Towel Radiator FAQ - Heated Towel Rail FAQ
Our Towel Radiator FAQ section addresses question about our towel radiator and heated towel rail installations, rules and regulations, guidance and facts.
Please also remember to have a look at our heated towel rails technical information page where you may find answers to your questions, drawings and installations guides in PDF format. If you still not sure about which heated towel rail suits you most, or simply have further questions, please call us on the number above where a member of our team will be happy to help you.
Towel Radiator - Heated Towel Rail FAQ - Technical Information & Installation related questions.
- What is a towel radiator?
- What are they made of?
- Can I replace my ordinary radiator with a towel radiator?
- What is a pipe centre?
- My existing radiator is 600mm wide. Can I replace it with a 600mm wide towel radiator?
- What is BTU?
- What is my BTU requirement?
- How can I use a towel radiator?
- Which parts do I need to plumb a towel radiator to my central heating system?
- How do I install a towel radiator to my central heating system?
- Which valves do I need?
- Which parts do I need for electric only towel radiators?
- Which electric element should I buy for my radiator?
- How do I install an electric towel radiator?
- What is a dual use towel radiator?
- Which parts do I need for dual use towel radiators?
- How do I install a dual use towel radiator?
- What are bathroom zones?
- What are the technical characteristics of an electric element?
- What is the distance between the radiator and the wall?
Q1- What is a towel radiator?
Towel radiators are a certain type of radiators designed originally to dry towels both in bathrooms and kitchens. They have now become almost a standard item in every bathroom in the UK. Additionally, with the increase in the production of larger sizes towel radiators are increasingly installed in sitting and bedrooms too due to their elegant and versatile looks. << Back to Top
Q2- What are they made of?
Towel radiators are manufactured from tubes made of mild steel. They are then either coated in white paint or plated in chrome. Chromation process may also involve nickel or copper plating. << Back to Top
Q3- Can I replace my ordinary radiator with a towel radiator?
Yes it is possible to replace your conventional radiator with a towel radiator. They both work
exactly the same. Hot water enters the radiator from one side of the radiator, travel through and exits from the other side of the radiator. Most important factors when replacing your existing radiator with a towel radiator are: a) pipe centres and b) heat output. << Back to Top
Q4- What is a pipe centre?
The distance between the two pipes is called pipe centre. One of those pipes will be for hot water feed and should be connected to the radiator using a valve. The other pipe will then be connected to the other side of the radiator where the colder water will return to the system. Please note that pipe centres on all ladder type towel radiators are 50mm shorter than the actual width of the radiator itself. i.e., a 700mm wide and 800mm wide ladder type towel radiators will have 650mm and 750mm wide pipe centres
respectively. << Back to Top
Q5- My existing radiator is 600mm wide. Can I replace it with a 600mm wide towel radiator?
Yes it is possible to do so. However, please note that most conventional radiators would have their inlet points on the side of the radiator facing either side. If your existing radiator is 600mm wide, you will find that the distance between the two pipes (pipe-centre) is greater then the width of your radiator. Perhaps around 630-660mm. On the other hand, all out ladder type towel radiators have their inlet points at the bottom of the radiator facing the floor. Hence the pipe-centres should be narrower than the width of the towel radiator. << Back to Top
Q6- What is BTU?
BTU is the abbreviation for British Thermal Unit, British standard unit of energy. BTU as a heating measure is used to determine heat requirements of bathrooms, kitchens and other parts of houses. Technically, one BTU is equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit at its maximum density, which occurs at a temperature of 39.1 degrees Fahrenheit. One BTU is equal to approximately 251.9 calories or 1055 joules. << Back to Top
Q7- What is my BTU requirement?
You can use our BTU Calculator to determine the BTU required for your bathroom before you select the size of the radiator. << Back to Top
Q8- How can I use a Towel Radiator?
There are 3 ways to use a towel radiator. All our Towel Radiators
1) Can be connected to Central Heating System,
2) Used only with Electric Heating Elements, or
3) Can be used with both methods at the same time (Dual Use).<< Back to Top
Q9- Which parts do I need to plumb a towel radiator to my central heating system?
You will need the following parts for this option;
- Towel Radiator
- A Pair of Valves << Back to Top
Q10- How do I install a Towel Radiator to my central heating system?
Towel radiators are installed by using brackets and valves. Four brackets supplied as standard are used to fix the radiator onto the wall. Two entry points on the bottom of the radiator are used to connect the radiator to the pipe work. One entry point on the top is inserted with a small nut called “Air Vent/Bleed Valve” that is used to let trapped air out of the radiator. Air vent is also supplied as standard with all ladder type towel radiators. << Back to Top
Q11- Which valves do I need?
The type of valves you need depends on the type of pipe-work connection you have or will have in the room or bathroom where the installation will take place. If the pipe-work is coming out of the floor you will then need a pair of straight valves whereas if the pipe-work is coming out of the wall you will need a pair of angled valves. If the radiator is to be a dual-use one, you will then need a pair of mixed valves. Conventionally, chrome valves are for chrome radiators and white valves for white painted radiators.
