Heated towel rail. Central heating or dual fuel?

Polly05

Hi, getting my bathroom done soon . I've just been planning on having a new heated towel rail plumbed into the central heating but now I'm thinking maybe dual fuel would be good. The one I'm planning on buying is capable of both.
What's involved in making it dual fuel? Is it a lot of work for the plumber? Is it really expensive to run it on electricity? Any reasons why I couldn't have it running off the electricity? Is it safe, if it's close to the bath etc?
Thanks! Sorry for the daft questions!

Alex1983

No real trouble for the plumber, you will just need to get a dual fuel thermostat and dual fuel tee should be no more then £40 on top of the towel rail.

You'll need a electrician to install a power supply for it.

nofoollikeold

1. If you are replacing a radiator with a heated towel rail, then if they are similar physical sizes you'll get a lot less heat out of a towel rail, particularly with towels on it.
2. We had our bathroom done about 5 years ago, and had a dual fuel towel rail installed. I think we've used the electric element twice.
3. Heating by electricity is about 3 times as expensive as heating by gas.

Mayflower10cat

nofoollikeold wrote: »

1. If you are replacing a radiator with a heated towel rail, then if they are similar physical sizes you'll get a lot less heat out of a towel rail, particularly with towels on it.
2. We had our bathroom done about 5 years ago, and had a dual fuel towel rail installed. I think we've used the electric element twice.
3. Heating by electricity is about 3 times as expensive as heating by gas.

I agree! Bitterly regret swapping our old, bulky radiator for a slim, dual fuel towel rail. It doesn't keep the bathroom warm even without towels covering it. It takes ages to heat up when we use it on it's electrical setting. As the bathroom is on the corner of the house with two exterior walls, it is on the cold side most of the time. We're going to add a wall mounted bathroom fan heater to give the room a quick blast whilst we're using it.

Annie1960

I'm getting a dual fuel towel rad for new wetroom extension.

You need to check the BTUs before you buy. I found there was nothing in chrome that would give the BTUs in the size space I had available, so I need to get a stainless steel one.

Jonesya

Towel rails don't give out much heat, so if you've got space I'd keep the existing radiator and add an electric towel rail then you get the best if both worlds. Heating still performs and the towel rail can be on whenever you want, independent of the heating.

2 things to consider - you can fit an electric heating element to any towel rail or radiator to use it as a stand alone electric heater (should get a safety relief valve for one point). Get the electrician to fit a timer, it will cost £20-£30 more but the electric savings are significant and easy cover the cost.

Gers

We had an electric towel rail installed as part of the refurb of the bathroom and only ever used it once in three years. Too slow to heat and too expensive to use. Looks pretty though!

Polly05

The one I want is 1644 BTU. For a small bathroom. That should be enough, should it not?

Jonesya

It's only roughly 500w, so not that much for heating. Not even a 1 bar fire. Might be ok if your bathroom is small and well insulated, cold otherwise.

Also, I expect that figure is for the towel rail uncovered, i doubt you'll get that much heat out of it once it's covered with a few towels.

Annie1960

Polly05 wrote: »

The one I want is 1644 BTU. For a small bathroom. That should be enough, should it not?

How have you calculated this?

My new wetroom is approx 2m x 2m, and needs a minimum of 2000 BTU.


http://www.bestheating.com/btu-calculator


Better to get one with a higher BTU rating than you need.

Polly05

Annie1960 wrote: »

How have you calculated this?

My new wetroom is approx 2m x 2m, and needs a minimum of 2000 BTU.


http://www.bestheating.com/btu-calculator


Better to get one with a higher BTU rating than you need.

That website says I need 1591 btu.