You can place a heated towel rail not only in the bathroom - it will perfectly cope with the function of additional heating and drying, being installed in the corridor, utility room, in the laundry room or another room country house. It will work all seasons, as long as hot water circulates in the pipes, which means that in the summer it will be warm and cozy in the drying room.
It is enough to perform the installation correctly once in order to no longer control the operation of the heated towel rail. Its parameters do not change during the entire period of operation. It is not required to change wires, sockets, bring current to the room. This is a full-fledged heater that does not increase heating costs.
When buying, pay attention to the following details:
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Characteristic |
Options |
Description |
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Appearance |
Standard |
Traditional models of a curved shape (such as "serpentine", pipes bent with the letter "M", "P"). Differ in low heat transfer (no more than 0.5 kW) |
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Upgraded |
Towel dryers that have undergone minor modernization (they used pipes of different diameters, shelves were installed, unusual shape etc.). |
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Elegant |
original form, for example, a ladder. |
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Material |
Non-ferrous metals |
They will not last long, because they are exposed to an aggressive environment, which in our case is hot water with harmful impurities that destroy the surface of the pipes. |
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Stainless steel |
The best option for the domestic water supply system. The outer part is usually chromed, painted or polished. |
Write down for yourself the following criteria for choosing a device and follow the instructions point by point:
- We go to the housing department: find out the pressure level in the water supply - based on these data, choose the appropriate heated towel rail.
- Ask for documents: the presence of a passport with a warranty card is a sign of a quality device.
- Ask what material the device is made of: it’s worth considering the option further, if only it is made of stainless steel.
- Find out what maximum crimping pressure it can withstand. Compare it with the data obtained in the housing department. Buy a model with a margin to be sure.
- Visual inspection of pipes: it is better to buy a heated towel rail without a seam, because it will disperse from the pressure of water if it is made poorly. There is no such possibility - contact well-known brands to reduce the risk of marriage.
- What material is used to cover the surface. The most reliable heated towel rails are those with a chrome top. In second place is enamel applied by polymerization. The third one is painting.
- Make sure that the device is equipped with a Mayevsky valve (for air release). If an air pocket forms inside, the heated towel rail will not heat to the allowable power.
Go to the store, armed with a magnet. If it does not stick to the heated towel rail, then there is a lot of chromium in the material (about a fifth), which is usually added to stainless steel.
Electricity or water - that is the question
Electric towel warmers also have their own audience. Voltage models are also beautiful and varied, but they should be chosen based on expediency and physical feasibility, for example:
- You have a small bathroom: an electric towel warmer is a standard electrical appliance that works in high humidity. According to safety regulations, it is recommended to install the device no closer than 60 cm from the bath, sink, shower. It is impossible to implement these standards in small bathrooms.
- We put an electrical appliance in an old house where there is no hot water supply or the system is so outdated that connecting an additional appliance can lead to an emergency.
- A water heated towel rail is sufficient if a "warm floor" is installed in the room. The bathroom is always dry and warm. A powerful device that runs on electricity will be superfluous.
- We bought an electric one - now you need to install an additional outlet in the bathroom, and also think about how to hide the wiring in the walls and bring out the ground. In the construction estimate, these are additional operations that run into costs. If you carry out installation in an operated room, it is better to wait for a major overhaul.
Water Towel Warmer Brands: What Buyers Are Saying
The model line is represented by Russian and imported heated towel rails. If the goal is to install a water rather than an electrical device, experts do not advise considering foreign models. Most of them are not adapted to the Russian system of heat and water supply. In the West, pipes supplying hot water are completely exhausted, and the water flows soft, devoid of any impurities. Manufacturers of plumbing fixtures, drying appliances, are focused on such water, respectively, they do not think about strengthening the body of heated towel rails, about preventing corrosion, but focus on aesthetics.
Not all imported heated towel rails are suitable for Russian consumers. The diameter of the inner lumen in them sometimes does not exceed half an inch, which is absolutely not suitable for our hard water. They are made from non-ferrous metals, coated with chrome-nickel - such a scheme is not acceptable for domestic water pipes.
