When renovating a bathroom, there is a need to replace the heated towel rail, and if there is none, to install it. The choice of heated towel rails is quite wide: various materials, companies, color, design, connection methods. Which water heated towel rail is best to choose for an apartment and how to connect it, what options there may be, reviews, photos - this will be discussed in the material below.
Why is this device needed?
The answer is in the name, but in addition to drying towels, this technique also serves to heat the room. In addition to its main task, a heated towel rail serves as a radiator in the bathroom - and this is also worth taking into account when choosing.
Advice. During the hot season, a running hot heated towel rail in the bathroom can create discomfort, so be sure to provide the ability to turn it off if necessary.
What types of water heated towel rails are there?
Classification by connection:
- with side connection;
- with bottom connection.
What does this affect? In general, from an operational point of view, there is no difference. This parameter is important only from the point of view of convenience of supply to the heated towel rail,
Heated towel rails can be made from various materials:
- ordinary steel;
- copper;
- brass;
- aluminum.
Appearance of a water heated towel rail using the example of one of the market models
Carbon Steel Towel Rails
Such heated towel rails attract primarily due to their low price. However, their obvious drawback is their susceptibility to corrosion, so their service life is significantly shorter than that of heated towel rails made of any other materials. For this reason, such heated towel rails are becoming less and less common - they are gradually falling out of use. And although there are steel heated towel rails that provide anti-corrosion protection (internal coating of pipes), this leads to their significant rise in price, which negates their main advantage - low cost. The only advantage of a steel heated towel rail in this case remains its high mechanical strength, the ability to withstand significant water hammer, and the ability to operate at higher temperatures. high blood pressure in the pipeline than with heated towel rails made of other materials.
Stainless steel heated towel rails
In terms of strength and reliability, such a heated towel rail is practically not inferior to a conventional steel one, and in terms of anti-corrosion properties it is significantly superior to it. And although stainless steel heated towel rails are much more expensive, they are the ones that are most widespread.
One thing worth noting important feature stainless steel heated towel rails - they can be susceptible to corrosion due to so-called “stray currents”. This “scare” is quite common, so it’s obviously worth understanding what the danger is and how likely it is.
The fact is that the appearance of electrical potential on any metal object becomes impossible if it is grounded. Riser pipes for hot water supply and heating in residential buildings must be grounded. But due to use plastic pipes when connecting a heated towel rail to a riser electrical contact between them occurs through water, which has significant electrical resistance, and in this case a potential difference may occur between the heated towel rail and the riser. However, this can be avoided by studying the issue in advance and performing simple steps to ground the heated towel rail metal pipes boner
Stainless steel heated towel rail unusual shape: good design solution for apartment
Copper and brass heated towel rails
Such heated towel rails are quite expensive. Copper and brass heated towel rails are not subject to corrosion, and although their mechanical strength is lower than that of steel products, it is quite sufficient for a good heated towel rail. Most of all, such heated towel rails are suitable for autonomous heating systems made copper pipes– there they will feel like family. But if you like just such a heated towel rail, it can be used to connect to central heating or hot water supply - there are no contraindications here.
Aluminum heated towel rail
Such heated towel rails are the least common, in contrast to the widespread aluminum radiators heating They are resistant to corrosion, and their main advantage is their low weight compared to heated towel rails made of other metals. Aluminum heated towel rails have a rather complex manufacturing technology - aluminum cannot be welded or soldered, so aluminum heated towel rails can either be solid cast or require technological tricks to connect parts. Therefore, as a rule, aluminum heated towel rails are found only from imported, expensive brands. This option is for an amateur who “can’t stand the price.”
Bottom water heated towel rail with radiator: functional option to the bathroom
Connecting a heated towel rail
An often discussed question: where is it better to connect a heated towel rail - to the heating system, or to the hot water supply system? The answer is usually given: when connecting a heated towel rail to heating, it will only function during the heating season, so it must be connected to the DHW system for it to work all year round. But this is only partly true. Firstly, in many cities there is no hot water in the summer, and secondly, in the hot season, a heated towel rail running in the bathroom may simply be undesirable, because, as already noted, it also serves as a heating radiator.
Much more important when choosing a connection method is the fact that heating risers in the bathroom, as a rule, are absent, and supplying heating pipes from other rooms (from the kitchen or from the room) is extremely difficult, and often simply impossible. Therefore, for an apartment, in most cases, connecting a heated towel rail to the hot water system is the only possible option. Another thing is a house or apartment with autonomous heating. Both options are possible here, but you need to take into account that in order to include a heated towel rail in the DHW system, it is necessary to organize a hot water recirculation system: simply connecting a heated towel rail between the boiler and the tap is not suitable here.
