A heated towel rail is practically the main device in any bathroom. It can perform two functions at once: heating the bathroom to prevent the appearance of fungus and drying towels or other things. At the moment, you can find dryers of different shapes and materials on sale. In this article we will talk in detail about the best models and discuss in detail all their strengths and weaknesses. Happy reading!
Margaroli Vento 500 530x630 box
Main characteristics:
- Material: brass;
- Power - 100 W;
- Maximum heating temperature - 70°C;
- Possibility of rotation - 180°;
- Dimensions - 53x63x14.5 cm.
Design and material of manufacture. This wet heated towel rail is made of brass tube with a diameter of 25 mm. It consists of a vertical stand mounted on the wall and a rotating M-shaped section capable of rotating 180 degrees. Weighing 5.2 kg, it occupies a space of 53x63x14.5 cm. The product is sold with an external coating of white, bronze, gold and other colors, which simplifies the choice of model for any interior. The heating element is located at the bottom of the housing. There is an on/off button.
Margaroli Vento 500 530x630 box in the interior.
Parameters and connection. The device is designed for a hidden connection to a 220 volt AC network. A power consumption of 100 W is enough to heat the circulating coolant to a temperature of 70°C. There is an automatic shut-off to prevent overheating.
Location and mounting of the device
Which electric heated towel rail is better - wall-mounted or floor-mounted? Both types have their own advantages. Wall-mounted units save space, which is extremely important for small spaces. They are convenient and compact. However, if there is a need to move the heated towel rail to another room, you will have to remove the fasteners from the walls, mask the remaining holes, and attach them in a new place. There are no such problems with floor-standing models.
In appearance, floor-mounted heated towel rails do not differ from wall-mounted ones. The only difference is that they are installed on special support legs. Some models can be attached to the floor for greater stability, but most often there is no need for permanent installation.
All types of heated towel rails are well protected from moisture, so when choosing a model for the installation location, the greatest attention should be paid to ease of use and personal preferences.
The device connection can be open or hidden. The first option implies that the wire is open and connected to an outlet in the bathroom or in the hallway (in this case, the wire is passed through a hole in the wall).
With a hidden connection, all the wires are located in the walls, making access to them difficult. This option is much more difficult to implement; you will have to ditch the walls, but the probability of a short circuit is almost zero, because The wire is well protected from water.
For some bathrooms, a corner heated towel rail is the best choice. Compact models allow you to rationally use space without losing functionality
ENERGY I chrome G5
Main characteristics:
- Material: stainless steel;
- Power - 47 W;
- Maximum heating temperature - 60°C; Possibility of rotation - 180°;
- Dimensions - 55x64x99 cm.
Design and material of manufacture. The model of the famous British brand is a vertical stand 640 mm high with five horizontal bars 555 mm long rotating on it, each of which can occupy an independent position from the others. This allows you to save space or achieve better ventilation of drying items in different situations.
All parts are made of stainless steel and coated with chrome on the outside. The heating element is a heating cable laid inside the tubes. The degree of protection against dust and moisture corresponds to IP44. The product weighs only 1.9 kg and is attached to the wall with four dowels.
Parameters and connection. The heated towel rail consumes 47 W of electrical energy. Connection is possible in open and closed ways. The power switch is located at the lower end of the vertical stand and has a light indication.
Toggle switch ENERGY I chrome G5.
No water - no heat
The fifth significant drawback is interruptions in the supply of hot water. They occur at least once a year, but in practice this happens much more often.
Even if you have a private house with a gas heating boiler, then there is no point in having a water heated towel rail. Few people would think of running a boiler in the summer because of one small coil. It is cheaper to adapt a boiler for this purpose.
The sixth problem, on the contrary, is related to not turning off the water. If in the summer heat the hot water is not turned off, and your coil has a decent area and is connected directly without valves, such a thing can raise the temperature in a small bathroom over 40 degrees!
On the contrary, we will have to wrap up the pipes and somehow plug up this extra heat source.
Seventh, periodic water outages, in addition to inconvenience, lead to more serious consequences. The metal from which the heated towel rail is made heats up and contracts depending on its temperature.
The same thing happens with all threaded connections. And the more often your hot water is turned off, the sooner you expect a leak.
And if you have metal-polypropylene joints, then due to different expansion coefficients, you will see a leak even earlier.
In addition, models of complex shapes have a large number of welds. And they are also a potential site of damage.