Top 3 Russian heated towel rails:
- "Sunerzha" (St. Petersburg).
- "Nika" (Podolsky district, Moscow region).
- Aquastal (Moscow).
|
Brand |
pros |
Minuses |
Examples |
|
"Sunerzha" |
The most titled manufacturer with the richest model line of heated towel rails: from the simplest to the designer. The case when you should not be afraid of welds on pipes: they are made in compliance with the technology, therefore they will not disperse even under high pressure environment. They function for a long time, do not cause problems during the entire service life, and have a guarantee. Sunerzha is the first in Russia to launch new products, introducing more advanced technologies into production. Even if a breakdown suddenly happens, you won’t have to wait long for a replacement or warranty repair: they have a clear case for this. |
The only negative is the high price of products. You can find much cheaper, but the quality and service are worth it. |
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"Nika" |
Many new products, rich model line, wide price range. Each model undergoes strength testing, being exposed to pressure up to 40 atm. Plasma polishing is used to make the products look amazing. Model range: 53 products, 1400 standard sizes. |
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Aquastal |
Models are easy to repair. High quality food grade steel is used. It is possible to connect to the system without the use of transitional angles. If you are looking for a “high-quality, but inexpensive” option, choose models from this manufacturer, as well as towel warmers from Terminus, but not Sunerzha. |
Inexpensive models after 2-3 years begin to leak at the welding points, rust appears. Such models are not restored, they have to be replaced under warranty. |
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Of the Russian representatives, the heated towel rails of the plant in the city of Kimry, Terminus, are considered to be quite good. From import consider Zehnder, Kermi (Germany), Margaroli (Italy), Korado (Czech Republic). It's not so much about quality (any manufacturer has supermodels). The main thing is to match technical parameters products with a heat and water supply system (depending on what the heated towel rail will be connected to) and perform professional installation.
Towel dryers have long been part of everyday life. Water modifications are installed in almost every bathroom. They are connected to a heating system or hot water supply.
In addition to their direct purpose, these devices perform many more important and necessary functions. So, creating the right microclimate in the room, by drying the air, they prevent the occurrence of fungi, mold, dampness of wall cladding and interior items.
Let's figure out which water heated towel rail is best to choose for installation in your bathroom.
A water heated towel rail is a very useful bathroom equipment. And in order to choose the right one, depending on the heating system, plumbing, bathroom dimensions, several important aspects must be taken into account.
As a rule, the installation of this device occurs during the repair process in the bathroom or when replacing the water or heating mains.
This towel warmer is hot water coils. More often, such a coil is connected to a hot water pipe, because. heating in our country is seasonally turned off for a period of three months to six months. Therefore, if you start the dryer on the heating system, it will not work in the warm season.
water pressure
In apartments multi-storey buildings the choice and installation of a water heated towel rail must be taken more carefully than in a private one, since in the heating systems of such buildings there are often severe pressure fluctuations. Sometimes it reaches 10 atmospheres.
According to GOSTs regulating specifications heating and hot water supply systems in residential apartment buildings, the pressure of the water column in the system should not exceed 4 atmospheres.
In fact, it ranges from 2.5 to 7.5 and depends on the number of storeys of the building, the terrain and the technical condition of communications.
Following the same GOSTs, plumbing fittings that are used in such houses must comply with the parameters of the working and pressure pressure, which is average for plumbing or heating system of this building. In the case of water-folding structures, this is up to 6 atmospheres and above.
Therefore, choosing a heated towel rail for installation in apartment building, necessary take into account the peculiarities of pressure in waterways buildings, and also do not forget about the possibility of water hammer.
That is, two parameters are compared: water pressure in the pipe to which the device is planned to be connected and the pressure limits for which the selected model is designed. All necessary technical characteristics are indicated in the product passport.
In private houses, as a rule, water supply and heating systems are autonomous, and pressure in them, on average, 2-3 atmospheres. Therefore, for such dwellings, the choice of models of water heated towel rails is not limited to this parameter.
Form
There are various forms of water heated towel rails. And this also needs to be given importance when choosing, because this tubular structure will become part of the interior bathroom and will affect its design.
