How are electric towel rails controlled?

Electric towel rails are powered by mains electricity and use a heated 150 or 250-watt heated element. When the towel rail is switched on, the element heats the liquid inside the rails. Electric heated towel rails are not part of a central heating system – ideal for summer months when central heating is switched off.

How do you control a heated towel rail?

The most common method for adjusting temperature will be to adjust the knob by turning clockwise to turn off - I.e. cool or anti clockwise to open and up the heat. Turning the knob could be difficult, and so pliers might be required.

Do electric towel rails have a thermostat?

So, to circle back to our initial question, do electric towel rails have thermostats? Mostly, yes. Many towel rails come with some form of thermostatic control, offering more advanced and convenient heat management.

How does an electric towel rail element work?

Electric towel rails are fitted with an electric element and filled with a water inhibiting fluid. The element heats up the fluid and the towel rail is heated by a process known as convection.

Do heated towel rails have an on/off switch?

A standard heated towel rail will typically come on and off in accordance with the main central heating system. An electric rail has an on/off switch and most contain an automatic safety cut-off if the rail starts to get too hot.

Electric Towel Rail Radiator Element - Plumbing Tips

How do you turn off an electric towel rail?

To turn off your towel radiator, first turn off the central heating and allow the towel radiator to cool down. Then adjust the valve, turning it in the direction it would normally be turned to reduce the heat. When it can't be turned any more, the radiator should be turned off.

Do electric towel rails need valves?

Straight valves should be used when the inlets are at the bottom of the towel rail and the pipes are protruding from the floor. Angled valves will be needed if the water needs to be diverted at a 90-degree angle. This is often the case when pipes and valve inlets are situated at the side of the radiator.

How do heated towel rail valves work?

A standard heated towel rail works by being plumbed in and connected to your copper pipes, just like your radiators. Your gas-fired boiler comes on in accordance with your thermostat and timer settings, and hot water flows around the network of pipes in your home to heat the radiators and heated towel rails.

Why is my electric towel rail not getting hot?

The entire towel rail gets warm but not hot enough.

Thermostatic element should be set to maximum temperature and turned on for at least 24 hours. If the towel rail is still not hot to touch the element is probably undersized (there may not be an alternative because the next size up may be too big).

Do electric towel rails have timers?

There are aftermarket timers that can be fitted but it depends on the age and manufacturer. It may be necessary to replace the towel rail with one that has an option for a timer. Yes. You would require a fused timer spur similar to what you would use for an immersion heater.

Does a towel rail need a thermostat?

A thermostat is essential if you want to use your towel rail as your primary bathroom heating system. The thermostat will switch the towel rail on and off to maintain your desired room temperature, preventing the towel rail wasting energy overheating the room.

How long does an electric towel rail take to warm up?

A towel rail might take less time to heat up than a radiator. When you turn on your central heating, it can take around 15 minutes for your radiators to reach their full temperature. An electric towel rail could heat up fully in just 5 minutes.

What are the two valves on a towel rail?

Your towel radiator has two valves to enable it to control the flow of hot water and the amount of heat it emits. One valve regulates the amount of hot water entering the towel radiator while the other controls the rate at which the hot water exits the radiator.

Should towel rail valves be fully open?

If they're not leaking now and the radiator is getting hot, I'd leave them alone where they are or fully open them as Terry says. It's unlikely they will affect the balancing of the system (ie whether all the radiators in the house heat up evenly).

Is an electric towel rails expensive to run?

Electric heated towel rails are operated like any other electric heater, being turned on and off with the flick of a switch. These rails avoid the issue of having to switch on the rest of your central heating, however they can be expensive to run due to the power requirements of the heated element within.

Should radiator valves be open or closed?

You should also fully open the TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves). Whilst thermostatic and wheel head valves can be opened and closed by hand, the lockshield valves require a dedicated tool or an adjustable spanner. 4. Create a spreadsheet or a handwritten list of all of your radiators.

How do radiator valves work?

They work just like a tap, by altering the flow of hot water from the boiler into the radiator. The higher the level on the valve, the higher the volume of hot water entering the radiator to produce greater heat.

Do heated towel rails come with valves?

When purchasing a heated towel rail, you also need to purchase your valves separately. The reason you don't get valves included is because there are a few different styles to choose from, so the one you choose is all dependant on your pipework and personal preference.

How do you control a dual fuel towel rail?

A dual fuel towel rail is extremely simple to use. It works the same way as your standard central heating radiator, but with an extra switch, making it easy to swap between central heating and element heating. To activate the central heating mode, turn the input valve anti-clockwise as far as it will go.

What are the 2 knobs on a radiator?

One valve accounts for the amount of hot water that enters the radiator. The other valve, referred to as the lockshield valve, balances the system by regulating how much heat the radiator gives off. For a more detailed insight, take a look at our Radiator Valve Guide.

Do heated towel rails have timers?

Most heated towel rails do not come with a switch on the actual unit itself, but Kenner Electrics can install your heated towel rail on a timer that can be programmed with winter and summer settings, so you don't have to remember to turn it on and off! How would you prefer to control your heated towel rail?

Why is my bathroom radiator always on?

Bathroom radiators are normally connected to the hot water circuit rather than the heating circuit from your boiler. This is so that it gets hot all year round for drying towels. It'll get hot whenever your boiler comes on to reheat the hot water cyclinder.

Is an electric towel rail enough to heat a bathroom?

One of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to the functionality of heated towel rails is, do they actually heat up your bathroom? In short, the answer is yes! Heated towel rails are ideal for making your bathroom a warm, comfortable place to be, especially on those cold winter days!

Can you get a thermostat for a towel radiator?

This is a small device that you place inside your radiator. With such a product, you will be able to heat up your towel radiator individually without needing to turn the entire central heating system on. You can also use the thermostat to adapt the temperature to suit your needs.