How to properly transfer a heated towel rail to another wall

Installing a heated towel rail in the bathroom has many advantages; it is useful not only in winter, but also in summer.

The device allows you to quickly dry towels and linen, and the very fact of additional heating of the bathroom, with its constantly high humidity, is a guarantee of the absence of mold and mildew, unpleasant odor and dampness, the appearance of which is possible throughout the year.

In typical construction projects at the end of the last millennium, it was envisaged to equip each bathroom with a device for drying towels.

Of course, the location and shape of the device itself were not always convenient for apartment owners, therefore, when carrying out repairs, or the need to replace an old device, the question of transferring a heated towel rail to another wall often arises.

Types of heated towel rails and their advantages

Heated towel rail

Let's clarify that there are several types of heated towel rails, each of them has advantages, they are not without some disadvantages.

Typically used devices:

• Standard water ones - work when connected to the hot water supply of a house or its heating system. The problem with such a device is associated with the possibility of operation only during the heating season or in the presence of hot water. Otherwise, the device will be useless. The second point - difficulties with the connection - its illiterate implementation can have a negative impact on the operation of the water supply or heating system of the whole house.
• Electric heated towel rails - metal tubular structures with an electric heater inside. The big advantage of such a device will be the possibility of autonomous operation.
• Universal heated towel rail - Probably the most convenient and unpretentious option. It runs on both hot water and electricity. The only drawback will be the price for such devices - almost 2 times higher than for standard models.

There are also very convenient portable electric models, they are installed on the floor, they do not require any installation, they can be used not only in the bathroom, but in the kitchen or in the room, as a heating device.

Types of heated towel rails

All heated towel rails are divided into three main groups:

• water;
• electrical;
• combined.

The latter type combines the functions of the first and the second.

Most often, bathroom coils are available in M-shaped or U-shaped configurations. Such devices have a rather low heat transfer, which is only 0.5 kW. Giving heated towel rails a different look, manufacturers strive to achieve a higher heat transfer, so in modern devices it reaches 3 kW.

Scheme of a PM-shaped heated towel rail combined with shelves.

Bathroom water coils act as radiators, which is why they are most often referred to as design radiators. They can be used in any bathroom, regardless of its interior. Water dryers are made of stainless steel and can be polished, matt or painted. The color range of modern water heated towel rails is diverse, so they can be easily matched to any interior style. In addition to stainless steel, ferrous metal, cast iron or non-ferrous metal are often used in their production.

Electric heated towel rails are ideal for those apartments in which hot water supply is turned off from time to time.Their advantage is that there is no need to cut into the plumbing system, so they can be installed on almost any wall in the bathroom. Most modern models are controlled using a special control panel. In addition, they can be programmed to maintain the desired temperature.

An electric coil is also used at a time when there is no possibility of connecting a water coil to an existing hot water supply system. An electric appliance allows you to heat the bathroom without resorting to inconvenient and at the same time expensive solutions. It is worth noting that the electrical device can be connected independently, without seeking help from specialists. To do this, it is enough to carefully study the instructions attached to the device and familiarize yourself with the rules and requirements that apply to the installation of electrical equipment in rooms with constant high humidity.

Diagram of connecting a heated towel rail to a hot water or heating system.

In most cases, it is most convenient to use combined heated towel rails. When there is hot water in the pipes, they are used as a water heating device, and during the period of its shutdown - electric.

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To choose the right heated towel rail for your bathroom, you can consult with specialists who will select the most optimal option for a particular case. But regardless of the type of device you choose, you need to remember that the heated towel rail provides additional comfort, warmth and convenience.

How to choose a heated towel rail

When choosing an installation, you should pay attention to imported devices.

Models made in Germany and the Czech Republic are in demand on the market, they are of better quality than from a domestic manufacturer.

When choosing, special attention should be paid to seamless patterns.

When choosing, we take into account that the best option is a stainless steel product or a more expensive brass product.

But if you live in a country house or a cottage, entrusting heating and drying towels should be models made of ferrous metal or brass. With good quality, such a device will last more than twenty years.

Let's watch a video on how to choose the best model:

Preparation and site selection

When a heated towel rail is transferred, it is necessary to agree with the authorities serving the communications of the housing stock. Moving the appliance inside the apartment changes the characteristics of the heating system of the entire multi-storey building. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain permission from the management company. Due to the fact that the installation of a new heated towel rail in another place will lead to a change in the hydrodynamic characteristics of the system, you should consult a specialist.

Advice. When choosing a place to install the appliance, it is recommended to pay attention to the space above the washing machine. It is believed that this placement is the best option. If the machine is front-loaded, the cover must not touch the heated towel rail when opening.