Models of foreign manufacturers have a more diverse shape, additional equipment and color scheme. Besides, the diameter of pipes of imported models is smaller, which positively affects the aesthetics of the product.
In terms of design, the buyer is provided with a huge selection of different modifications of heated towel rails. This and M - shaped, and MP - shaped, and P - shaped, and various ladders With different type connection and rib configuration.
A foreign manufacturer pleases the consumer with the most unexpected configurations of water dryers. The most popular are models that can turn 180 degrees and also perpendicular to the wall.
And the color scheme of tubular dryers cannot but delight. Designs are produced for every taste: white, chrome-plated “under silver”, gilded. Eat choice for any design any bathroom.
Choice in terms of shape and type of device limited only by the user's desire. But it is necessary to monitor the presence in the selected model stopcocks. This will make the product easier to use and care for.
And here you will learn how to choose good mixer for the bathroom:
What to look for in order not to buy a defective or unsuitable device?
As has been the case since the days of the "wild market", anything that is in high demand runs the risk of being counterfeited. Towel warmers made of popular materials - stainless steel and chrome-plated brass - are no exception. How to choose a water heated towel rail for the bathroom and not blunder? You need to take a closer look:
- welds, their quality;
- serviceability of the valve (Mayevsky crane);
- the integrity of the coloring/polishing of the surface of the coil;
- integrity and shape of mounting brackets;
- the presence of sealing gaskets;
- thread integrity under all nuts.
Of course, you need to ask the seller to provide documents confirming the origin of this heated towel rail.
In this video you can see some useful tips, which should be observed when buying a water heated towel rail:
What warranties are provided?
By law, the warranty obligations for sanitary ware are borne by the manufacturer. It also establishes warranties. It should be remembered that all obligations are valid only on the territory of the Russian Federation and exclusively in relation to persons subject to under the Law "On Protection of Consumer Rights".
All warranties apply both to the product itself and to all components, original spare parts, accessories and other parts purchased from the manufacturer's dealers.
No warranty repair, replacement or return in case of violation of the rules of operation devices.
Most often, the warranty period for water heated towel rails is 3 to 5 years. For spare parts and accessories to them - 1 year.
In case of detection of defects, which are the fault of the manufacturer, products are subject to repair/replacement in the following cases:
- If the specified warranty period is observed;
- If the device is imported to Russia official way through the manufacturer's partner network and purchased in the country;
- Only if there are sales receipts or other documents confirming the purchase and a correctly completed warranty card;
- Products subject to warranty repair/replacement only with manufacturing defects;
- The warranty covers only branded components and spare parts;
- Obligations for warranty repairs are valid only if all the rules of operation and installation are observed;
- The decision on the eligibility of warranty repair/replacement is made by the authorized representative of the manufacturer of the product (spare part);
- Defective devices or components become the property of the manufacturer after replacement;
- After the elimination of malfunctions, warranty obligations are extended for the period during which the item was not used.
When replacing spare parts with a separate warranty period, the new parts will have the same warranty period.
Warranty repairs are not performed in the following cases:
- improper operation;
- Mechanical damage;
- Damage caused by natural disasters;
- In case of repair by an unauthorized person.
Water heated towel rails are a plumbing fixture that in demand in any home - from a mansion to a small "Khrushchev". Drying towels, reducing air humidity, creating a cozy bathroom atmosphere, preventing mold and other fungi - this is an incomplete list of the advantages of a small coil on the bathroom wall. If done right choice, then this device will last for many years, and will properly cope with its function.
A heated towel rail is an indispensable attribute of a bathroom. It's almost impossible to get by without it. With it, it is convenient to dry small linen, heat the room in the absence of heating radiators. How to choose a heated towel rail for baths: water or electric stands before many. It is rather problematic to give a universal answer to this question. Should be considered individual characteristics bathroom, the area of the room and decide on the type of equipment.
Almost any bathroom is initially equipped with a water heated towel rail. However, year-round operation is not always possible. For example, in "Khrushchev" and in houses with a column, this component of communications is separated from the water supply system. Pipes are heated only with the beginning of the heating season.
