Heated Towel Rails

[Smiler.]

Opinions on this please (dual fuel - elec + boiler):

http://www.bathempire.com/chrome-flat-electric-tow...


I've seen on one website that the white powder-coat are rated with a higher BTU value than the same one in Chrome, which seems a bit odd.

I've also seen a stainless steel one with significantly less BTU's for an equivalent size, but it had less horizontal bars which I guess accounts for that.

Any other recommendations for 1800x500mm(ish) - budget £300 max?

Thanks in advance

[Ferg]

Compared with towel rails of yesteryear they are quite good. They chuck out a decent amount of heat.
The chrome ones reflect heat back from the reverse side of the plating.
Don't buy a white one under any circumstances. They are terrible for longevity.

[Smiler.]

Ferg said:

Compared with towel rails of yesteryear they are quite good. They chuck out a decent amount of heat.
The chrome ones reflect heat back from the reverse side of the plating.
Don't buy a white one under any circumstances. They are terrible for longevity.

Thanks Ferg.

[im]

Anyone got an opinion on this...

Heated towel rail - primary purpose:

1. The re-warm/dry a just-used towel
2. To warm an unused/fresh towel

???

Its causing me grief indoors

[Smiler.]

Ok, so for a dual fuel rad, can valves be used?

I've just tried to get some info on how that works but "we're not technical."

[Ferg]

Yes.
I normally fit towel rails with two straight valves into the floor.
With an element, they are supplied with a MxFxF Tee which screws into the bottom, the element then screws into this up the vertical side tube, then an angle radiator valve is screwed into the side of the tee to take the pipe up from under the floor.


Ignore the blank plug.

Edited by Ferg on Friday 1st October 16:19

[Number 7]

Ferg said:

Don't buy a white one under any circumstances. They are terrible for longevity.

Ferg, I was about to buy a white Bisque version - I assume that these things are powder coated. Does this sort of finish not last well when in contact with damp towels then?

7.

[Ferg]

Number 7 said:

Ferg said:

Don't buy a white one under any circumstances. They are terrible for longevity.

Ferg, I was about to buy a white Bisque version - I assume that these things are powder coated. Does this sort of finish not last well when in contact with damp towels then?

7.

Inevitably the powdercoat is cut through where the fittings go in. I'm not saying every rail will do it, but I've seen so many that have lost chunks of coating.

[timbobalob]

If you decide on one, have a looky on eBay - I found the exact same model I was after (very similar to yours - 1800 x 600mm, but curved) for £100 delivered (the following day)

Seems ok - but I haven't connected it yet to be fair!

[dave_s13]

Sheet, I bought a white one yesterday. I'll make sure I keep the receipt.
Has a 5yr warranty??

[Smiler.]

Ferg said:

Yes.
I normally fit towel rails with two straight valves into the floor.
With an element, they are supplied with a MxFxF Tee which screws into the bottom, the element then screws into this up the vertical side tube, then an angle radiator valve is screwed into the side of the tee to take the pipe up from under the floor.


Ignore the blank plug.

Edited by Ferg on Friday 1st October 16:19

Thank s Ferg. The feed is from the adjacent room through the wall. Can I put some valves on the down pipes in the other room & use the above fittings on both sides at the bottom of the rail, fitting a blank plug at the bottom of the side without the element?

Also, does it matter which side the element goes, relative to flow & return?

[manty]

try these

http://www.sussexrange.co.uk/Dual%20fuel%20valves....


http://www.sussexrange.co.uk/Valve%20&%20dual%...

Edited by manty on Saturday 2nd October 17:52

[Jonnas]

Ferg said:

Yes.
I normally fit towel rails with two straight valves into the floor.
With an element, they are supplied with a MxFxF Tee which screws into the bottom, the element then screws into this up the vertical side tube, then an angle radiator valve is screwed into the side of the tee to take the pipe up from under the floor.


Ignore the blank plug.

Edited by Ferg on Friday 1st October 16:19

I did exactly this although I managed to get a second T-Piece so that it was the same both sides. The element goes up the rad vertically from the bottom on one side and the valves go into the side of the Tee. Found it impossible to get another Tee that matched, went to the local pluming place and he 'suggested' that I remove the Tee and take the element back to where I got it from and tell them there was no Tee in the box with the element!!

Obviously I didn't do this and managed to find one legitimately.........

Incidently, I used a 150W element which is more than enough for my rad which looks twice as wide as the one in your link. Wired through a stud wall into fused spur on the other side.

[Beardy10]

If you can it's much better having the towel rail on the same circuit as your hot water rather than the central heating system. That way you can have hot towels all year round without having to put the central heating on (you can obviously turn all the other towel rails off in the summer but that is still a pain in the arse.

It's also a much neater job if you have the pipes coming out of the walls just below the radiator rather that up from the floor.

[Simpo Two]

Beardy10 said:

If you can it's much better having the towel rail on the same circuit as your hot water rather than the central heating system. That way you can have hot towels all year round without having to put the central heating on

Yep, ever since I had the faulty motorised valve replaced, I have cold damp towels