Attention! Before purchasing and installing a water heated towel rail in your apartment, make sure that your hot water recirculation system is functioning properly. In some low-rise buildings of old construction, it is simply missing - and in this case, connecting a heated towel rail to the hot water supply system becomes pointless - it will not work.
Connection diagrams and the lineup water heated towel rails
Appearance, design, coating
The most common color for heated towel rails is chrome, White color- second most popular. But this does not mean that other options are impossible - today it is possible to order a heated towel rail in almost any color, even the most exotic. And copper and brass heated towel rails are often found stylized as old bronze or even gold.
The shape of heated towel rails is most often “snake” or “ladder”, in various variations. Sometimes additionally equipped various types shelves or stands - there is no limit to the imagination of designers.
If you want to install a large (almost the entire wall) heated towel rail in a small bathroom, it would be useful to provide temperature control on it to prevent overheating small room large heating device.
Video: How to approach the purchase of a water heated towel rail
And they have a snake-like appearance. Their functions boil down to being a dryer for clothes and towels, because in a wet room like a bath, things dry very slowly. In addition, a heated towel rail is also an element that can improve the microclimate, and you can get out of a hot bath or shower comfortably without getting goosebumps. An additional bonus is the prevention of condensation on the mirror and some other surfaces, which is also important. Such an element is becoming a real necessity in a modern bathroom. How to choose the right heated towel rail that will best suit your needs? this room? What should you pay attention to and which manufacturers can you trust?
Types of heated towel rails
Today, water and electric heated towel rails are widely used, and each of them has its own undeniable advantages and disadvantages. It is impossible to clearly identify which one is better, since the choice must be based on the prevailing conditions.
Water heated towel rails
This is the simplest and most popular option, which, as a rule, is included in the standard equipment of the bathroom in apartment buildings. This heated towel rail is a curved pipe through which hot water circulates from the home's hot water supply system. To the benefits This option includes ease of operation, durability, low price of the device, as well as the absence of additional fees during operation.
At the same time, the water heated towel rail also has some disadvantages. The key one is the dependence on the hot water supply: if it is carried out or it is simply turned off, then the bathroom will be cold and damp. If we are talking about a private house where they use autonomous sources heating and water heating, then you can safely choose a water heated towel rail. It is also worth noting that it warms up quite slowly, and from turning on the hot water supply until the moment the bathroom is warm, time will pass. But even despite these disadvantages, water heated towel rails remain the most popular option now.
Considering the unstable pressure in water supply networks apartment buildings, when purchasing a water heated towel rail you need first of all pay attention to then, on what is the working and maximum pressure it is designed for?, and then compare this indicator with the pressure in the network of a particular house. The standards stipulate that all elements water supply network houses must withstand a pressure of 6 atmospheres; it is normal to cope with pressure testing, when a couple of times a year for testing purposes the pressure can increase to 10 atm. At the same time, according to the standards, the working pressure of the coolant is 4 atmospheres. But, as many have already seen own experience, indicators do not always correspond to certified standards. So, depending on the season, the house, the number of floors and the state of communications, the pressure can be either 2.5 atm or 7.5 atm. That is why the likelihood of water hammer and increased pressure should be taken into account when choosing a heated towel rail. It's another matter if you live in a private house, where the pressure is high internal system in fact never exceeds 2-3 atm. In this case, the choice of different options for heated towel rails expands.
Electric heated towel rails
Great alternative water heated towel rails are their electric counterparts. This option is ideal when interruptions in the supply of hot water occur regularly, and you no longer want to depend on the presence of it in the pipes, on its pressure, on quality composition etc. Electrical devices most often have a nice design, they are mobile and autonomous, they do not require connection to the water supply network. To start using such a device, simply mount it on the wall and connect it to an outlet. That is why they can be used not only in bathrooms, but also in the kitchen or hallway, for example.
Electric heated towel rails are much more convenient to use, since almost all models are equipped with a control system: you can set any desired temperature and regulate it during the process. Also this is the only possible variant install the heated towel rail without destroying existing system water supply, if such an element was not designed in advance. Problems with bad water, causing corrosion of the material, will also not exist, which can be considered significant advantage.