Tip!: If your pipe-work is coming out of the wall and you wish to use the towel radiator as duel use, you can either purchase mixed valves or you can purchase a pair of angled valves. However with second option, you will need to offset the pipe centres slightly wider to accommodate the extra width by using angled valves on both sides. << Back to Top
Q12- Which parts do I need for Electric Only towel radiators?
You will need the following parts for this option;
- Towel Radiator
- Electric Element
- Blanking Plug << Back to Top
Q13- Which electric Element should I buy for my radiator?
The choice of electric element depends on the size of the radiator and/or the type of use required from the radiator. The heat output figures in Watts , which are stated under the picture of each product on our web site, may be referred to choose the right electric element for the right size radiator. If only summer use is required, you might then choose the electric element with the smallest heat output that is 250Watt, which would still dry towels hung on the radiator in a more cost effective way. << Back to Top
Q14- How do I install an Electric Towel Radiator?
Our electric only Towel Radiators are also wall mounted but are not connected to the central heating system. An electric element is inserted into the radiator through one of the entry points on the bottom. The second entry point on the bottom is then sealed off by a blanking. You will then need to fill the radiator with plain water using the third inlet/entry point on the top of the radiator. Please remember not to fill the radiator to the top but to leave an inch or two gap on the top for heated water to expand and move freely inside the radiator. Once the radiator is filled with water, use the air-vent/bleed valve to seal the third entry point and get a trained electrician to complete wiring. << Back to Top
Q15- What is a dual use Towel Radiator?
A dual use towel radiator is one that is powered by an electric element but also connected to the central heating system too. The main logic of having a dual use is to be able to use the towel radiator in summer when the central heating is off. << Back to Top
Q16- Which parts do I need for Dual Use towel radiators?
You will need the following parts for this option;
- Towel Radiator
- Electric Element
- T pipe
- Mixed Valves (1 straight, 1 angled valve)
Tip!: If your pipe-work is coming out of the wall and you wish to use the towel radiator as duel use, you can either purchase mixed valves or you can purchase a pair of angled valves. However with second option, you will need to offset the pipe centres slightly wider to accommodate the extra width by using angled valves on both sides. << Back to Top
Q17- How do I install a dual use towel radiator?
To install a dual use towel radiator, in addition to the radiator itself a pair of chrome/white mixed valves, a Tee pipe and a matching electric element are needed. The Tee pipe facilitates the insertion of the electric element into and connection of the valve to the radiator through the same entry points on the bottom. The other entry point on the bottom is connected to the pipe work through a valve.
- *WARNING- All electric elements must be installed and (or) wired by a trained and certified electrician.
- *WARNING- All electric towel radiators must be filled with water.
- *WARNING- All electric elements must be fully submerged in water.
- *WARNING- Electric only or duel fuel radiators must be installed on Zone 3 or an area beyond Zone 3 only. << Back to Top
Q18- What are Bathroom Zones? (Please note that this information is given as guidance only. You MUST consult a trained and certified electrician for your own safety.)
Using electrical equipment in bath or shower rooms need extra care to ensure safety. As a result IEE Wiring Regulations have identified particular zones within the bathroom to indicate what type of electrical equipment that can be installed and where. All our electric elements
are CE certified and have IPX1 rating. As a result, all towel radiators with electric elements MUST be installed on Zone 3 or an area beyond Zone 3 only.
Tip!: Green area on the image below is safe to install an electric or duel use towel radiator.
- Zone 0 The interior of the bath or shower which can hold water.
- Zone 1 The area directly above zone 0 limited vertically to 2.25m above the bottom of the bath or shower.
- Zone 2 The area beyond zones 0 and 1, 0.6m horizontally and up to 2.25m vertically. Zone 2 also included any window with a sill next to the bath.
- Zone 3 The area beyond zones 2, 2.4m horizontally and up to 2.25m vertically.
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Q19- What are the technical characteristics of an Electric Element?
All our electric elements are CE certified and have "ClassI" insulation & "IPX1" water protection. On the tip of each element there is a safety thermal fuse and a built in thermostat. Once the water temperature inside the radiator reaches 82 Celsius/180F, this thermostat will cut of power. Once the water temperature inside the radiator goes below 75 Celsius/167F, it simply comes back on again. Once the water temperature inside the radiator reaches 82 Celsius/180F, maximum surface temperature of the radiator will be 65 Celsius/149F on white series and 62 Celsius/144F on chrome series. << Back to Top
Q20- What is the distance between the radiator and the wall?
All towel radiators are supplied with 4 adjustable brackets enabling you to adjust the distance between the wall and the centre of the radiator (centre of the air vent - bleed valve) to a value between 75mm and 105mm. Please note that the actual projection from the wall to the front of the radiator is minimum 90mm and maximum 120mm. These figures only apply to FLAT radiators. You will need to add an additional 30mm to 60mm to CURVED radiators. i.e., 400mm wide curved radiator will protrude approximately 30mm further than flat models. Where a 700mm wide curved radiator will protrude approximately 60mm more than it's flat version. << Back to Top
