Simple rules for choosing a water heated towel rail for a bathroom. Tips & Tricks


How to choose a heated towel rail for a comfortable and warm bathroom?

Even from a simple heated towel rail, designers can make an exquisite piece of furniture, completely changing our idea of ​​household items and plumbing. Earlier, few people thought about how to choose the right heated towel rail. The object served an exclusively utilitarian function - damp bath towels were thrown over it for quick drying. And now you want to choose heated towel rails with maximum efficiency, economy, benefits for the family and the bathroom.

What are the types of heated towel rails?

It is simply necessary to choose a heated towel rail in the bathroom in the following cases:

  • the bathroom project is large, it needs to be regularly warmed up and the towel dryer will thus serve as a necessary source of heat;
  • a large family lives in the house, which means that additional space for drying things after washing will not be superfluous;
  • a good, solid repair has been made in the bathroom, therefore dampness and moisture in it are unacceptable. The heated towel rail will keep the air dry and at the optimum temperature.

How to choose a heated towel rail if you want to combine aesthetics and practicality in a single device? The market offers models of traditional forms and design solutions that will not let you get bored in the atmosphere of timeless classics.

Among the original, unusual proposals: models in the form of flowers, stars, in futuristic shapes, with mirrors. They are designed more for heating the room, because drying things on them is not so convenient. Large towels cannot be hung up to dry thoroughly.

If you need a practical functional model, it is better to choose a heated towel rail in the traditional version - in the form of a snake or a ladder. The wide bars are designed for drying clothes and small textiles. Symmetry of forms will easily flow into a project of any design, and simple lines and laconic performance do not become obsolete over the years.

Model selection by appearance and installation location

The standard type of coil-shaped heated towel rail does not cause much delight among buyers. Electrical devices are represented by many different in appearance models, among which there are very original design solutions... You can easily choose a model according to your taste. A heated towel rail can have the appearance of a complex geometric shape, resemble a ladder outwardly, or have an almost fantastic shape.

To choose the best model, you should adhere to the following tips:

  • The more horizontal pipes in the heated towel rail, the more heat it will give off.
  • On convex tubes it is more convenient to lay out the laundry to dry.
  • If the bathroom is small, then you should opt for a heated towel rail with sliding "ears". Let us explain that the heated towel rail has a fixed central section. From it to the sides can move apart "ears" - one or two other sections of the device. The design works on the principle of cabinet doors. If you need to hang a lot of wet laundry to dry, then we move apart the additional parts of the device, if not necessary, then we get by with the central part.

For cramped bathrooms, it is advisable to buy a heated towel rail model with built-in shelf, where you can place cosmetics and hygiene items.

When choosing a heated towel rail, you should pay attention to the mobility of the structure. There are models designed for wall installation only, while other options are floor-standing. Wall-mounted options take up less space.However, you cannot rearrange them from place to place. Floor structures do not require installation work related to drilling and installation of additional fittings. The floor-standing version of the heated towel rail is equipped with legs for stability.

Which heated towel rail is better - water or electric?

Thinking about which heated towel rail to choose, you will come across two types of appliances: water and electric.

The heated towel rail is heated by hot water flowing through the water pipe. The temperature of the dryer is the same as the water supplied to the population - it can be cooler in summer and warmer in winter. In more expensive models, there is a power regulator that allows you to additionally heat the water to the desired temperature, up to 100 degrees. Some appliances have a temperature indicator to show if it's time to warm up the water in the appliance.

An electric heated towel rail is powered by an electricity source and can be placed on any bathroom wall that has a power outlet. This is a convenient option if hot water is not available in your area all the time, with different temperatures, and you do not want to depend on these factors.

What are the prices for electric heated towel rails for a modern bathroom today?

The variety of these products will satisfy even the most sophisticated architectural designs. Their purchase also does not pose any particular problems - there are many Internet resources and specialized stores at the service.

Among import manufacturers, such brands, as:

  • Margaroli;
  • DeLonghi;
  • Energy;
  • Heatex;
  • Elghansa.

Electric heated towel rails for the bathroom from firms from Turkey and neighboring countries will cost a little cheaper in price. Products from domestic firms Sunerzha and Parus have proven themselves quite well.

For example, consider the cost of some models.

Energy E-G1

The unit, manufactured in Britain, with dimensions of 430x490 mm, has a power of 40 watts. Good build quality, as well as compact size make it suitable for use in small bathrooms. Cost - 4 400 rub.

Margaroli Vento 50

This model, with a power of 100 W and dimensions 630x575 mm, has a swivel mechanism and a hidden BOX connection. Average cost - 19,000 rubles.

Margaroli Sole 564-14

Another model from the Margoli company, only this time it is made in the form of a "ladder" with 14 sections. Dimensions 470x1330 mm, power 300 W. The presence of a safety thermostat set at 128 degrees will prevent overheating and failure of the entire unit. For this device you will have to pay 64 150 rub.

