parameters and are designed to be ‘splash-proof’ but shouldn’t be soaked. If your towel rail is your primary source of heat, place it on the largest external wall.
Brass is best
Many heated towel rails come in brass or steel options. Although brass is always the more expensive option, it will generally out-live a steel model ten fold as it doesn’t corrode. This makes it more cost-effective in the long run as well as providing a far superior finish. If you are planning to live with your new towel rail for any length of time, buy brass if you can possibly stretch to it.
Made to measure
If you have a tricky or unusual space in which to position your towel rail, or if you need a particular large or small model, fear not. Many suppliers will create bespoke versions of their models to suit your individual needs.
For more information, visit <a href="http://www.radsnrails.co.uk">Rads’N’Rails</a>, specialist supplier of radiators and heated towel rails.
<a href="http://www.radsnrails.co.uk">www.radsnrails.co.uk</a>
Disclaimer: The information presented and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of ArticlePros.com and/or its partners.