Minuses such models also have, and the main one is an increase in electricity bills. In addition, you will need to take care of safety, because in such a damp room as a bath, an electrical appliance will always be present. It is better to provide splash protection for the outlet and think in advance so that it does not get underfoot and does not particularly spoil the interior of the bathroom.
When choosing an electric heated towel rail you should pay attention not only to its shape and size, but also to energy consumption and the presence of a thermostat. Naturally, the more economical the heated towel rail, the better for the family budget. As for management, there can be two options. The first of them is as simple as possible: there is a thermostatic head with which you manually adjust temperature regime. The second option has a higher cost and expanded functionality. The user just needs to indicate comfortable temperature indoors, and the heated towel rail will support it independently. Some devices are additionally equipped with a timer, with which you can set the mode for a day or a week. This functionality allows you not only to use electricity more efficiently, but also to make your life more comfortable. For example, the timer can be set so that when you arrive home or wake up from sleep, towels and bathrobes are warm.
As the name suggests, combined heated towel rails are a compromise option and can receive heat from both hot water and electricity. IN Lately Such devices are becoming increasingly popular, although they are still being produced in small numbers.
Combined heated towel rails combine the advantages of both types of devices, and the reliability of the design only increases as a result. This option is also indispensable when hot water is turned off in the summer: in this case, in winter you can save money and use the device as a water heated towel rail, and in summer you can turn it on if necessary and set the desired mode using electricity.
The only one disadvantage of this solution– a high price that scares off many potential buyers.
Heated towel rail material
If your choice is a water heated towel rail, then you should pay special attention to the material used to make it. The main danger in this case is water in the system central water supply, which often does not meet the standards, is saturated with oxygen, salts, and ultimately leads to the development of corrosion processes and clogging, which gradually renders the heated towel rail inoperable. So, what material will be the most durable and durable?
These are the most popular and best represented types of heated towel rails, although stone and even glass products can also be found in the elite collections of some foreign manufacturers.
Heated towel rail power
Heated towel rail power plays important role: a properly selected device will fully cope with all the tasks assigned to it. When choosing, you need to base your choice on the dimensions of the bathroom, as well as on the functions assigned to the heated towel rail. So, if the task is simply to dry laundry and towels, then a power of 100 W/m2 or 40 W/m3 will suffice. These are old Soviet standards, which require maintaining the temperature in the bathroom at +18 0 C.
If you want the heated towel rail to also act as a heater, then it is better to use other standards when calculating: 140 W/m 2 or 56 W/m 3. Thus, for example, for a bathroom with an area of 3.5 m2, a heated towel rail with a power of 490 W will be sufficient.
Design and dimensions
Taking into account all the aspects of functionality and reliability, we should not forget about the aesthetic component. It is important that the heated towel rail is suitable in size for the bathroom, does not interfere with free movement, and fits into the interior. In addition, you also need to be able to choose the most convenient model for you, because the number of bends and crossbars may be different. Moreover, the shape of the device can be so whimsical and unusual that it will become not only convenient, but also a beautiful addition to the bathroom.
If the bathroom previously did not have a heated towel rail at all, then you can, in principle, choose any one in shape and design. Those who got bathrooms with old M- or U-shaped option of a heated towel rail, you should think carefully about whether it is worth changing it, and which one. In domestic apartment buildings, the heated towel rail also serves as a compensating loop. The point is that the whole system water pipes in the house is combined, and according to the laws of physics, pipes can lengthen slightly when the temperature rises, and shorten when it drops. If you imagine this whole process on the scale of the entire house, then it turns out something like an accordion, in which the key role belongs to heated towel rails, thanks to which the risk of accidents due to temperature changes is reduced. It’s not hard to imagine what will happen if something radically changes in the bathroom, so it’s better to try to choose a heated towel rail that will best fit into the place of the old and boring one.
As for the shape, today the simplest heated towel rails M- and U-shaped. There are also snake-like options with many curves. Another popular option is ladders, which differ in their advantages. Many call this option more convenient and practical, since more things can be placed on the ladder and they can be dried along the entire length.
A heated towel rail in the shape of a snake also has advantages: it is two times cheaper, and it is easier to install if the apartment already had similar device– you won’t have to redo the riser and adjust everything to fit the new model.
But that's it various options heated towel rail designs do not end there, because there are so-called design radiators who can really become stylish decoration rooms. Such interesting models are presented mainly in the assortment of foreign manufacturers: these can be heated towel rails rotating 180°, perforated models with round holes, and other most unimaginable options.
