heated towel rail in bathroom

[paulsuttle7]

I want to put a heated towel rail in my bathroom, I've read various posts saying that it's not possible to tee off the hot water pipe into the towel rail, which is fine, there are some electric rails, but are these on all the time? can you time them, obviously it would be needed in the summer, but in spring and autumn can i have it on for a few hours? Also do they need to be wired to the fuse box, or to a nearby socket?
Thanks

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Do you have central heating via a wet system, such as radiators on a boiler?
If so a towel rad can be connected to that and/or via an electrical element.
And you can get a programer to control the rail.

 

[paulsuttle7]

Do you have central heating via a wet system, such as radiators on a boiler?
If so a towel rad can be connected to that and/or via an electrical element.
And you can get a programer to control the rail.

Hi
No we haven't got central heating, we have storage heaters

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

So an electrical heated towel rail and programmer would be your best option.

 

[paulsuttle7]

So an electrical heated towel rail and programmer would be your best option.

Does this heater just fix to the wall, just wiring, no plumbing?

also, the programmer, do they come with heater, or come separate, could you possibly give me an example please

 

[Belboz]

Below is just one example of an electric towel rail.

As you can see, the unit is wired into a connection unit.

I would guess that you would need a 2-gang box for a programmable version as I have never seen a 1-gang timer [except a plugin which I don't think would be compliant??] but the expert sparks on here will tell you.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/kudox-flat-electric-towel-radiator-chrome-700-x-400mm-150w-511btu/25760

 

[endecotp]

Does this heater just fix to the wall, just wiring, no plumbing?

Some electric towel rails are self-containted electric-only devices that you just fix to the wall and wire up.

The alternative is to get a "plumbed" towel radiator and to fit an electric heating element to it. You fill the radiator with water, screw the heating element into one hole and blanking caps into the others. You can get kits to do this and it seems to be quite a popular choice. I've seen the heating elements on sale in the larger DIY places so you could go and have a look.

In either case, the wall fixing and electrical wiring is much the same. To operate on a timer, one option is something like this:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMFST11.html

Whether this can legally be fitted in a bathroom, where within the bathroom, and by whom, are questions that I'll leave for others to discuss...

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Does this heater just fix to the wall, just wiring, no plumbing?

As already mentioned you have the panel that will just require an electrical input or you may purchase one that requires, blanking, filling and a heating element can be fitted.

also, the programmer, do they come with heater, or come separate, could you possibly give me an example please

They often require purchasing separately but I dare say there may be once available with a fitted programer.

Examples of above are:
electric towel radiators

element

water filled towel radiator

timer/programmer

The electrical connection will need to comply to part p of building regulations, electrical appliances within a bathroom require 30mA RCD protection, cables must be installed/routed in compliance to the permitted safe zones, electrical equipment and accessories must be selected as suitable for the bathroom zone they are to be installed within, an electrical appliance installed within the bathroom zones, will require to be notified to building controls, unless this is a replacement for an existing electrical heater.