Sunerzha-Galant 00-0501-5040

This model is a good answer to the question of how and which one to choose an inexpensive and high-quality electric heated towel rail for a small bathroom. Despite the compact dimensions of 500x400 mm, the unit develops a power of 300 watts. average cost 9 500 rub.

Which heated towel rail is better than electric or water - compare characteristics

WaterElectric
Benefits
  • Economical to use, does not consume electricity
  • The cost is lower than electric
  • It can be mounted on any wall, at the outlet
  • Does not depend on the availability of hot water in the house
disadvantages
  • Functioning and temperature depends on the availability of centralized hot water
  • Installation is possible only near the water supply pipe
  • Susceptible to corrosion, accumulation of salts and water impurities. Requires periodic cleaning
  • Requires binding to an outlet
  • Wastes energy, increasing the amount of bills
  • Relative insecurity, since you have to deal with an electrical appliance

How to choose an electric heated towel rail?

To choose an electric heated towel rail, it is worth appreciating the advantages of this device: the ability to regulate the temperature of heating the water, freedom of installation site, elegant appearance.It is advantageous to choose electric heated towel rails due to their durability, because salts do not accumulate inside the pipes, and the inner coating does not deteriorate.

  1. When choosing, give preference to models with automatic shutdown when the water is heated to a predetermined temperature in order to economically use energy resources.
  2. Pay attention to the diameter of the dryer pipe. It must match the diameter of the water supply pipe.
  3. The installation of the device should be carried out only by a professional master who will select the sockets, carry out high-quality installation and protect the owners from electric shock.

Connecting an electric heated towel rail to the network


An electric heated towel rail requires a voltage of 220 V and a current frequency of 50 Hz. It does not require constant maintenance. Turning on is done by inserting the plug into the socket. Some options have a plug switch, then you no longer need to plug in and out of the socket.

Safety with electricity

Electric towel warmers designed for installation in the bathroom are protected from moisture. The degree of protection is indicated by an IP code and has two digits:

  • the first - determines the degree of protection against the penetration of dust and dirt into the device (can be from 0 to 6);
  • the second - determines the degree of protection against water penetration and its harmful effects (from 0 to 8).

Since moisture protection is important for such a device, the first digit in the designation is not important, it is usually replaced by the letter X.

In humid places such as bathrooms, electrical devices can present a risk of electric shock. Therefore, they can only be placed in certain places. The bathroom has four zones. In each of them, you can install a device only with a certain degree of protection. Electric heated towel rails can usually only be installed in zones II and III.

Bathroom Electric Shock Zones
Bathroom Electric Shock Zones

Most models are sold with a mounting bracket kit. Safety regulations require this device to be installed no closer than 60 cm from a bathtub, sink and shower and to only connect it to a grounded outlet. Manufacturers usually provide a one to one and a half year warranty on electric heated towel rails.

Which is the best water heated towel rail?

How to choose a water heated towel rail among dozens of economical and practical options? Each of them seems decent in performance and interesting in design.

The dryer can be with bottom and side connections, this point needs to be thought out before buying so that the device fits in shape and size to the water supply pipe. The device operates under stressful conditions, dealing with strong pressure, high temperatures, in contact with hot water, the temperature of which can reach boiling. Scale accumulates inside the pipes, which can clog the pipes, after which repair or even replacement of the device is required. What to buy a water-type heated towel rail so that it can last a couple of decades?

  • the device must be made of durable, thickened stainless steel, which is highly safe for use in hot water supply systems. The black steel model will also be of high quality;
  • rotary models will appeal to everyone who loves multifunctional devices. In the catalogs of foreign manufacturers, you will find options for dryers that unfold 180 degrees. This is convenient if you need to hang a lot of things or turn off the device to wash the wall;
  • the diameter of the pipes affects not only functionality, but also aesthetics in the interior. The thinner the dryer bars, the better the design looks.

How to choose a stainless steel heated towel rail?

What kind of heated towel rail to choose water or electric so that it will last at least a dozen years without failures and replacement? When choosing, you should pay attention to the material of manufacture, because it depends on it how hardy and wear-resistant the device will be:

  1. copper dryers have won the status of those "eternal" devices with which there is no hassle. But their price is never low, these are the most expensive models on the plumbing market;
  2. made of black steel - a budget option, but does not differ in durability. Among the disadvantages of devices made of black steel, a tendency to form rust, thin pipe walls, colored or chrome plating quickly peels off;
  3. made of stainless steel - the most demanded option at an affordable price and with good quality indicators. Design solutions are not limited to metallic colors. Many brands produce painted towel warmers with a glossy surface in a wide range of colors to suit any interior. If you are faced with the question of which heated towel rail is better than stainless steel or brass, give preference to stainless steel. Brass, copper, aluminum models are not strong enough when exposed to regular contact with hot water.