In addition to all the above tips, when purchasing you also need to check everything relevant documents for the product, it won't hurt either inspect the surface: It should be smooth and even. If the price of a certain model is several times lower than elsewhere, then you should think about the quality of such a heated towel rail. And in order not to make a mistake, you need to be aware, what are the key manufacturers in this market?, and who you can trust.
Imported products They captivate us with their thinner and more elegant appearance and variety, but still, when choosing such heated towel rails you need to be extremely careful. The thing is that in Europe, for example, heated towel rails are connected not to a hot water supply system, but to a heating system, for which the water undergoes appropriate treatment. Consequently, these devices, which do not have an anti-corrosion coating and feel great in European countries, may not be durable in our country, because they are not adapted to pressure drops and the aggressive composition of the coolant. However, imported manufacturers don't want to lose Russian market, That's why They also offer heated towel rails adapted to local conditions. When choosing, you should pay attention to this and carefully consider how suitable this or that model is.
When choosing foreign-made models, it is important to check whether they have shut-off valves, thanks to which you can relieve excess pressure, eliminate air pockets, thereby normalizing the operation of the device and promoting uniform heating of the heated towel rail.
So, what are they foreign manufacturers have proven themselves among domestic users?
When decorating a bathroom, a necessary, I would even say, necessary thing is a heated towel rail. After all, it really has a lot of benefits - drying your things, warming up the room (and it does this really well), if you have a heated towel rail, then the occurrence of fungi on the walls is reduced significantly. In general, you need to install it (be sure to read the article -), but which one to choose the real question arises, when I was choosing, I visited a bunch of different stores and today I am telling you useful information …
First, a little definition.
Heated towel rail – This is a heating device that is used mainly in the bathroom (for drying clothes, towels, and also for heating the bathroom). It is a bent pipe made of chrome or non-ferrous metals, mainly connected to a hot water supply (hot riser). If there is no hot water in the house, then a dryer that is heated by electricity can be used.
When choosing a heated towel rail, you need to solve several problems.
1) Connection type
3) Material
4) Price - quality
And now in more detail...
1) Heated towel rail connection type
As I already wrote, there are two main connection methods - to the main hot water riser and electric (to a regular outlet). To be fair, it is worth noting that now a third type is beginning to appear - combined (it performs the functions of both an electric and flow-through heated towel rail).
Flow-through (or water) heated towel rail - the most common one, it is connected to a hot water supply pipe and is heated from this water. In large houses, water circulates through pipes, so the risers and heated towel rail are always hot.
Pros:
- does not use electricity
Minuses:
- if there is no hot water - accordingly cold
- limited mounting space, installation anywhere is not so easy, you need to pull pipes, and this is not always possible. And if the pipes are not installed correctly, then it will not heat up, or it will be very bad.
Electric heated towel rail – is gaining popularity, is installed mainly in houses where there is no hot water (for example, “Khrushchev” buildings, private houses, etc.). It does not cut into the main water supply system - to heat the water, it uses a heating element inside, which heats the liquid in which the heated towel rail is filled (usually oil) - then this heat is transferred to the walls.
Pros:
— independent of hot water supply, no pipes needed for connection
- can be installed anywhere, not only in the bathroom, but also in the kitchen, for example.
Minuses:
— It consumes electricity, albeit a little, as manufacturers assure about 150 - 200 W, but still!
- In wet rooms you need to comply with the requirements for the placement of electrical appliances, I touched on this a little in the article - (be sure to read if you are considering the electric option).
A short video about electric heated towel rails
Combined heated towel rail – this option combines the advantages of flow-through dryers and the advantages of electric dryers; it is connected to the central water supply system, but if there is no hot water, it can be connected to an outlet. The disadvantages are that it is not so common on the shelves of the city, it is a relatively new product.
2) Shape
Now let's talk a little about the form, here, as they say, guys taste and color. There are dozens, if not hundreds of heated towel rails in shapes and sizes. However, you need to understand that the larger the heated towel rail, the better the heating and drying of laundry. Therefore, I advise you to choose the so-called ladders (made in the form of a ladder) . Laundry can be placed just like on a stationary dryer. YES, it warms up the bathroom better, thanks to its area. - they are the cheapest, but also the most stupid - the guys are really not practical. Just a single pipe, which is bent radially into a bracket, is suitable for drying one towel, look at the photo for an example.