When choosing a new place when moving a heated towel rail, you should be guided by the requirements of SNiP and common sense:

• a heated towel rail in the bathroom is located at a distance of at least 0.6 m from any equipment;
• if the device is U-shaped, it is placed at a height of at least 1.1 m, and M-shaped - at least 0.9 m;
• a vertical device in the form of a ladder is attached in such a way that you can reach its upper part;
• the place for the heated towel rail is selected taking into account the convenient supply of communications;
• it is necessary to install shut-off valves and a bypass - a pipe jumper of the device - so that in unforeseen situations it is possible to shut off the water supply through your device and at the same time not turn it off from your neighbors;

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• when replacing old pipes with new ones, their diameter should be the same or larger, it is also necessary to reduce the length of the liner if possible;
• so that the new pipeline can withstand high water pressure, steel pipes are selected without seams, and polypropylene pipes - with an aluminum interlayer;
• to prevent the appearance of air jams in the system, large level differences should be avoided, for which the pipes are laid with slight slopes;
• the design of the heated towel rail is chosen convenient for connecting to the supply pipes, and the connection thread must be the same (it may differ for imported models).

Heating devices for apartments in multi-storey housing are selected from stainless steel and without seams. Brass products are more suitable for private houses, since there is less chance of water hammer in pipelines.

Before moving the heated towel rail, it is advisable to inform the neighbors about the temporary shutdown of hot water. The overlap of the hot water riser is made after agreement with the management company.

Towel dryer transfer rates

The transfer of the device to another wall as a violation by the housing inspectorate will not be assessed, since the structure is not indicated in the plans of the BTI and a change in its position will not affect the configuration of the layout of the room.

Heated towel rail connection diagram

Often there are other problems with the transfer, because the device belongs to the common property of the house, and will require the collection of signatures for permission to transfer, from all residents of the house.

But in the plans of the BTI, the device is not included, and it works for each apartment separately.

At the same time, a water heated towel rail is supplied to the heating or hot water supply system of the house and, if connected incorrectly, can affect its operation. All three points will need to be taken into account when carrying out repair work.

To correctly carry out the transfer of the device, you will need to comply with some technical conditions.

Do not forget the standards specified in SNiP:

• A ladder-type heated towel rail is attached in such a way that an adult can reach the upper bar;
• U-shaped is mounted not lower than 110 cm from the floor.
• M-shaped is placed at a height of at least 90 centimeters;
• The average value of the attachment height is from 90 to 170 centimeters, for convenient human use.

Stages of work ↑

You should start transferring a heated towel rail connected to a heating or hot water supply system by turning off the water supply. This procedure should be performed by a locksmith from the home service organization. Amateur activities can be very expensive. It is best to warn the neighbors in advance and inform them not only about the shutdown, but also about the planned timing of the work.Subsequent work is carried out in this order:

• Dismantling of old equipment. With the help of the "grinder" old communications are neatly cut out. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the remaining segments are of sufficient length to tie the new pipeline.
• Installation of a bypass with shut-off valves and subsequent pressure testing of the system.
• Laying the pipeline from the new installation site of the heated towel rail to the riser. If the new equipment is to be substantially removed, it is best to perform hydraulic engineering calculations that will allow the pipeline to be correctly positioned. Otherwise, the device will not be able to warm up to the desired temperature. The pipeline can be laid along the wall or hidden inside it under a decorative coating. The second method is more aesthetic, but also more time consuming.
• Marking the wall and fixing a heated towel rail on it. Connection of equipment to the supplied pipeline.
• System health check.
• Carrying out the necessary finishing work.

Dismantling of old equipment should be carried out so that a new pipeline can be tied to the system.

The apparent simplicity of the process of transferring a heated towel rail should not be misleading. The particular complexity of such work is associated with the fact that the equipment has to work under high pressure conditions. The slightest inaccuracy in installation or design can lead to disastrous consequences. Therefore, it is best to entrust responsible work to competent specialists. They will quickly and efficiently transfer the heated towel rail to any place convenient for the customer.

Transferring a heated towel rail to another wall - is it necessary to agree

There are 2 ways to agree on the transfer of a heated towel rail:

• If the house is undergoing repairs and redevelopment, then it is worth noting the transfer in the project documentation, which will need to be submitted for approval to the housing inspectorate, which will subsequently allow or prohibit the transfer;
• If you just want to start repairing and redeveloping the house, then it would be better to carry out the transfer of the device with the help of the employees of the management company, who will enter the new location of the installation.

It is always worth discussing the transfer with the relevant authorities. If there is a breakdown in the water supply of the whole house, only you will be to blame, since you did not agree on the transfer with the housing inspectorate.

Before installing a new heated towel rail, you need to calculate whether it will give an additional load to the heating system of the house. The device must be completely original and free from defects.