Criterias of choice

The main criteria for choosing a towel dryer are appearance, functionality and material of manufacture. Which option is better to choose? To answer this question, we suggest that you consider all the types and advantages of modern heated towel rails, after which you can choose the best individual option for your bathroom.

Size selection

Count the number of people living in the apartment. Agree, everyone has the right to count on hanging their large terry towel after a shower on the dryer.

Accordingly, the minimum number of "hangers" is equal to the number of residents. It is good if there is a large distance between the pipes and the towels are well dried.

Ladders with an abundance of slats seem to be an economical solution, but only at first glance.

For panties, socks, T-shirts and T-shirts, it is better to purchase a separate dryer for clothes, and a heated towel rail is mainly used clearly for its intended purpose. Many are unpleasantly close proximity of a bath towel and washed socks or handkerchiefs.

Connections and fasteners

Be very attentive to fasteners, product seams. The water in the heating system of apartment buildings moves under strong pressure and insufficient quality fixing can cause a serious accident.

Select and purchase a coil immediately prior to installation. Be sure to keep all receipts and guarantees, packaging. This is necessary to make it easier to change the product or return it to the store in case of defects.

Water heated towel rails material

Heating pipes are regularly subjected to severe stress. These are pressure drops, pumping of pipes, rust and technical hot water. Therefore, any device connected to heating networks must be distinguished by increased reliability. Indicators of pressure drops in the heating network sometimes reach 10 atmospheres, we will add the weight of the towels and additional loads (for example, you leaned on your hand or the child pulled the towel strongly at 2 ends at once). As a result, it will be correct to immediately exclude plastics, as they are not sufficiently reliable and wear out quickly.

Before buying, it would be nice to know exactly the parameters of the heating network and pressure, add a couple of atmospheres for possible water shocks and go to the store with the specified parameters.

If you have a good relationship with the management company and of course you will be ordering the installation from them, it is quite possible that the plumber can accompany you in the store. Of course, it will cost a small surcharge, but why not?

Coated plastic

The most insidious material is plastic covered with a chrome-like film.First, the shiny film will wear off in six months. But it doesn't matter.
It will wipe clean and will not look so elegant. The trouble is that the material itself is unstable, prone to cracks and breaks.

Secondly, sellers themselves are not always aware of the material and you may be the victim of a bona fide deception.

Such plastic looks absolutely and exactly like chrome, has metal fasteners at the ends and it is absolutely impossible to distinguish a fake without being a specialist or without reading the product specification.

Needless to say that this particular material is the champion in breakthroughs, cracks, and equipment breakdowns from threads? Bypass this material by the tenth road. If you see that the seller is trying to "rub" a naive elderly lady or housewife with an expensive-looking, sparkling, but surprisingly cheap and light heated towel rail, take a minute of your time and explain the situation.

Find out how to install polypropylene pipes with your own hands. Tips and features for installing pipes. Read about insulation for heating pipes in this article.

You can find out how to solder plastic pipes here https://aquacomm.ru/vodosnabzenie/zagorodnyie-doma-v/avtonomnoe-vodosnabzhenie/trubyi/plastikovyie/montazh/kak-payat.html types and technology of soldering, temperature requirements and much other.

Stainless steel

Water heated towel rails made of stainless steel of a convenient shape (with the letter M or a ladder, with multilevel shelves or spirals) this is the safest choice... Especially if you do not take models with rotary functions. The turn is always convenient. But any mechanical movement always leads to wear of equipment and brings closer the moment when a fountain of rusty boiling water will pour out of the heating pipe.

Stainless steel heated towel rail
Stainless steel heated towel rail

The stainless steel coil, securely embedded in the wall, will dry your towels and regulate the microclimate of the bathroom for decades. Pay attention to the wall thickness of the pipe, it should not be less than 2 mm. It is best to purchase a heated towel rail of our production with a mark of compliance with GOST.

Brass

Lightweight material, typical for imported production. It is more fragile than our stainless steel models.

Well suited in a private house, where the pressure of hot water does not exceed 2-4 atmospheres... It's better not to take risks in apartment buildings.

Chromed steel

One of the most reliable and beautiful options. Be sure to require a passport of conformity, especially in the case of imported production. As you know, private home ownership is widespread in Western Europe and many plumbing fixtures are designed to meet the standards of private or small-family home ownership.

Aluminum

Lightweight, not subject to blockages, strong enough. If the model you like is made of aluminum and has all the necessary documents and certificates of conformity, do not hesitate, take it.

The pipe diameter can differ in a "fancy" way from the standard adopted in our heating networks. Perhaps the designers in Italy or Hong Kong found this solution beautiful. Installation of an additional adapter will not add beauty or reliability to the system.

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