Rad and towel rail in bathroom

[thornton_chris]

Hi all.

We have had a heated towel rail on our bathroom for a while now and in the winter it doesn't kick out enough heat to heat the room as well.

Therefore I want to add a rad as well.

The problem is that it is only a small wall so really the only option is to place the towel rail above the radiator. My issue is that if they both have TRVs surely the towel rad will sense the heat from the rad and turn off. Is this correct? Are there any other options?

See pic below.

Untitled

• thornton_chris
• 15 Jul 2010
• 1

Many thanks,

Chris

 

[Nige F]

That is correct - get a towel rail with a rad in the middle

 

[thornton_chris]

I agree that would be the best option but we already have a towel rail and a rad so ideally don't want to spend any more money!

 

[oldbuffer]

If both will be run off your central heating, then, if you are going to use the existing pipework, would it not be possible to fit an in-line TRV into the pipework before the split to the two devices? Then just fit ordinary valves to the towel rail and radiator and leave them fully open.

 

[ianniann]

I was going to suggest simply removing the towel rail TRV. Most people want their towel rails warm even if the room is already warm and like you say they don't kick out much heat. Oldbuffer's idea might be better if you aren't continually drying towels. Or you could replace the towel rail TRV with a manual valve so you can turn it on and off as needed. All assuming the CH is on.

 

[thornton_chris]

Thanks for all the replys.

It has got me thinking.

How about this. I plumb them in series rather that parellel (make sense?).

See pic below. This way the rad and towel rail come on and off together.

Untitled

• thornton_chris
• 15 Jul 2010
• 1

Chris

 

[mysteryman]

I would do as suggested above - put them in parallel with lockshield valves on the HTR - which can become the system bypass.

Better still, If you have a separate boiler and cylinder, tee the HTR off after the pump but before the motorised valve. The HTR will then be warmed whenever the boiler fires, either fro CH or DHW or both.

 

[thornton_chris]

I would do as suggested above - put them in parallel with lockshield valves on the HTR - which can become the system bypass.

.

OK thanks guys. I'll do this. What is a system bypass?