Amanda, its quite easy to calulate how many British Thermal Units (btu)you need to heat a room adequately. All radiators and towel rails should give you their maximum btu output in the specification, on the packaging etc.
If you then multiply the width x length x height of your bathroom to find the cubic capacity, and multiply this sum by 3.5, this will give you the amount of btus you need to heat the room.
For rooms facing north Add 15%
For French windows Add 20%
For double glazing Deduct 10%
You can then compare this to the towel rail output. If your calculated figure (btu) comes out lower than the radiator output (btu), even better cos you'll be nice and warm
. If your figure (btu) comes out higher than the radiator output, then your bathroom won't be warm enough.
An easier way, is to go to the something and Q website. Look under radiators and they have a btu calculator there where all you do is type in the numbers and the software will work out the results.
Simple really if you know how
I only know how, cos we have just been thro this in our new bathroom. The old bathroom had one towel rail and always felt cold in the winter, but now we have added another towel rail and therefore upped the btus...also have just laid underfloor wiring, so should be really snug. I purchased the u/floor heating second hand (but unused) and cheap from Friday Ad, also sometimes available from ebay. So its worth looking around.
If not, you can get a small double radiator (bog standard white) quite cheap. If you have space, maybe fit one of these as well as the towel rail?
Anyway, hope that helps and good luck!