Preparing to transfer to another wall

Dismantling and moving the heated towel rail is carried out only after stopping the water supply. To avoid conflict situations, it is recommended to prematurely notify neighbors about the temporary lack of water supply.

The preparatory process for transferring a towel dryer consists of the following steps:

• the plumber disconnects the riser;
• draining the coolant from the system;
• dismantling the heated towel rail;
• taking measurements and marking a new place on the wall;
• fixing the device in the designated area.

To transfer a heated towel rail, you must first dismantle

A grinder is used to dismantle the drying. Initially, the upper liner is trimmed, and then the lower pipe. In this case, it is necessary that the remaining branches from the riser have a length sufficient to connect a new pipeline.

Transferring the structure as a design solution

The world is gradually leaning more towards minimalism, and therefore small and neat models are gaining more and more popularity.

Such a device has many advantages:

• Great view;
• Takes up little space in the bathroom;
• It is cheaper;
• Due to its small size, with a poor pressure of hot water, it will be just as hot

Of the minuses, it is worth noting that such a device is not suitable for all baths. For large baths, such a unit will be disproportionately small.

Heated towel rail as a decor item

There are companies that produce custom-made heated towel rails. You can order a design service and make a device according to your sketch, the required dimensions and colors. It will fit neatly into the bathroom interior. Colored models look good in a bathroom, the interior of which has a bright color scheme.

For standard bathrooms, a stainless steel model is better suited.

The best place to install is above the washing machine. According to the rules of SNiP, the distance from the household appliance to the plumbing equipment should not be less than 60 centimeters.

Design transfer rules

If you are not an expert in plumbing and at the same time want to carry out the whole range of work related to installing a heated towel rail on another wall yourself, you should know some rules that must be strictly followed during the installation of the structure:

1. The shape of the structure must fully correspond to the features of the surface on which the heating communications are located. In this case, the heated towel rail should not occupy all the free space of the area of ​​the room allocated for its installation.
2. In no case should you neglect the installation, seemingly insignificant at first glance, but in fact an extremely important detail - the bypass. In the event of an emergency, it will allow you to fully maintain the performance of the heating system.
3. At the edges of the bypass, two shut-off valves must be installed. Their task is to provide the possibility of local repair of the system without the risk of damage to structural elements.
4. The installed communications must have a minimum permissible length, as well as a cross-section that matches the diameter of the heating pipe.

In general, the process of preparation and installation of a heated towel rail seems to be quite simple, but this does not mean that it is, because accuracy is important in the process of work. The slightest inconsistency or pressure drop in the system is enough to break it down. Therefore, be extremely careful, careful and follow the instructions given. Good luck!

How to prepare for the job of replacing or moving a heated towel rail in a bathroom to another wall

To begin with, you should prepare the tools:

• perforator
• drill bits for concrete work
• electrical tester

It is advisable to prepare screwdrivers, tape measure, marker, mounting brackets.

Convenient place to install a heated towel rail

It is worth choosing the right place for installation, as mentioned earlier, it is best to install a heated towel rail above the washing machine, about one hundred and twenty centimeters, and a sufficient distance from the pipeline.

After determining the installation location, it is worth marking it with a marker. It is desirable that there is a power source (socket) near the installation site. But if there is none, then you will have to lay a separate wire for our device.

There are 2 ways to lay a new socket:

• With a complete bathroom renovation, laying a wire under the cladding is a reliable option.
• It is also possible to run the wire directly over the cladding, but this will not be as safe. The first option, although more complicated and more time consuming, will be much more reliable than the second.

Then you need to dismantle the device from the place of its initial installation.

We make new holes in the marked place for the fastening system of the device. All that remains to be done is to install the mounting system and put the device itself on it. After finishing the finishing work.

We offer you to watch an interesting video about installing a new heated towel rail:

Moving the dryer to another wall

Towel dryers are categorized by surface heating method:

• hot water flowing inside the line;
• with the help of oil heated by a spiral connected to the electrical network.

Aquatic variety

Liquid heated towel rails are connected to water lines or heating lines. If the apartment has a centralized hot water supply, then it is recommended to cut the heater into the pipe break. When using a heating circuit, it is impossible to use a heated towel rail all year round. It should also be borne in mind that in case of damage to the element in the winter, it is necessary to turn off the heating riser in the entire building.

