Heated towel radiator

[cdbe]

Hi, sorry if it's been answered before but I'm struggling to get my head round it. We have an S plan with unvented cylinder and older boiler and auto bypass valve. Some time ago (while adding a new heating zone) I fitted tees off the primary flow and heating return with the intention of taking the towel radiator off the heating circuit. I'm now repiping a radiator next to the bathroom and could probably get access to the towel radiator to connect up but I don't know (after reading some of the previous posts) whether it will work or cause problems? The flow is teed after the pump and before the valves, the return is teed into the heating return.
In addition to wanting it on with the hot water in summer, we have the problem that it's currently fed by the upstairs heating zone so only comes on 2 hours a day=cold bathroom, we have the hot water on for 12 hours a day and the downstairs heating on a lot more so hope this will produce a bit more heat. I will fit a trv.

Will this work or am I asking for trouble?

Thanks.

 

[stem]

If you connect it as you describe, it will be 'on' when any of the motorised valves is open ie when any of the heating zones or hot water are on. Towel warmers only need a low flow rate compared with panel radiators, to keep them hot because their design means that they don't actually loose much heat into the room, so the lockshield valve only needs to be cracked open slightly. It won't effect the flow to the other radiators.

You have to be aware of creating a 'reverse circulation' situation, but if I have understood your description of where the connections are going to be made, you don't do that.

If you have a cold bathroom though you should also have a radiator in there as well. A towel warmer will only emit about one third of the heat that a single radiator of the same size does, and that is reduced down to almost nothing when it is covered with fluffy insulating towels.

 

[John D v2.0]

whether it will work or cause problems?

Yes it will work as long as you balance between the towel rail and new rad.

In addition to wanting it on with the hot water in summer, we have the problem that it's currently fed by the upstairs heating zone so only comes on 2 hours a day=cold bathroom, we have the hot water on for 12 hours a day and the downstairs heating on a lot more so hope this will produce a bit more heat. I will fit a trv.

Will this work or am I asking for trouble?

I thought the rad is next to the bathroom? So making it stay on longer won't help the bathroom temp. The towel rail is presumably teed off before the zone valves already so won't really be affected.i don't think this paragraph is clear at all.

 

[cdbe]

Thanks, sorry I wasn't clear. The radiator I mentioned is in the adjacent bedroom and I have the floor up as I'm repiping it so I thought a good opportunity to tackle the towel radiator (which is currently teed off the pipework to this rad). Bathroom is only cold as currently on upstairs heating zone which is barely on as I'm tight. I think my worry was the issue of reverse circulation (does that mean the return will go off to other radiators instead of back to the boiler?) But sounds like it won't be a problem?

 

[stem]

I don't think it will be a problem from your description, but here's an excellent explanation of reverse circulation. Click No 3 here. A picture paints a thousand words. Thanks Herts Boilers!

 

[cdbe]

Thanks, always good to learn something new!

 

[Hot&Cold]

In addition to wanting it on with the hot water in summer,

If the the towel warmer is plumbed into the hw cylinder flow and returns this will warm your towels when there is a call for the contents of your cylinder to reheat via the cylinder thermostat,consider that in winter when the hw circuit is satisfied (if you have a standard radiator already in your bathroom then your ok).

Anyone using the bathroom will expect the air temperature to be sufficient,it also helps prevent mould.

Not knowing the air space heat requirements of your bathroom and your expectations its difficult to consider the best option although the duel fuel option could help out when needed.

Happy plumbing

 

[cdbe]

Thanks, I know it's not perfect and should probably be on a separate zone but I'll see how we get on with it.
I fitted a dual fuel one in my father in law's combi system and he seems very happy with it - for my part I learned a hard but valuable lesson about chrome plated copper pipe and pushfit fittings!

 

[cdbe]

Thanks all, I have done this now and it's all working well - warm bathroom and towels. Obviously I'll have to wait and see how it works in the summer off just the hot water - we do have a "greedy" shower so the boiler runs for a fair period to reheat the cylinder so fingers crossed it will do the job.