Instal-Projekt SPINA ELECTRO 550×625
Main characteristics:
- Material: steel;
- Power - 115 W;
- Maximum heating temperature - 95°C;
- Possibility of rotation - 90°;
- Dimensions - 104.5x40x5.5 cm.
Design and material of manufacture. The “dry” type heated towel rail weighs 3 kg and has dimensions of 625x550x8.5 cm. It is a combination of a vertical tube and an W-shaped coil. It can be mounted along the wall or used as a rotating model. All parts are made of easy-to-maintain chrome-plated stainless steel.
Parameters and connection. The product consumes 90 W of power sufficient to dry towels. It is connected to the power source externally using a twisted cable with a standard plug at the end.
№2 – TERMINUS Sicily P12
Price: 17,000 rubles
A modern unit with an advanced frost protection system. In the event of a sharp drop in temperature, it will start on its own to prevent the coolant from freezing, so we do not recommend removing it from the outlet. Fortunately, there is a shutdown button, so you don’t have to do this. There are already 12 sections, of course, because of this, such a device is more suitable for placement in a bathhouse, but surely someone will find a use for it in everyday life.
The thermostat allows you to select one of four heating levels. Installation is simple; using the instructions, you can install the unit yourself. The only disadvantages include the lower right connection, as well as the narrow distance between the device and the wall, which makes throwing thick towels not very convenient.
TERMINUS Sicily P12
Tera Victoria 500x800 E
Main characteristics:
- Material: stainless steel;
- Power - 105 W;
- Maximum heating temperature - 50°C;
- Possibility of rotation - no;
- Dimensions - 80x50 cm.
Design and material of manufacture. This domestic electric “dry” type heated towel rail has the appearance of a modified ladder with five rungs slightly protruding outward. It is made of durable stainless steel pipes with a chrome-plated outer surface. For rigid mounting to the wall, 4 brackets are used. The product weighs almost 7 kg and occupies an area of 500x800 mm.
Parameters and connection. The device consumes electricity in the amount of 105 W. It is designed for open connection using a standard power cable and plug. There is an on/off button.
No. 6 – Trugor PEK5P 80×50 L
Price: 7,100 rubles
If it is critical for you that the unit not only has a lot of crossbars, but also has a shelf, pay attention to Trugor PEK5P 80×50 L. It has 7 bars and one shelf. The model also wins comparison with its competitors due to its low power consumption. So, its appearance in the house will not greatly affect the amount you pay monthly for electricity.
The device looks attractive and symmetrical, the latter is neglected by many companies, so when compared with their creations, the sixth line of our top looks much more preferable. The heated towel rail heats up very quickly; after just 2 minutes it will be so warm that you will not be able to place your palm on it. If this electric heated towel rail came not only with a thermostat, but with a timer, it would definitely rank higher in our top, but it’s only in 6th place.
Trugor PEK5P 80×50 L
ATLANTIC NW 300W 850303
Main characteristics:
- Material: steel;
- Power - 300 W;
- Possibility of rotation - no;
- Dimensions - 40x79x85 cm.
Design and material of manufacture. The stylish model looks like a narrow vertical ladder, welded from rectangular and round steel pipes coated with wear-resistant white enamel. 13 horizontal bars are arranged in several sections for easy drying of several towels. The internal cavities are filled with antifreeze, which quickly heats up from the built-in heating element. The dimensions of the product are 79x40 cm, and the weight is 7 kg.
Parameters and connection. To connect to the network, an external cable with a plug is used. The device is controlled using a digital thermostat with a set of functions, which include modes for drying towels, accelerated heating, warming up the bathroom at a set time and other useful options. The device is suitable for rooms up to 2.8 sq.m.
Controls ATLANTIC NW 300W 850303.
ATLANTIC NW 300W 850303 in the interior.
No. 4 – Laris Euromix P8 500×800
Price: 12,500 rubles
The best solution in the Sunerzha brand lineup. It is equipped with 5 crossbars and is made of high-quality metal with a coating that significantly reduces the chance of corrosion of the tubular structure, thereby guaranteeing the durability of the heater. The device heats up in 2-3 minutes. After this time, it is ready for use and also begins to raise the temperature in the room.
The device comes with a thermostat that allows you to adjust the temperature. It is small in size, so it will not spoil the appearance of the structure. If you need an electric heated towel rail for your bathroom with a thermostat, this model is perfect.
