As selfbuilders strive to create a dream home that reflects personal style with modern convenience, the role of the heated towel rail has transcended mere functionality. Here, Richard Lister, National Sales Manager from designer radiator and towel rail manufacturer, The Radiator Company delves into the vast array of styles available and the key things to consider when making a specification.
Heated towel rails have become an integral bathroom feature in modern houses to provide a pleasant warming element in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as boot rooms, utility rooms and cloakrooms. In years gone by, heated towel rails were perhaps regarded as a functional solution, and were even an afterthought with no design consideration. However, the role of the heated towel rail has shifted to become much more design focused – and rightly so, given that a home is an expression of personality, so every element should be intentional and unique.
Happily, today’s project planners have access to a wide range of stunning and even artistic heating solutions that can be incorporated as purposeful design elements.
Design
Heated towel rails are available in a wide range of shapes and styles to suit any interior vision, including curved, tubular, flat tube, floor standing, and slimline, as well as modern or traditional. There are even side loading models that provide a unique and modern upgrade to the familiar ladder style format where users can easily slide towels onto the rail from the side, such as The Radiator Company’s side-loading Lato Towel Rails. Planners may also benefit from horizontal models that can utilise wall space below a window or above a bath, which is ideal for making the most of restricted space in smaller rooms.
Other modern styles available on the market include advanced designer options such as the Quadraqua, an electric towel rail that combines statement design with a practical shelf-style system that offers lots of storage space.
Towel rails are not just limited to wall mounted designs. Floor standing ranges are becoming increasingly popular due to their timeless allure and stunning design. For those looking to emulate period features, consider designs with distinctive period features, such as ball joint connections, cast iron radiator sections and antique copper or bronze finishes, such as the Chalfont Floor Standing Towel Rail, to enrich such design themes.
Colour
Gone are dull, basic styles of towel rail; modern designer manufacturers can instead offer a variety of colours and designs which can elevate and enhance a room instead of being limited to the traditional chrome or standard white ladder style.
Choosing a supplier that can finish a towel rail in any RAL colour or paint shade enables planners to advance their overall vision and scheme – whether it’s bold or bright, clashing, or complementing – a coloured towel rail can inject personality and interest into any interior design.
For example, heated towel rails finished in bright, bold colours can be added for a sense of playfulness or, neutral tones can be used to create a sophisticated interior design. Colours such as powder pink, forest green, or dramatic blue can make a courageous statement within the room.
Where matt black taps and showerheads feature, a matt black towel rail can be beautifully coordinated to create a sense of cohesion. Likewise, copper, bronze and gold fixtures and fittings can all be beautifully balanced with a towel rail finished in a harmonious colour.
Alternatively, homeowners may want their towel rail to seamlessly blend into the wall. In this instance, look to leading manufacturers that can provide a paint coordination service. A quality finish that reflects the effort you have taken in choosing your colour scheme is important, so choose a manufacturer that can provide samples so you can see how it sits next to your wall colour.
Considerations
Determine heat
Like radiators, it is imperative that the product is capable of warming the space and can provide the required heat output for the room and this is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). If the BTU of the towel rail or radiator is too low, the heating won’t reach the temperature you need. Too high and the energy usage will be unnecessarily inflated.
Determining the heat (BTU) for your space can be calculated using online tools provided by leading manufacturers, or with help from your plumber. From here, you are then able to match your heat requirements with your choice of towel rail. However, if working with a renewable heating system, such as solar or heat pumps, the BTU will need an adjusted calculation to account for the low temperature of the system. In these instances, it is best to choose a manufacturer that can provide bespoke advice for your project and work out the calculations for you.
Choose the fuel type
There are three ways to heat towel rails: an electric unit, connection to the central heating system, or a dual fuel system.
Electric-only models are hard wired to an appropriate fused spur and are separate from the central heating system. This makes these solutions ideal for optimising energy usage by switching on only when necessary. Alternatively, heated towel rails connected to the central heating are plumbed in. These will warm up in line with the central heating schedule for the entire property. A dual fuel towel rail combines the use of both electric and central heating to provide ultimate flexibility and convenience. Here, the central heating function is utilised to operate the towel rail during the colder months, then when the central heating is turned off, which is usual during the warmer months, the electric element enables occupants to enjoy warm towels year-round, adding an element of luxuriousness to a home whilst keeping energy costs down.
For planners looking to specify multiple heat emitters for a self-build project, The Radiator Company offers a full specification service to help calculate heat outputs, provide advice from drawings and specifications as well support scheduling requirements.