A towel warmer is a handy device that keeps towels dry and prevents mold and mildew from growing in a damp space like a bathroom. But how to choose the location of the heated towel rail in the interior of the bathroom? Photos with different types of design of this device, the best placement options, as well as recommendations for installing a heated towel rail, you will find below.
Water dryer for towels
In older houses, a heated towel rail in the bathroom is usually already installed. It is embedded in the heating system and looks like a snake. This is the most common design. If it is not in your apartment, then you can install it yourself.
The simplest design is U-shaped. She has only one rounding, and this option is easiest to connect to pipes.
The modern version of the dryer is a "ladder". It consists of two pipes connected by crossbars, on which you can hang towels.
Some manufacturers offer designer products with an unusual shape. They perform their direct function, and also serve as decoration for the interior of the bathroom. These designs are well suited to loft, hi-tech or constructivism styles. But they require a competent connection to the water supply, not every master can handle this.
All water heated towel rails work on the same principle. They are connected to a heating or hot water supply system. The first option has an obvious disadvantage: towels will be dried only in winter during the heating season.
The shape of the device is selected according to the area of the bathroom and the design. Since this appliance heats the room, you should not buy a product that is too large for a small room. Judging by the reviews, most often set the form of "snake" or "ladder".
Electric towel warmer
Electric varieties of towel dryers are easier to install than water ones. They just need to be plugged into an outlet when needed. But there is also a minus - they are additional consumers of electricity. Electric structures are produced in the same forms as water structures. Most often they buy a "ladder", as it fits equally well into any interior.
There are two types of devices according to the internal filler:
- cable;
- liquid.
The former are cheaper, they are made of stainless steel or copper. They are easier to hang, as you can choose any location, even diagonally.
The advantage of liquid modifications is that they slowly heat up and cool down. But they have requirements for quality and installation method. The design must be airtight, it can only be hung on the wall vertically, since the heating element is attached from below.
Almost all electric dryers have a timer to turn off when a certain temperature is reached. In some models, you can adjust the degree of heating.
Location options
When residents of apartments make repairs, the question often arises: where to hang a heated towel rail in the bathroom. It is impossible to answer it unambiguously, everyone chooses a comfortable position for himself.
If you embed the water version of the device into a heating or water supply system, then you need to focus on pipes. They are usually located opposite each other. Most often, next to the water supply pipes are a bathtub and a sink. Hanging a towel dryer over them is not very convenient, but some do.
If you have to connect a water dryer to the heating pipes, then this is usually done opposite the bathtub. The most convenient location for towels is above the washing machine. This is how it is located in most modern apartments.
One of the most unfortunate location options would be to mount the device above the toilet in a shared bathroom. The downside is obvious: from careless movement, towels can slip into the toilet.
Another unfortunate place will be the space above the bathroom. Water splashes will fly onto the towels, and the design will not be able to fully perform its functions.
When choosing a scheme for installing a water heated towel rail, in addition to convenience, it is necessary to take into account the pressure of water in the system. If you take it far from the riser, the pressure may not be enough, then the structure will not heat up.
Fixing the heated towel rail in accordance with the regulations
There are standards for installing water heated towel rails:
- The diameter of the main pipeline must not be larger than the diameter of the device.
- The distance from the wall to the center of the pipe should be 3.5–5.5 cm.
- The heated towel rail is attached to the wall with brackets.
- Connection to the pipe is carried out using couplings.
- The coolant must move strictly from top to bottom.
- The height to the floor according to the norms is 120 cm. The minimum allowable height is 95 cm.
- Distance from other objects - 60 cm.
Depending on the type of heated towel rail, before buying and installing, you should consult with a plumber or electrician serving your home. They will tell you what requirements the device must meet in order not to harm house communications.
Installation of a water heated towel rail
After you have chosen a place where to hang the heated towel rail, you need to proceed with the installation to the water supply system.
- Shut off hot water supply.
- Weld threads to pipes.
- Solder fittings to pipes.
- Install the brackets on the wall.
- Install a heated towel rail.
- Turn on the water and check the system for leaks.
In some cases, a bypass is installed. This is a water bypass in case the dryer is not available. To install it, valves are cut into the places where the pipes and the heated towel rail are attached. A pipe with another valve is attached to them. It shuts off water access to the bypass during normal operation.
Many are interested in whether it is possible to mount a heated towel rail in a heating system. Of course, this can be done, but many apartment owners who chose this method regretted it, because in this case the structure heats up only during the heating season. Therefore, inserting a heated towel rail into hot water pipes is the best option.
When planning the location of the towel dryer, it is necessary to take into account the size of the room and the layout of the plumbing. On the Internet you can find photos of heated towel rails in the interior of the bathroom. But it is best to develop your own plan that is suitable for a particular apartment. At the same time, the wishes of all residents are taken into account. You also need to calculate which design will be the most economical in a particular house.