To install a water heater, you must:

1. Determine new fixing points for equipment and mark the wall in accordance with the dimensions of the dryer.
2. Turn off the water supply in the apartment or house. It is recommended to notify neighbors in advance about a temporary cut off of water supply (for example, by placing a notice on the door to the staircase or in the elevator car).
3. Cut the pipes with a grinding wheel or unscrew the fastening flanges (depending on the condition of the threaded connections).
4. Unscrew the screws holding the brackets for fixing the heater to the wall. Seal the holes in the tiles with cement mortar or cover them with decorative elements.
5. Lay the lines to the place where the equipment is to be installed. If steel elements are used, the parts should be connected by resistance welding or special threaded couplings, the connection points are sealed with tow or synthetic tape. Plastic lines must be soldered using a special tool. Ball valves are provided in the channels for supplying and discharging the liquid; there is a jumper (bypass) in front of the valves, which allows maintaining the circulation of water when the towel dryer is turned off.
6. Connect the heated towel rail assembly with couplings; a special American-style connector is used to switch the metal line to the plastic pipes. The coupling is screwed onto the thread on the heated towel rail, and then soldered to the polypropylene lines.
7. Install the mounting brackets that you want to fix to the wall surface with dowels and screws. Use an electric drill or hammer drill to drill the holes.
8. Supply water to the lines and make sure there are no leaks. If water drops are found, re-connect the elements.
9. Close the water mains with a decorative box, in which inspection hatches are provided (for example, for access to valves). If the premises are being repaired, then the pipes are embedded in the walls and covered with tiles.

Electric heated towel rail type

The electric heated towel rail is not connected to the water supply system, which simplifies the transfer procedure. Since the equipment is connected to a 220 V AC mains, the installation point is located at a distance of at least 600 mm from faucets or shower heads. A socket with a waterproof housing is mounted on the wall, equipped with grounding contacts. An automatic fuse and RCD protection are provided in the power supply circuit.

Electric heated towel rail.

Algorithm of actions when installing an electric heated towel rail:

1. Remove the heater from the old place, seal the holes in the partition with decorative plugs or fill with tile grout.
2. Mark the attachment points on the wall surface. It is recommended to install the heater at a distance of at least 950 mm from the floor surface and at a distance of 750 mm from the edges of furniture installed in the bathroom.
3. Drill holes; for the processing of tiles, a special drill with a carbide tip is used.
4. Install plastic dowels into the channels, and then screw the fasteners of the heating equipment with screws.
5. Connect the power supply and check the heater's performance in different operating modes.It is not allowed to operate the equipment with a current housing or with a faulty temperature controller.

Transferring a water heated towel rail, what difficulties arise

Firstly, there may be legal problems with the permission to transfer, and secondly, when moving the water apparatus, there may be problems with the load of the new structure on the water supply system of the house.

All other difficulties are not serious compared to the first two.

Before starting the transfer, it is imperative to turn off the supply riser. It is not recommended to do this on your own; it is better to entrust this to a professional plumber.

Usually, water devices do not have a heat regulation system, but a ball valve can be installed on it, which will allow regulating the heating of the installation.

First of all, it is always worth finding out if the transfer of the structure in the house is allowed. If not, then it is imperative to coordinate this with the relevant authorities.

If you carried out the transfer of the installation and did not agree with the housing inspectorate, then you will be brought to administrative responsibility. The case can go to court, and you will have to be punished or get off with a tidy fine.

Watch the video, an interesting and safe option for connecting a heated towel rail:

Features of installing an electric heated towel rail

Electric heated towel rail

It will be much easier for residents of private houses to choose a place to install the unit. Residents of apartment buildings have a limited number of options for choosing a location.

The electrical design won't give you much of the hassle of transferring to another wall. It is not necessary to coordinate the transfer of such a device with the housing inspectorate.

There are two nuances that exist when transferring an electric heated towel rail:

• The distance from the water source must be at least 60 centimeters;
• Correct power supply connections.

The electric model has a large number of advantages over its water counterpart, here are a few of them:

• Closed loop allows email. a heated towel rail to be in working order all year round.
• With such a device, you should forget such words as: corrosion, hard water and pressure drops.
• And of course the biggest plus will be the ability to adjust the heating power.

Methods to improve performance and safety:

• It is necessary to carefully hide the wiring that is connected to the heated towel rail;
• It is worthwhile to ground the device due to the fact that it is installed in a room with high humidity;
• It is advisable to install an RCD (residual current device)

What is necessary

For dismantling and installation, it is best to invite a professional, but this can be done on your own if you have the necessary knowledge. You will need:

• Drill with drill bits for a concrete wall;
• Spanners;
• Screwdrivers;
• Roulette;
• Various fasteners;
• Pencil marker;
• Wires of the required diameter and length, boxes for them, an outlet (if necessary).

Moving an electric heated towel rail to another wall should respond 3 basic conditions:

• Competent connection and connection to electricity;
• The distance between the appliance and the water source is at least 60 cm;
• When laying new wiring, the wires must be protected from moisture, the equipment itself must be grounded and equipped with a protective shutdown.