It is somewhat easier for those whose apartment is equipped with centralized water supply. In this case, part of the pipe is involved hot water. However, the temperature working surface depends entirely on the quality utilities. When the water supply is interrupted, you will have to face the fact that the coil will cool down, and its intended use will be impossible for some time. In addition, it will not be possible to control and regulate temperature regime. However, it will not be superfluous to know how to choose the right water heated towel rail for the bathroom.
In the form of a ladder, both electric and water models are available.
Electrical appliances are more convenient in daily operation. They have a number of advantages over analogues that are part of hot water supply:
- the possibility of year-round use;
- some models are equipped with a thermostat, which allows you to control the intensity of heat generation;
- free placement in the room, excluding the bathroom area and the space around water sources;
- various sizes and equipment configurations.
However, with all the advantages, disputes about which heated towel rails are better - water or electric - arise quite often. It is not always possible to find a place even for a small additional coil, someone is stopped by the cost of electricity or the lack of an extra outlet.
When choosing a water heated towel rail, the operating pressure of the equipment is taken into account. For safe operation, it is desirable that this indicator reaches 6 atmospheres.
Towel dryer with swivel mechanism very convenient to use
How to choose the right heated towel rail for the bathroom
An important characteristic of equipment designed for drying towels, small laundry and heating the bathroom is the shape. Manufacturers offer the following product configurations:
- ladder;
- U-shaped;
- M-shaped;
- PM-shaped;
- PL-shaped;
- S-shaped;
- multi-channel coils.
Types of heated towel rails
Letter designations give an idea of the layout of the dryer pipes. The most elementary are P- and M-shaped models. They are easy to install, as a rule, they can easily fit into the project communications system. However, it should be noted that U-shaped products are functionally limited and are designed to accommodate one device.
PM- and PL-shaped models are somewhat more efficient - you can hang two or three towels or several pieces of small linen on them. The heat transfer of such equipment is also higher, which is important in the cold season, provided there are no heating radiators in the bathroom.
U-shaped models - the simplest of all on the market
How to choose electric towel warmers? The choice of an electrical model should be made based on the configuration and heat transfer of the device (the most efficient are from 600 W to 2 kW). Ladder models are recognized as the most popular. They have a number of significant advantages:
- a wide range of products;
- ease of installation;
- functionality;
- aesthetic appearance;
- the possibility of thermoregulation (if an appropriate sensor is provided).
Manufacturers also offer variations on the ladder theme - interlaced models, products with crossbar tubes of various lengths, symmetrical or asymmetrical. Dryers look elegant, shaped like a sinusoid.
A number of manufacturers offer combined heated towel rails - they can be heated both from water and from electricity.
Water heated towel rails are placed next to the washbasin or bath, because. they are directly connected to the water supply system
What to consider when choosing a heated towel rail
Which heated towel rail is better to choose is a common question, which is not surprising. Manufacturers form an impressive assortment range, from simple models to original designs. Therefore, it is important to formulate “problem conditions”:
- decide on the type of heated towel rail - water or electric;
- the location of the equipment - the water one completely depends on the plumbing communications, the electric one can be placed in any convenient location- above the toilet washing machine, near a mirror, on a free wall, etc., however, it needs an outlet;
- model size - depends on the availability of free space on the wall;
- coating type - painted (usually white color), or chrome-plated stainless steel.
Often actual question raised on thematic forums on the Internet. Most users lean towards electrical equipment, but modern water models also find their adherents. In addition, it is not always possible to install an “autonomous” dryer. In some bathrooms, there is not even a place for a small ladder or the letter P.
Ladder - the best type of heated towel rail
IN small bathroom a heated towel rail is often placed over a toilet or washing machine. The latter option is convenient in that one outlet is enough for two electrical appliances. The only negative is that they cannot be turned on at the same time.
Placing a heated towel rail above the toilet saves space
Having decided to purchase a new heated towel rail, they also evaluate the possibility of expanding or reducing the space occupied by the “default” coil. Often, the installation of a new dryer requires significant changes in the communications system.