Laris Euromix P8 500×800
Energy U chrome G2K 540×400
Main characteristics:
- Material: stainless steel;
- Power - 24 W;
- Maximum heating temperature - 60°C;
- Possibility of rotation - 180°;
- Dimensions - 54x40x9.9 cm.
Design and material of manufacture. This compact model consists of a vertical axis fixed along the wall and two U-shaped sections rotating relative to it. It is made of stainless steel, which guarantees long service life and resistance to mechanical stress. External surfaces are chrome plated for greater aesthetics. With dimensions of 54x40 cm, the product weighs only 1.3 kg, which simplifies installation. The heating element is a double insulated heating cable. Protection of live parts corresponds to class IP44.
Parameters and connection. The device is intended exclusively for drying things, so its power does not exceed 24 W. It is possible to connect in an open and closed way. The on/off switch is equipped with internal lighting, which is convenient in low light conditions.
TERA Classic 500x600 PSN-09-02
Main characteristics:
- Material: stainless steel;
- Power - 72 W;
- Maximum heating temperature - 50 0C;
- Possibility of rotation - no;
- Dimensions - 60x50 cm.
Design and material of manufacture. The stylish model resembles a short ladder made of stainless pipes followed by chrome plating. She weighs 3.8 kg. A heating cable in a waterproof sheath is laid inside it. The product is rigidly attached to the wall, occupying an area of 60x50 cm.
Parameters and connection. The heated towel rail is equipped with a flexible power cord with a standard plug for open connection. It consumes 72 W of electricity, heating the surfaces of the tubes to a comfortable and safe temperature of 50-70 degrees Celsius. There is built-in overheating protection. The manufacturer recommends using the device in bathrooms with an area of up to 2.8 m2.
Model overview
Domestic heated towel rails have proven themselves to be very reliable electrical appliances. The selection of heated towel rail models offered is simply huge, more than 50 types. The body of these heated towel rails is made of AISI 304 stainless steel. The surface of the product is processed by plasma polishing, giving the heated towel rail a special shine. Most models are equipped with a temperature controller.
Bronze electric heated towel rail - hidden connection
The Energy brand has a good reputation (towel rails with a high protection class). Such devices can be installed in the bathroom without grounding. The body of the devices is made of high-quality food steel. The manufacturer pays special attention to the level of power consumption of its devices. Most models from this manufacturer consume the same amount of energy as a standard light bulb.
The favorites of this manufacturer are the following models:
- Energy Ergo
- Energy U chrome
- Energy Grand
- Energy H
- Energy Bravo
The Swedish manufacturer PAX specializes in the production of electric heated towel rails with cable heating.
PAX products are the undisputed leader on the market. The factory is famous for its excellent product quality, confirmed by international certificates. The products of this brand are characterized by a laconic design; such a heated towel rail can decorate any bathroom.
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Tera M-shaped 600x500 E
Main characteristics:
- Material: stainless steel;
- Power - 40 W;
- Maximum heating temperature - 70°C;
- Possibility of rotation - no;
- Dimensions - 62.5x50 cm.
Design and material of manufacture. A “dry” type heated towel rail is a pipe bent in the shape of the letter M with smoothed corners. It is made of stainless steel with a galvanic coating of a layer of mirror chrome. It is rigidly attached to the wall using several brackets, occupying a space of 60x50 cm. The product weighs 3.3 kg. The conversion of electrical energy into heat occurs on a heating cable protected from dust and moisture.
Parameters and connection. The model is adapted for open connection. In operating mode, it consumes power up to 40 W, which, according to the manufacturer, is enough to dry towels and heat rooms up to 1.9 sq.m. In this case, the outer walls heat up to 50-70°C, which does not cause burns in case of accidental contact with human skin.
Varieties
There are two main types of heated towel rails:
- water
- electric
There are also combined ones, but they are used very rarely and, for the most part, due to their cost, are not particularly in demand in our market.
The tasks for both models are the same:
- Direct purpose is drying towels or other linen
- secondary - a heating radiator for a small room to create a comfortable temperature and coziness
If you don’t have a heated floor in your bathroom, then it’s not very pleasant in the winter to bring in a fan heater every time before taking a bath in order to raise the temperature to an acceptable level, and not get goosebumps.
- they also help prevent mirror fogging and condensation accumulation
A good heated towel rail should cope with all three of the above tasks.
