Heated Towel Rails

Buying guide

A towel rail does two jobs: warms and dries towels, and adds some heat to the bathroom. Traditional rails are mostly about the first; rails with cast iron sections do both. Knowing the output helps you decide whether you need a radiator as well.

Our heated towel rails

How much heat does a towel rail give?

Towel rail outputs are quoted at ΔT50, meaning the average water temperature is 50°C above the room, for example 70°C water in a 20°C bathroom. A plain rail gives relatively little heat: the Bassingham gives 119W and the 1800mm Colossus 288W. That is plenty to warm and dry towels but not enough to heat most bathrooms on its own. The Broughton and Wilsford, with cast iron radiator sections built in, give 557W and 520W, which makes them a combined radiator and towel rail for a smaller bathroom.

If your heating runs at lower water temperatures, as heat pump systems usually do, the output drops. Carron rates the Bassingham at 61W at ΔT30, against 119W at ΔT50. Ask your heating engineer to size at your system's temperature.

Choosing a towel rail

• Space. Wall mounted rails keep the floor clear; floor standing rails suit traditional bathrooms and give more hanging space. The Colossus wall rail projects 186mm from the wall.
• Heat. If the rail is the only heat in the bathroom, choose the Broughton or Wilsford; otherwise pair a plain rail with a radiator.
• Pipe centres. Check the inlet centres against existing pipework: 425mm for the Bassingham, 500mm for the Colossus wall rail, 380mm for the Colossus floor rail and 528mm for the Broughton and Wilsford.
• Finish. Chrome suits modern bathrooms; nickel, copper and brushed brass suit period ones. Carron supplies copper-plated rails unlacquered, so they tarnish naturally unless polished.
• Matching. The Broughton's sections echo the Victorian column radiator, and the Wilsford's the Rococo, so you can match a Carron cast iron radiator elsewhere.

Is it enough for your bathroom?

Bathrooms are often kept a little warmer than other rooms, so they need a fair amount of heat for their size. Using the general rule of about 1kW for every 14 cubic metres, a 2.5m x 2m bathroom with a 2.4m ceiling is 12 cubic metres, which points to roughly 850W, more in an older house with a cold outside wall. A plain rail of 119W to 288W will not do that alone, so pair it with a radiator, or choose the Broughton or Wilsford at 520W to 557W and check the balance with your heating engineer. In a small en suite or cloakroom, a plain rail may be all that is needed.

Towel rail or radiator?

If wall space is tight, one appliance that does both jobs is the answer: the Broughton and Wilsford combine a steel towel rail with cast iron radiator sections in one 965mm x 675mm unit. In a larger bathroom, a separate cast iron radiator for heat and a Colossus rail for towels gives you more of both. If the rest of your house has Carron radiators, the Broughton's Victorian column style sections or the Wilsford's Rococo style sections tie the bathroom in with them.

Dual fuel: towels warm all year

All these rails are described by Carron as dual fuel compatible. That means an electric heating element can be fitted alongside the central heating connection, so the rail can warm towels in summer when the boiler is off. In a bathroom, the electrical connection must be made by a qualified electrician, as bathrooms have special wiring rules, and some bathroom electrical work must be notified under Part P of the Building Regulations in England. Carron's own electric heating element is IPX4 rated and suits its column radiators; check compatibility with your chosen rail before ordering.

Installation

Have the rail plumbed in by a qualified plumber or heating engineer, fixed to a wall or floor that can take its weight. Choose valves to suit the rail and your pipework; Carron's radiator valves connect to 15mm pipe. Bleed the rail after filling, as you would a radiator. Carron gives its towel rails a 5 year guarantee.