Trystan Casey
There are several ways to fit an electric towel rail, depending on the type of rail and your bathroom setup. The three main types of heated towel rails are electric, hydronic, and those that plug into a wall outlet. Electric towel rails can be wired into your home's electrical system or plugged into a wall outlet. Hydronic towel rails, on the other hand, are powered by your home's hot water system and connect to radiator lines in the floor or wall. Before installing an electric towel rail, it is important to consider factors such as cost, installation complexity, safety regulations, and the size of the rail. While some people choose to install their towel rails themselves, it is generally recommended to consult a professional electrician, especially when dealing with electrical currents and bathroom installations.
How to Fit an Electric Towel Rail
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of rails | Electric, hydronic, or plug-in |
| Installation considerations | Safety, compliance, size, quality, and reviews |
| Tools required | Tape measure, pencil, Allen key, hammer, drill, screwdriver, adjustable spanner, grips, masonry bit, screws, rule plugs, spirit level, PTFE tape, angle/straight valve |
| Wall mounting | Drill into wall studs, use toggle bolts if studs are not in the right position, mark wall for support anchors |
| Electrical connection | Plug into wall outlet, hardwire into electrical system, or connect to lighting circuit; consult an electrician for mains connection |
| Safety | Comply with installation regulations, notify local authorities for electrical work in bathrooms |
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What You'll Learn
- Identify the type of electric towel rail: plug-in, hardwired, or hydronic
- Gather tools and materials: tape measure, drill, screwdriver, etc
- Prepare the wall: locate studs and mark anchor points
- Install the rail: attach brackets, lift radiator, and tighten screws
- Connect electricity: plug into an outlet or hire an electrician for hardwiring
Identify the type of electric towel rail: plug-in, hardwired, or hydronic
Electric towel rails are a type of radiator that uses electricity to heat up your room or a small space. They are a great addition to any room, especially the kitchen and bathrooms. They function by heating up a water-based solution inside the radiator, creating a water-based thermal transfer and heating up the towel rail.
There are three types of electric towel rails: plug-in, hardwired, and hydronic. Plug-in models have a cable that plugs into a power outlet, much like any other electrical appliance. They are slightly cheaper and easier to install than hardwired models. They can be installed almost anywhere in the bathroom as they do not rely on a power outlet installed in a "safe area". However, the visible cable might make them less aesthetically appealing.
Hardwired heated towel rails, on the other hand, are more complex to install and must be installed by a qualified electrician. They are usually a slightly more expensive option than plug-in models.
Hydronic towel rails, similar to the more common hydronic systems, can be either hardwired or plugged in. They are an excellent choice for efficient and comfortable whole-home or large-area heating. They tend to use less energy than typical electric systems.
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Gather tools and materials: tape measure, drill, screwdriver, etc
Before you start fitting your electric towel rail, make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials to hand. You will need a tape measure to ensure your radiator is straight and centred, a drill to make holes in the wall, and a screwdriver to tighten the wall brackets. It is also recommended to have an adjustable spanner, grips, masonry bit, screws, rule plugs, spirit level, PTFE tape, and either an angle grab or straight-through valve.
The type of electric towel rail you have chosen may dictate the tools and materials you require. For example, if your rail plugs into a wall outlet, you will need to ensure you have a power socket available and that the cord is long enough to reach. If your rail is hardwired into the electrical system, you will need to take extra precautions as this type of installation can be dangerous and should only be carried out by a professional, licensed electrician.
If you are installing a hydronic towel rail, which is powered by your house's hot water system, you may need copper pipes and soldering equipment. It is important to protect your bathroom floor and walls if soldering is required.
For any type of electric towel rail, it is important to adhere to installation regulations to ensure safety and compliance. Some electrical work, especially in bathrooms, may need to be carried out by a registered electrician and notified to the local authority.
Now that you have gathered all the necessary tools and materials, you are ready to begin the installation process.
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Prepare the wall: locate studs and mark anchor points
To prepare the wall for installing an electric towel rail, you will need to locate the studs. Use a stud finder to do this. It is important to secure the towel rail to the studs to ensure it doesn't get ripped out of the wall. Make sure the location you choose is near an electrical outlet so that the cord will reach. If the studs are not in a convenient position, you can use toggle bolts. These have wings that pop open inside the wall to prevent whatever you are hanging from becoming loose.
Next, mark the wall with a pencil where the support anchors will sit. Typically, towel rails have four support anchors, with two on each side. The support anchors may also be separate pieces that attach to the wall, and then the towel rail slides into them during the final step of installation.
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Install the rail: attach brackets, lift radiator, and tighten screws
Now that you've found a suitable location for your electric towel rail, it's time to install the rail by attaching brackets, lifting the radiator, and tightening the screws.
First, attach the brackets to the wall. Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs, and mark the spots where the brackets will be attached. Make sure the brackets are level and securely attached to the wall studs. If the studs are not in a convenient location, you can use toggle bolts that have wings that pop open inside the wall for added support.
Next, attach the corresponding brackets to the towel rail. These brackets should match up with the ones attached to the wall. Ensure they are securely fastened to the towel rail.
Now, carefully lift the radiator and position it on the wall brackets. Line up the brackets on the rail with the brackets on the wall, ensuring they are properly aligned.
Finally, tighten the screws to secure the radiator to the wall. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws that connect the wall brackets to the brackets on the rail. Make sure all the screws are tight and secure before proceeding.
Your electric towel rail is now safely and securely attached to the wall. Remember to follow the necessary safety precautions, especially when working with electricity, and always seek professional help if you are unsure about any part of the installation process.
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Connect electricity: plug into an outlet or hire an electrician for hardwiring
There are two ways to connect electricity to your electric towel rail: by plugging it into a wall outlet or by hardwiring it into your electrical system.
If you opt for the former, you must ensure that the location of your towel rail is near an electrical outlet so that the cord will reach. You can use a stud-finder to locate the studs in the wall and drill into them to secure the rail. This will ensure that the rail doesn't get ripped out of the wall. If the studs aren't in a convenient position, you can use toggle bolts to secure the rail to the wall. Mark the wall with a pencil to indicate where the support anchors will sit—towel rails typically have four support anchors, two on each side.
If you don't want to plug your towel rail into an outlet, you can hardwire it into your electrical system. This method prevents cords from showing and is a good option if you don't have a radiator in your bathroom. However, working with electrical currents can be dangerous, so this type of installation should only be performed by a professional, licensed electrician.
If your towel rail is inside the bathroom, the work is notifiable, and a registered electrician must carry it out and notify the Local Authority. Most people find it cheaper and less hassle to hire an electrician to handle the work and the necessary paperwork.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a tape measure, pencil, Allen key, hammer, drill, screwdriver, adjustable spanner, grips, masonry bit, screws, rule plugs, spirit level, PTFE tape, and either an angle grab or straight-through valve.
The best way to secure anything to the wall is to drill into the house's studs. This will ensure that the item doesn't get ripped out of the wall. Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall, and make sure the location is near an electrical outlet so that the cord will reach.
It depends on the type of electric towel rail. If it is a rail that plugs into an outlet on your wall, you can likely install it yourself. However, if the rail needs to be wired into your home's electrical system, this should only be installed by a professional, licensed electrician.