How to choose an electric heated towel rail
Electric heated towel rails have a number of specific features that provide significant advantages over their water counterparts connected to heating or hot water supply networks. They do not depend on repairs regularly carried out by utility services, are highly reliable due to their operation in stable conditions, are easy to install and come in a wide variety of shapes.
To correctly select the appropriate model, it is only advisable to navigate the design nuances of standard devices and be able to correctly correlate their technical capabilities with your operating conditions.
How to decide on the heating type of a heated towel rail
There are two large groups of electric heated towel rails, which differ fundamentally in design and method of heating external surfaces.
"Wet"
“Wet” type devices have a closed heating circuit filled with a coolant: water, antifreeze or oil. In their lower part there is a heating element that heats the liquid, which circulates through the internal channels due to the difference in specific gravity, which changes with temperature. They should be installed in a strictly defined position.
Such devices reach operating mode more slowly, but retain heat for a long time. They have a wide power range. Models are available that consume from 100 to 2000 W. They are often equipped with regulators that allow you to accurately select the optimal degree of heating.
"Dry"
“Dry” heated towel rails are equipped with a long heating cable laid inside metal structures that can take the most bizarre shapes. They are easy to manufacture, do not require high tightness, therefore, at a lower cost, they last on average 3-5 years longer than their “wet” counterparts.
These heated towel rails heat up almost instantly and cool down quickly after switching off. The most common models of this type are with a power of 100-150 W.
What you need to know about the material used to make radiators
The material for “dry” type heated towel rails can be any metal that has good thermal conductivity. For “wet” models that require a sealed shell, a significant factor is its ability to resist corrosion for a long time. There are three main options for the design of the housing of such devices.
Stainless steel
Stainless alloys are not subject to oxidation over a wide temperature range and have high strength. With proper use, such radiators last for decades, but they are also quite expensive. They are usually chrome plated to improve their appearance.
Stainless steel heated towel rail.
Black steel with protective coating
Ordinary carbon steel is characterized by strength, good thermal conductivity and affordable cost. To protect against rust, it is treated on all sides with protective compounds, including zinc and polymer enamels. Due to thermal expansion, over time they develop microcracks, leading to the appearance of corrosion.
Heated towel rail made of black steel painted with enamel.
Brass, copper or aluminum (non-ferrous metal)
Non-ferrous metals have exceptionally high thermal characteristics and are practically not subject to oxidation. They are inferior to steel in strength, but in everyday conditions this factor is not decisive. Much more important when considering such models is the price, which often reaches significant values.
Brass heated towel rail.
What form of heated towel rail is most optimal?
To perform its functions, each heated towel rail has a developed outer surface. Its shape should make it easy to clean and convenient for hanging things. Several common design options meet these criteria.
Ladder
This type of design is more suitable for “wet” type devices. Thanks to the large number of slats, it is quite spacious and allows you to quickly dry even long towels when spread out. Such heated towel rails are appropriate for medium-sized and large-sized bathrooms.
Ladder heated towel rail in the interior.
Snake
A snake is a series of parallel pipes connected to each other by bends. It easily accommodates the heating cable. The number of elements of the same type can be any and is selected according to the size of the wall section allocated for installation.
Snake heated towel rail in the interior.
What to choose – coolant or cable?
Which electric heated towel rails for the bathroom are more practical - with cables or with coolants? This largely depends on the goals of the owner of the premises and the specific operating conditions. Let's compare the characteristics of the devices:
- Installation features . When installing a cable model, the owner can decide for himself how it is more convenient for him to position the heated towel rail. The heating cable will work under any conditions. For models with coolants, the location is fundamentally important. If errors are made during installation, the coolant will not be able to circulate normally, which will inevitably affect the operation of the device.
- Economical . Cable models are cheaper, consume less energy and therefore seem more attractive to buyers. Liquid ones are more expensive, but at the same time much more powerful. An additional advantage of heated towel rails with coolant is long-term cooling. Cables heat up and cool down almost instantly.
- Power . Liquid heated towel rails are quite capable of replacing radiators. Some models are not inferior in characteristics to electric heaters; their power can be 2 kW. Cable devices are less powerful and heat up less. They are less often equipped with temperature control and regulation systems, because this is often simply not necessary.
If it is assumed that the device will be used not only for drying wet towels, but also as a heater, then it is better to choose a model with coolant.
Combined heated towel rails with built-in heating elements can operate in the presence of hot water and in its absence. This does not affect their functionality in any way.
