The World of Heated Towel Rails
We’re all familiar with the heated towel rail, but few of us know the full story behind these magical bathroom staples. A heated towel radiator is so much more than just a place to hang your wet towels when you’re done using them. Yes, we may be a little biased, but we are firm believers that the right bathroom heating can change your life, and we’re here to help you find the absolute best for your bathroom.
A warm towel to greet you as you step out the shower will transform your morning, taking it from zero to hero in just a few seconds. Heated towel rails will not only heat your towels to that perfect temperature while you complete your Monday morning hair wash, they can also work as a stunning decorative feature in your bathroom, and our range of styles, shapes, sizes and designs is practically endless.
Finally, heated towel rails will warm your entire bathroom, and not just your towels. That means no chilly trips to the toilet in the middle of the night and no more apologizing to your guests for the freezing cold bathroom floor!
Ready to dive into the world of heated towel rails and invest in that ultimate luxury item? Check out our complete guide to heated towel rails to help you get started.
Dual Fuel, Central Heating & Electric Heated Towel Rails
First up, you’ll need to know how your towel radiator will be powered. It’s all very well having a fancy design, but if it doesn’t heat well then you may as well have just bought a bathroom sculpture (which we definitely aren’t against). However, to get the most from your heated towel radiator you’re going to have to choose between dual fuel, central heating, or electricity.
Central Heating Towel Radiators
Central heating towel radiators are powered by your central heating system. This means when your heating is on, so is your towel rail and when your heating is off, so is your towel rail!
In winter, this is very efficient. It’s easy to set up and means you can heat your towels at the same time you heat your house. Plus it means your heated towel radiator can be connected to the same timer as your heating, meaning you can choose exactly when you want those soft and warm towels!
However, in the summer you may still want warm towels (plus it’s good to keep your bathroom warm year-round) and if this is the case then a central heating powered towel rail isn’t ideal.
Electric Heated Towel Radiators
Electric radiators are powered by mains electricity and are very safe. These can be turned on or off independent of your central heating, making them perfect for summer when you want a warmer bathroom but not a sweltering living room! These are controlled by a switch attached to the radiator.
While great for the summer, they’re a little more faff in the winter as you’ll need to remember to switch them on as well as your central heating.
Dual Fuel Towel Radiators
Dual fuel towel radiators are the best of both worlds. These are powered by both electricity and central heating, and can be turned on via a switch. This means that you can heat your towels while you heat your home in the winter, while heating your bathroom independently in the summer. It’s a win win!
Heated Towel Radiator Valves & Elements
While the thought of reading about valves and elements might not spark joy in the average shopper, it is a vital part of your towel radiator that shouldn’t really be ignored. If you want to dive straight in, check out our radiator valves, elements and accessories right here.
Valves
Valves are available in a range of designs. We’ve got corner, straight or angled valves that look great with the right radiator and style of bathroom.
Elements
Heating elements allow you to use your radiator using electricity, and can be used for fully electric or dual fuel radiators. These are another essential component and we’d recommend learning how they work.
BTUs
It’s not just your towels that your bathroom radiator will heat. Towel rails can also heat your entire bathroom, but for this it’s important that you know the BTU of your room. The larger the room, the higher the BTU you’ll need is the general rule, so you’re going to need to know what BTU you require.
This sounds complicated, but it really isn’t. There’s a range of BTU calculators online that’ll work out your BTU for you in just a few simple steps. All you have to do is, well, Google it.
Heated Towel Radiators Designs
Now onto the fun stuff, the design. Heated towel radiators are available in a huge range of designs. From the cheap, cheerful and deceptively charming, to the state-of-the-art, catalogue worthy modern-art inspired pieces. The design of your heated towel rail is not a choice that should be taken lightly.
If you fancy a quick look at what we’ve got before we dive into the nitty gritty, check out our full selection of stunning heated towel rails right here.
Ladder Design Heated Towel Radiators
Ladder bathroom radiators are the classic towel radiator design. These are hugely popular and look great in virtually any bathroom - both modern and traditional styles. Despite their popularity, ladder towel radiators are far from boring, and they can be bought in a curved design for an extra contemporary twist.
Traditional Design Towel Radiators
Traditional heated towel rails are perfect for those charming vintage bathrooms. While these may appear old fashioned in design, their functionality is as modern as it comes and all of our victorian-style towel rails are designed and built with both quality and efficiency in mind.
Designer Towel Radiators
If you’re done with traditional and fancy something a little more wacky, one of our designer heated towel rails will be right up your street. Take everything you know about towel radiators and throw it out the window, our designer towel radiators don’t play by the rules (although yes, they will still heat your towels).
Sturdy Materials
The material of your towel radiator is important to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. We pride ourselves on our quality materials, meaning no matter what you choose, you’re guaranteed durability and efficiency.
We currently have 3 materials available, each with different benefits; chrome, stainless steel and mild steel. If you need a little extra help, check out this blog post for more information.
Chrome
Chrome heated towel rails are bright, inexpensive and efficient. Chrome is one of the most popular towel rail materials thanks to its great value for money and good BTU output. Despite the lower prices, the quality is still excellent, and we’re proud of our huge selection of chrome radiators.
Stainless Steel
A stainless steel heated towel radiator is a great choice for more humid bathrooms. It’s resistant to corrosion, rust and staining, meaning it’ll stay looking good as new for years to come. They’re also extremely sturdy, versatile and look pretty darn good too!
Mild Steel
Finally, we’ve got mild steel. This is by far the most common radiator material as mild steel radiators are very inexpensive to buy. Despite the lower prices, mild steel radiators are also known for their incredible durability and quality - so you’ve got no worries on that front either! They are built to be solid, long lasting and can be found in a huge range of styles and designs.
Spectacular Finishes
Finally, we’ve got the finishes. The right finish will perfectly complement the radiator’s design, as well as the look of the bathroom. The wrong finish? Well, it doesn’t even bode thinking about.
We have some beautiful finishes available that will suit a huge range of bathrooms, but knowing what to go for can be tricky. Here’s what you need to know about our 3 most popular finishes.
Polished Finish
A sleek polished finish is practically unbeatable. They work brilliantly in any bathroom and work very well in smaller bathrooms where their reflective surface works to open up the space and brighten the entire room.
Anthracite / Black Finish
The epitome of contemporary design, anthracite and black towel radiators are for those who want to step outside of the ordinary and make their bathroom one to remember. These stylish radiators make a true statement when it comes to style and design, and are the perfect addition to any monochrome or minimalist style bathrooms.
Any Questions?
While we’ve packed as much information as we can into this guide, we know you might still have some questions. Our Drench team are a helpful bunch and would love to answer any question you have, whether style, finish, material or function related! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team if you are unsure about anything on this guide or need a hand when it comes to creating your perfect bathroom.