In general, there are really a lot of shapes, there are even in the shape of a circle, a triangle, etc. When choosing a shape, you need to clearly understand that the more crossbars and protrusions, the larger the drying area.
3) Material
The most important thing in the operation of a heated towel rail is the material, because this is really the key to long-term operation without replacement. As a rule, all heated towel rails are made from various metals. But you need to take only high-quality options.
When buying an apartment, as a rule, you have the usual metal options, no one will install heated towel rails made of stainless steel, much less copper or brass. This is an ordinary bent pipe, painted over regular paint. The appearance of such a dryer, and its performance characteristics, leave much to be desired, so it should be thrown into a landfill (handed over to the nearest metal collection center), but we will set it to be normal and aesthetically pleasing.
Regular steel – there are models made of ordinary steel, usually coated with chrome on top. Such options are the cheapest, but also the most short-lived; under the influence of water, such heated towel rails quickly fail and begin to leak. Average service life is 5 years.
– as well as from ordinary steel, there are chromed options, but there are also painted ones. These options last much longer due to the fact that they are less susceptible to water. Service life is from 10 to 15 years.
Copper, brass or aluminum heated towel rails - these are the most practical models in terms of resistance to water. They rust for a very, very long time, and therefore can last up to 25 years. However, these types have another problem: heated towel rails made from such materials are the most fragile, they are deformed even with the slightest effort, so you need to be very careful with them.
A short video on material and shape
4) Price - quality
The final point of our article. So, Which heated towel rail matches the price and quality? My choice - having visited many stores, I came to the conclusion that the heated towel rail should be made of stainless steel (because ordinary steel is not practical, but cheap, and copper, brass, aluminum are expensive and very fragile) for such options there is a guarantee of five years, should be shaped like a ladder (due to its practicality), and should also be connected to a regular hot water riser; I’m not interested in electric options.
In conclusion, I would like to say that this is exactly what I bought, I’m very pleased, it looks great! I also recommended it to a friend, he is also happy! Such heated towel rails are also convenient because you can remove the air plug from it at any time (be sure to read this article).
And that’s all, I think my great article really helped you.
When renovating a bathroom, outdated equipment is replaced, the list of which includes a heated towel rail connected to the heating or hot water supply system. When choosing a new heating device, you need to evaluate not only its visual appeal, but also the strength of the material it is made of. Not every device is able to withstand operating pressure differences that occur in heating system apartment building. It must be taken into account that peak values of this indicator can reach up to 10 atmospheres. Therefore, it is so important to know how to choose a heated towel rail and what technical characteristics of the product to pay attention to as a matter of priority. It also matters correct installation purchased equipment. Typically, installation of the device is carried out before finishing work begins. finishing works in room. This is more profitable both in terms of finances and time spent on installation work. Many problems can be solved more easily using electrical models.
After watching the video, you can understand how to choose the right heated towel rail from the variety of models on the market.
What types of heated towel rails are there?
All heated towel rails present on the plumbing equipment market can be divided into three groups.
Water devices
They are initially included in the standard equipment of the bathroom and are a pipe bent in the form of a coil through which hot water circulates. When the hot water supply is turned off, the tubular product cannot be used for its intended purpose until the repair work is completed.
If the device is connected to the heating system, then the period of its use coincides with heating season. This means that the water heated towel rail in this case stands idle for more than three months a year. However, life does not stop and residents of apartment buildings have to look for a replacement for this equipment.
Electric heated towel rails
These devices can be an excellent alternative to water models. After all, they can be operated autonomously, regardless of the functioning of other systems. There are also no strict requirements for the installation location of such equipment. Therefore, you can find electric heated towel rails not only in bathrooms, but also in kitchens and hallways. To operate, such equipment only requires an uninterrupted supply of electricity. Naturally, constant use of an electrical appliance will lead to an increase in bills for the kilowatts consumed.
Combined heated towel rails
These units combine design features water and electrical appliances, so they can, if necessary, operate in one of two modes. However, many buyers are still put off by the cost of such products.
Important! Having assessed the advantages and disadvantages of each type in relation to individual characteristics your apartment, you can understand how to choose a heated towel rail for the bathroom so that it is beautiful, profitable and functional.
