Choosing the Right Towel Rail For You

A practical and elegant addition to your bathroom is a heated towel rail. This wondrous item not only will provide a place to store and heat your towels it can provide extra warmth in your bathroom. Designs can be almost anything these days from curvaceous polished chrome to keen geometric shapes and models. These dual purpose items will create a beautiful focal point in your bathroom.

Towel warmers are no longer a dreary unimaginative part of your bathroom. They come in a wide range of styles that will add sophistication. Increased surface area created by a heated towel rail is more efficient and environmentally friendly to warm your bathroom and your towels. With so many companies offering them there is no reason that you will not be able to find a design to suit your taste. Best of all you should be able to take it with you if you were to move. The choices in styles include both wall mounted and traditional floor models.

You can find a large number of companies creating designer towel rails. No, matter your personal style or budget you will find the right model for you. They come in tube on tube, circular, grid and flat construction. You will find contemporary towel warmers and companies that design ones that have the look and feel of yesteryear. You can find them to match your current bathroom fittings and most companies offer all the supplies that you will need.

British Thermal Units is the standard means of measuring out powers in a heated towel rail. You may also find them measured in watts. The conversion from one to another equates to 3.412 watts equals 1 BTU. To deduce the most suitable British Thermal Unit for your bathroom consider the size of the room. Logically the larger the room the larger the BTU you will want to use. If you are unsure of where to start consult your local plumber for advice.

You will find “hyrdonic” or water warmed towel rails, traditional radiator style and electric style. The one you choose will depend on several things. If you have an older home that still uses radiators then a radiator style towel warmer would be a perfect fit. Most manufacturers should be able to match the design, color and fittings to your current home. With radiator style towel rails make sure that you note whether you want a traditional on/off mechanism or a thermostatic one. The thermostatic switch would be more cost effective since you have greater control over the temperature.

Electric towel rails can be hardwired to your bathroom’s electrical system or you may purchase them as stand alone units that will use a standard wall outlet. Most have timers that allow you to set them according to your own bath/shower schedule. They operate with a closed system where the warmers are oil filled and use a filament to warm the oil. These are cost effective because they use low wattage heating elements. They are also safer than traditional towel warmers. Plug-in towel rails are procurable in a variety of floor and wall models and as shelving units. Many companies carry smaller models for warmer wash cloths, hand towels or even kitchen towels.

“Hydronic” or water warmed heated towel rails come as wall or floor mounted. They can be installed to use your home plumbing and current hot water heater. They use special pumps and separate heating tube system to keep your towels and bathroom warm. They are considered energy efficient and safer to use. They are a closed system similar to traditional radiators however, they do not attach to your current heating unit.

As you can see there are a number of options to choose from. Determining the best heated towel rail system for your personal use will depend greatly on your current plumbing and electrical set up in your home. Once you have decided on the style you wish to use, the BTU that will suit your needs and placement of the towel warmer, the next step would be to find the style and design to suit your budget. Your final step will be having this wonderful item installed in your bathroom.