Once upon a time, heated towel rails were only a feature of those sprawling bathrooms that most of us could only dream of ever owning. Today, they provide practical, stylish and affordable value to many of us. Here are five important factors to help you make the right choice for your home:
Which power option suits me best?
A central heating connection means your heated towel rail operates just like standard bathroom radiators.
Electric is suitable for limited or zero access to central heating. Set up is easy, economical and provides a great source of warmth for both towels and bathroom. However, as with all things electrical, please pay attention to safety standards.
Dual fuel connects to your central heating as well as its own electric heating element – useful when your central heating is switched off in warmer months.
What size do I need?
As with bathroom radiators, size is determined by the size of your bathroom. Don’t forget to factor in the available wall-to-floor space, how many people use the bathroom, and whether it can double as extra drying space for clothes.
How much heat do I need?
You need to know the hourly output of BTU (British Thermal Unit) generated by your heated towel rail to determine how effective it will be in the space you have. A higher hourly BTU offers the most efficient heated towel rail for your bathroom. While this may remind you of school sums, there’s no need to worry. Here’s a snazzy and free calculator that does all the BTU calculations for you: www.calculator.net/btu-calculator.html.
What’s the best finish and style for my bathroom?
The variety of designs offering your bathroom an extra dusting of sparkle and style can be overwhelming. The best are as practical as they are pretty, such as these: http://apolloradiators.co.uk/Category/43/header/57/bathroom-radiator-ranges.
How do I stay within my budget?
Be realistic and focus on your needs. A central heating towel rail may seem to be your best option, but a dual fuel connection might save you money, because you can heat the bathroom without the cost of heating your entire home.
Taking the time to look at all the factors involved alongside your specific needs and style requirements is worth its weight in gold.