The main nuances of choosing a water heated towel rail
As stated above, technical specifications water models must correspond to the level of operating and pressure testing typical for the water supply system of the house. In accordance with building codes and regulations, as well as the requirements of GOSTs regulating the design of water supply and heating systems in apartment buildings, all used water-folding sanitary fittings must be operated at a pressure reaching 6 atmospheres or higher. Although theoretically the water pressure in the system should not exceed 4 atmospheres, in practice this value can range from 2.5 to 7.5 atmospheres depending on the number of floors of the building, its location, and the state of utilities.
Note! Before buying a water heated towel rail, you need to find out the pressure in the water supply system of your home, add a few points for possible water hammer and select the device taking this information into account. Remember that all important technical parameters are indicated by the manufacturer in the product passport.
For country house With autonomous systems water supply and heating, the pressure in which does not exceed 2-3 atmospheres, the choice of a heated towel rail is not so difficult, so you can buy any model.
Why are imported models interesting?
The diameter of the pipes of imported equipment differs from the diameter of domestic heated towel rails, which makes the products more elegant and expressive. In addition, the color range of devices from foreign manufacturers is much more diverse. This expands the possibilities for custom bathroom interior design.
Products imported to the Russian market from other countries are captivating due to their variety of forms:
- MP-shaped models;
- M-shaped;
- U-shaped;
all kinds of ladders (including those with side connections, with ribs different types and other configurations).
Imported models of heated towel rails are distinguished by bizarre shapes and different sizes
When choosing a shape, do not forget about the size. After all, the availability of free space in the room affects which water heated towel rail is best to choose for the bathroom.
Particularly attracting the attention of Russians are rotary models produced by the companies DM (Germany), Global Ship (Italy), Korin (Finland), LVI (Sweden), Varmos (Norway). Their peculiarity is that the products can be installed perpendicular to the wall, at the same time, they can be moved in both directions, because the rotation angle is 180 degrees. White, gold-plated, chrome-plated swivel heated towel rails can decorate any room.
Important! Availability of shut-off valves allowing servicing of devices, draining overpressure and eliminating air locks is an integral part of imported devices. These measures contribute to uniform heating of the device along its entire length.
German equipment such as this is also popular among Russian buyers. famous brands, like Art-Tec, Zehnder, Emco and Arbonia. Each consumer decides for himself which company to choose a heated towel rail from the listed brands, the main thing is that the devices can withstand operation taking into account Russian conditions and do not fail ahead of time.
Influence of manufacturing material on service life
The quality of water used in Russian water supply systems leaves much to be desired. Models made of stainless steel can withstand the corrosive effect of the coolant. The top surface of stainless steel products can be chrome-plated, polished or painted.
Painted heated towel rails are the most affordable, while polished appliances are very expensive. Equipment made of non-ferrous metals (brass, copper, aluminum) is inferior in terms of duration of use.
Advice! Stainless steel products are popular, so they are often counterfeited. In order not to run into defective equipment, it is necessary to carefully inspect the quality of welds, and also require documentary evidence of the origin of the goods.
Stainless steel heated towel rails are different long term operation
It is advisable to purchase heated towel rails made of ferrous metals for country cottages equipped with individual heating systems. Because when used in apartments multi-storey buildings devices made of ferrous metals are corroded by corrosion, clogged with salts and other impurities present in the coolant, and deposited in the form of a solid sediment on inner surface pipes
It is worth paying attention to devices manufactured by Zehnder, Arbonia, Kermi in Germany, as well as the Czech company Korado and the Russian company KZTO.
Knowing the material used to make the device, as well as the degree of its resistance to corrosive processes, you can understand which heated towel rail to choose and how long this equipment can approximately last.
Safety of operation of electric models
If there is no possibility of connecting a water device in the room, then which heated towel rail is best to use? Electric, of course. The undeniable advantages of these models include:
- beauty of design design;
- no leaks;
- independence from pressure in the hot water supply system;
- ease of installation;
- freedom in choosing the installation location;
- heating temperature regulation;
- enable/disable if necessary, etc.
However, there is a significant drawback, which is associated with the difficulty of safely connecting any electrical appliance in the bathroom in conditions of high humidity. To eliminate the possibility of human injury electric shock, installation work must be carried out by a professional electrician using hidden wiring and special sockets built into the wall of the room.
Important! Electricity consumption directly depends on the power of the heating element of an electric heated towel rail, which can vary from 100 to 2000 W. Because modern models turn on and off automatically when the specified parameters are reached, it is possible to use energy resources economically.
