Adding a towel radiator to bathroom

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I'm planning on adding a towel radiator to our bathroom and also replacing the existing 600x600 radiator. I'm going to be linking up with the existing flow/return feeds for the new radiator & towel rail.

When I've fitted radiators before I've noticed that the TRV valves were marked as bidirectional, why is this as I'd assumed this is the case anyway?

I'm also a little confused as I've seen it explained that the lock shield valve side was where the hot water entered the radiator from the system while somewhere else it said the opposite. Also are lock shield valves normally bidirectional? If they are does it actually matter which way the TRV & lock shields are fitted, are they reversible?

When I fit the towel rail am I right in assuming I'll be fitting TRV & lockshield valves just like you would on a normal radiator?
 
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I wouldn't put TRVs on a rad in a bathroom and certainly not on a towel rail.
 
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you don't mind a bathroom being heated above the optimum temperature, then.
 
Bathrooms should be warmer than other rooms.
Towel rails are for drying and warming towels and should be almost always on, hence dual fuel installations and separate towel rail circuits in remodels also, regularly put on primaries.
Wheel heads are perfectly adequate to use in bath/shower/wc's and are the rooms you are most likely to be naked and wet in, with cold wall and floor surfaces in the form of tiles.
I'm not going to throw a paddy if a customer wants TRVs in these locations but would not include them as part of a quote. They would be charged extra.
 
With a combi system you need at least one radiator as a bypass.ie No TRV..usually its the bathroom.Also.,I think chrome towel radiators look much neater with matching chrome lockshields rather than a TRV..Personally I dont like towel rads.,as they give half as much heat as ordinary rad.
 
Yes, but that's not the same as heating them above the optimum temperature, whatever that might be.

So you have them in your bathroom? I don't!

Don't spec 'em; ain't gonna start to.

Let's just agree to disagree eh? :)

What do you think Op?
 
I've looked at the heat output of the larger towel rads and it's well below what say a 600x600 rad can output. For me they their function is to dry off / warm towels up and wouldn't be any good to heat the bathroom up, which is why I'm keeping a small rad as well. Having a warm bathroom also cuts down on condensation caused by showers and the resulting mould problems.

On reading the posts on here I think I'm going to go with lock shields instead of a TRV. Though I will be keeping the TRV on the small rad as my partner does not like the bathroom when it get's too hot.

:confused: One thing I'd like to clarify, are rad valves bidirectional by default? On the rad valve sets I've bought the TRVs I've fitted have a bidirectional marking on them but I've haven't seen any on the matching lockshields. Is there anyway of telling which is which as regards direction?

I guess one way of telling which side is the flow or return is to turn on the heating and see which end heats up first. :cautious:
 
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With a combi system you need at least one radiator as a bypass.ie No TRV..usually its the bathroom.Also.,I think chrome towel radiators look much neater with matching chrome lockshields rather than a TRV..Personally I dont like towel rads.,as they give half as much heat as ordinary rad.


I may regret asking this but what is a bypass and why do you need at least one radiator as a bypass?

We do have a combi boiler btw.
 
Lockshields and wheel heads are bidirectional.

When putting on TRVs, it is best to have the head on the side of the rad that is most exposed to the room and not tucked into a corner!
However, sometimes aesthetics come into play and where possible, it is usual to put the TRV on the right hand side.
 
Thought so. Didn't have a spare lockshield around to put under a tap to check!

Okay so when I buy a set of rad valves/lockshields it does not matter which way around I fit them, either can go on feed or return side. Apart from keeping the aesthetics in mind of course (y)
 
The reason they are labelled bi-directional is because some valves are unidirectional, I.e you must fit the TRV on the flow and the lock shield on the return.

With bi-directional valves you don't need to worry, unless there is a manual lever to set the direction.

At least that's how we do it up here.

Is it safe to assume if a rad valve is unidirectional it will be clearly indicated as such.
 
Is it safe to assume if a rad valve is unidirectional it will be clearly indicated as such.
The valve body will be stamped with a direction arrow for both ports...if not sure then turn TRV off while pump operating and if it 'bangs' then a sure sign valve orientation is incorrect...:ROFLMAO:
 

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