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Heated Towel Rail Problem
Ratler00
Posts: 2 Newbie
Hi,
I recently purchased a flat that was repossessed.
When I moved in all the appliances, electrics, water etc were turned off. By the taps etc. were notes saying the system had been drained down and to get a plumber. It was similar for the electrics.
I have two electric ladder style heated towel rails that I think were installed as new in the flat, which is 4 years old. One does nothing when it is turned on and I think in all likelihood the element has blown. The other makes a noise like a boiling kettle when turned on. Both towel rails have bleed valves.
Looking online it seems that towel rails for water fed systems can be used/converted for electrical feed. Some it would seem require a liquid and some work with air.
My difficulty is:
1) The one that is working sounds very noisy and I would not have expected it to make the level of noise that it does. It is much louder than an immersion heater and sounds like a boiling kettle. I turned it off quickly to preserve the element if it does need a liquid. Could this therefore be a liquid based towel rail that has been drained down on repossession?
2) In respect of the one that does nothing is it easy to locate a replacement element?
I ask here because it seems to me that the cost of getting a plumber out may well be more, or a similar price, to buying 2 new towel rails and fitting them myself.
Thank you
I recently purchased a flat that was repossessed.
When I moved in all the appliances, electrics, water etc were turned off. By the taps etc. were notes saying the system had been drained down and to get a plumber. It was similar for the electrics.
I have two electric ladder style heated towel rails that I think were installed as new in the flat, which is 4 years old. One does nothing when it is turned on and I think in all likelihood the element has blown. The other makes a noise like a boiling kettle when turned on. Both towel rails have bleed valves.
Looking online it seems that towel rails for water fed systems can be used/converted for electrical feed. Some it would seem require a liquid and some work with air.
My difficulty is:
1) The one that is working sounds very noisy and I would not have expected it to make the level of noise that it does. It is much louder than an immersion heater and sounds like a boiling kettle. I turned it off quickly to preserve the element if it does need a liquid. Could this therefore be a liquid based towel rail that has been drained down on repossession?
2) In respect of the one that does nothing is it easy to locate a replacement element?
I ask here because it seems to me that the cost of getting a plumber out may well be more, or a similar price, to buying 2 new towel rails and fitting them myself.
Thank you
0
Comments
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I would imagine they all need a liquid? It would be far less efficent to heat air inside the towel rail with an element. You should easily be able to tell if they have liquid in, take off the bleed valve and pop in a dip stick or similar. You should be able to buy a replacement liquid, although there could have been a leak previously? Try Screwfix for replacement elements too... Or if there is central heating in the flat you maybe able to just take out the element, clean and flush and connect up to the central heating.... If they aren't filled with oil its probably cheaper to buy new.0
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P.S. Have you checked the circuit for the one that doesn't work?0
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