Painted models of heated towel rails make the interior of the room brighter and more unusual
This equipment is produced by Russian and foreign manufacturers, and which heated towel rail is best to choose specifically, each buyer must decide for himself. Domestic models are inferior in design, but are also cheaper. Imported devices are distinguished by beauty, functionality and, accordingly, higher cost.
It is advisable to buy a device and order its installation in one place, so that a single company is fully responsible for its operation. Otherwise, the seller may say that the equipment failed due to errors made during installation. When making claims, the installation company will blame the seller for supplying, in their opinion, a low-quality product. To exclude this scenario, you can contact your representative installation organization entrust the choice suitable equipment from a technical point of view. The appearance of the heated towel rail is, of course, determined by the owner of the apartment.
To reduce humidity in the bathroom and be able to dry wet towels, install special device, called a heated towel rail. The most common type of such plumbing is a water heated towel rail, which is connected either to a hot water supply or to a heating system. What characteristics does this plumbing device have, what materials is it made from and how not to make a mistake when choosing suitable option for your bathroom?
pros
- Such a device long time keeps the room dry and also heats the bathroom. This helps protect the room from the formation of fungi and mold due to high humidity.
- Unlike electric models, it does not depend on power supply and is more economical (no need to pay for additional electricity consumed), and also does not require grounding and special moisture-resistant sockets.
- In addition, using the hydronic type of heated towel rails is safer since there is no risk of electric shock.
Minuses
- The device will not work if the hot water supply is interrupted (in case of an accident or planned outages) or the heating season ends.
- Installing a water heated towel rail is quite complicated, so for independent conduct work requires experience and special knowledge.
Kinds
A heated towel rail purchased for a bathroom may belong to one of the following types of these plumbing devices:
- To electric ones. These heated towel rails operate on electricity, so when installing them you have to pay more for electricity bills.
- To the mermen. Their work is based on the circulation of hot water inside the device.
- To the combined ones. They are quite expensive, but combine all the advantages of the first two types. The main advantage of the combined device is operation all year round - in winter from heating, and in summer from electricity.
Depending on the type of connection, a water heated towel rail can be bottom or side. The bottom option is more common, but when installing the side one, you can easily hide communications, which affects the appearance of the room.
Forms
A water heated towel rail can be:
- Standard - M-, P- or MP-shaped.
- Ladder-shaped.
- Ring-shaped.
- Zigzag-like.
- With shelves.
- Individual shape.
Materials
The following materials are used for the manufacture of water heated towel rails:
- Stainless steel.
- Galvanized steel.
- Black steel.
- Brass.
- Aluminum.
- Copper.
Models made of galvanized or black steel attract with safety of operation, ease of installation, good technical characteristics. Copper and brass products are inexpensive and attractive in appearance, but do not last very long (up to 6 years).
Is stainless steel a worthy choice?
Stainless steel products can be called one of the most durable. They are characterized by high strength, corrosion resistance, and long service. This steel heated towel rail can last 20 years or longer.
What characteristics should you pay attention to?
One of the common mistakes made by heated towel rail buyers is choosing a device based on its appearance. First of all, it is important to take into account the features of using such plumbing equipment, and only final stage choice - whether the product will fit into the interior.
When buying a water heated towel rail, you need:
- Make sure that a passport is provided for the product, as well as a warranty card.
- Carefully inspect the pipe. First make sure it is solid. If you connect a heated towel rail to a heating system and live in a high-rise building, the water pressure in the pipes will be high and if there is a seam on the pipe, there is a high probability that it will come apart. Next, find out what material the pipe covering is made of. It can be chrome-plated or enameled, with the first option being more reliable.
- Make sure that the device has an air bleed valve. If it is missing, air may enter the heated towel rail, as a result of which its operation will be difficult.
- Consider the installation details in your bathroom. For example, by connecting a heated towel rail to the heating system, you will make such plumbing useless in the summer. If you connect the device to hot water, then the temperature of the heated towel rail will be determined by the water withdrawal capacity. If you choose a heating connection, it is important to take into account the pressure in the system. With centralized heating, pressure drops occur very often, but with autonomous heating they do not happen, since the pressure will be constant.
- Select the shape of the product taking into account the characteristics of the house in which it will be installed. For multi-storey buildings It is advised to choose a coil so that when heated, the product does not deform or collapse.
- Check whether the diameter of the selected heated towel rail will fit the pipes in the bathroom. If differences in diameter are found (and this often occurs when purchasing a foreign-made model), you should additionally purchase an adapter.