And finally, the type of coverage. Here they start from financial opportunities and design solution in the bathroom. If there are no chrome parts in the room, and a light ladder harmoniously fits into the interior, it is advisable to prefer a white model.
white towel warmer
In the presence of metallized decor elements, professionals recommend stopping at chrome-plated equipment. By the way, such heated towel rails retain a presentable appearance longer.
Best of all, when deciding which heated towel rail to choose for the bathroom, consult a professional. Bathroom fitters know the lineup, market conditions, technical features products from different manufacturers. In addition, the masters will competently and professionally carry out the installation of a heated towel rail - this is one of the conditions for efficient and long-term operation of the equipment.
Choosing a heated towel rail for baths: video
To teach your family to finally use a heated towel rail and not hang wet towels all over the bathroom, you need to choose the right one. But first you need to decide which of the two types of heated towel rails is right for you - water or electric.
Water heated towel rails
Water models are connected to the system central heating or to a hot water supply system (DHW). The second option is, of course, better, because in this case the heated towel rail will work. all year round, while in the first - only from October to May. In some new homes, there is no outlet for a water heated towel rail at all. Thus, living in an apartment building, you are limited only by the option that is provided standard project unless you did it yourself overhaul and specifically did not run a pipe to connect the heated towel rail from the hot water supply.
With all its undoubted advantages - a water heated towel rail always works, does not require any costs, it is quite durable if you choose a well-made model, there are an infinite number of designs and shapes for every taste - it also has disadvantages: the heating temperature cannot be adjusted, and there is the possibility of a leak. The first of these drawbacks can be eliminated by finding a model with a thermostat, which you will need not only to keep the towels from drying out, but also to regulate the temperature in the bathroom if your house management is trying too hard and the bathroom is constantly hot. The second drawback can be foreseen if you approach the choice especially carefully.
The first thing to take care of when buying a heated towel rail is to check the quality of the welds and threads at the junctions with water pipe. Welds must be even, and fastening must be reliable.
Visually, you can also appreciate how even and correct the design looks, since many models are assembled by hand. Remember that the durability of the device depends on the quality factor of the assembly. In particularly unfortunate cases, the heated towel rail will begin to leak immediately or after a month or two, so take your choice as seriously as possible.
Finally, the water heated towel rail must withstand the operating and pressurization pressure in the heating network (or DHW network) of your home. Standard working pressure - 5 - 24 atm. Crimping (that is, short-term during testing) - up to 40 atm. Product parameters can be specified in the data sheet. If you are buying a towel warmer for a country house, this requirement is not essential, since the pressure in autonomous system heat supply usually does not exceed 2 - 3 atm., which means that any model will do.
Electric towel warmers
In electric models, a cable or heating elements (heating elements) are used for heating. This device does not depend on the heating system, and it can be installed in any convenient place. There are other advantages - the risk of leaks and corrosion is eliminated.
The main disadvantage of this option is the cost of electricity. Towel warmers consume between 40 and 300 Wh, and if they run around the clock, this can add up to a pretty significant amount. Therefore, the thermostat in such a device is a necessity, not a whim.
When installing Special attention should be given to safety. A damp room is always an increased risk when it comes to the use of electrical appliances. Therefore, it is mandatory to install a waterproof outlet and an RCD (residual current device).
Production material
The best material for a heated towel rail is stainless steel with polished or chromed surface. Painted models made of ordinary steel are cheaper, but are prone to corrosion, which is why they are less durable.
Imported heated towel rails of stainless steel they are quite rare on sale - this is due to the fact that in other countries heated towel rails are almost universally connected to the heating system, and not hot water supply. In such systems, devices made of ordinary metal work for many years. Therefore, we recommend that you take a closer look at the models of domestic manufacturers, which have been very successful in the production of stainless steel heated towel rails.
There are also rotary models that are convenient to use in small spaces. Thanks to the hinged mounting, the heated towel rail can be rotated within 180 ° - as a whole or in two or three sections. The main disadvantage of such structures is a greater risk of leakage.
Reference article based on the expert opinion of the author.
