Can You Replace A Radiator With A Heated Towel Rail?

It doesn't matter if you're using your kitchen or bathroom, saving space is important to make sure you don't waste any surface area, particularly in smaller rooms.

This is why heated towel rails are so popular. These versatile fixtures can heat a room and also dry and warm towels. They come in many styles and sizes to match any decor. Many people ask the important question: can you replace a radiator with a heated towel rail?

What is a heated towel rail?

To heat towels, a heated towel rail or towel heater is used. Depending on the size of the bathroom, the towel rail can also be used as a heater in the bathroom. It is suitable for heating and drying towels, as well as heating the surrounding air. There are two types: traditional, which is like a radiator from the boiler, and electric.

Traditional heated towel radiators

A traditional towel radiator is a better choice than the many contemporary designs. Traditional heated towel radiators are classic in design and have a long life expectancy. They can be used with accessories to compliment any traditional bathroom.

Are Traditional Towel Rails as good as Radiators?

A traditional towel rail is an ideal solution for your bathroom. They provide the same heat as regular radiators, and also keep towels fluffy and dry.

Although a traditional heated towel rail requires more vertical space than a standard radiator, it can be combined with your radiator to save space. This is especially true when you choose a wall-mounted option.

A floor-mounted Victorian towel radiator can add a lot of character to your space if you have the space. Many of the options include an integrated cast iron radiator built into the rail. This creates a beautiful decor feature.

This ensures that you get as much heat from your radiator as possible. If you need a second radiator in your bathroom, check out our cast iron radiators.

Is a towel rail able to heat a whole bathroom?

The majority of heated towel rails can heat your entire bathroom while keeping your towels warm, cosy, and fluffy. A larger bathroom may require more heating than one heated rail.

Bathrooms in the UK are typically small. This means that even though the space itself may be cold due to the tiled floors and walls, heating should not be excessive. Even though small spaces are more efficient at heating up than larger ones, they can still heat up quickly, especially if there is less heat escaping from the windows. If the towel rail is large enough, it can heat entire bathrooms.

Here is where the British Thermal Unit (BTU) comes in.

How can you calculate the BTU for a bathroom?

First, measure the length, width and height of your bathroom in meters and take note of each measurement. Next, measure the area around the window. This can be done by multiplying the height by width.

You should now have four measurements. Add the length, width and height figures together. Next, multiply the resulting number by the area of your window. This is your bathroom's BTU.

How to install a towel radiator?

If you're a skilled DIYer and have the necessary tools, replacing radiators with heated towel rails could be done yourself.

However, most people will need to hire professionals to complete the task. A plumber will be needed to attach a heated towel rail to the central heating system.

You will need to be careful where you place it. Not all rails are allowed within a specified distance of water. It is easier to replace an existing radiator with a heated towel rack. If you are unsure about the specifications of the towel rail you are considering buying, get help.

A bathroom can be divided into four zones. These zones are determined by the likelihood of water coming into contact with an electrical supply (e.g., lighting). This can lead to electric shock. The equipment that can be used in each zone will dictate the equipment that is allowed.

These are the four zones:

Zone 0 is the part of the shower or bath that can hold water, i.e. Your shower or bath.

Zone 1 is the area immediately above Zone 0 - your bathtub or shower - and is vertically limited to 2.25m above its bottom. Zone 1 doesn't include Zone 0.

Zone 2: Zone 1 is 2.25m high. Zone 2 can be extended to 0.6m vertically or horizontally around the shower or bath.

Zone 3: This is the area where water is unlikely to be used.

Here are the steps for connecting a towel radiator with the existing pipework or connecting new pipework.

Preparations and Precautions

It is important to remove all packaging from your towel radiator and inspect it immediately after it arrives. You can fix any obvious issues right away, instead of waiting for it to get worse or putting off your installation.

Before you do any DIY in your bathroom, turn off the water supply. Wear protective clothing if necessary.

You'll need the following tools:

• Pencil

• Tape measure

• Spirit level

• Adjustable spanner

• Pipe and cable detector

• Use a power drill to drill masonry and ceramic tile bits

• Screwdriver

• Pipe wrench and water pump-pliers

• Pipe cutter

• Tape made of PTFE

Connecting a heated towel rail to existing pipework

• Before you mount your towel radiator, remove the old radiator from the wall. Next, attach the telescopic extension tails to your towel radiator outlet and inlet. This can be done before you mount the towel radiator to the wall.

• Attach a compression elbow joint to the radiator inlet.

• The pipe should be cut to the length that extends from the elbow joint to the radiator valve.

• Apply PTFE tape to the threads on the compression fittings.

• Remove the old valve head and attach the towel radiator to the pipework. To ensure that it stays in place, tighten all joints.

• Only tighten the joints if all of the pipework is in its place and fitted as per your instructions.

Connecting new pipework to a heated towel rail

• Drain the system first and then expose the pipes. To ensure that the system is not leaking, turn on the heating and water.

• Next, seal the pipe threads with PTFE tape and mount the towel radiator.

• You can use a pipe cutter or wire wool to clean the pipe.

• Install a straight coupler with push-fit fitting. Measure and cut a long pipe to extend your supply pipe up to the outlet of your towel rail.

• To run the chrome-plated pipe from the radiator inlet to the supply pipe, measure carefully.

• Next, connect the vertical and horizontal parts of the new inlet pipes and apply PTFE tape to the threads.

• To connect your radiator to the pipework, repeat the process on the other side.