Towel radiator installation

A towel radiator, or towel rail, heats the bathroom and dries the towels. How it is installed depends on whether it connects to the central heating, runs on electricity, or is a dual-fuel model with an element for summer when the radiators in the block are off.

Water, electric or dual-fuel

• water: connected to the heating system, warm only in the heating season, needs valves and a bleed vent;
• electric: works all year, needs a socket or a fused spur with suitable protection in the bathroom;
• dual-fuel: a water radiator with an extra electric element so towels can be dried in summer.

In a block of flats, connecting a water towel radiator means working on the central heating system. Outside the heating season that is easier; during the season the building manager may need to drain the riser.

How installation goes

The handyman picks a height and position so the radiator is not behind the door and there is room for towels above it. They fix the brackets with plugs to suit the wall, connect the valves and pipes, fill and bleed the radiator, and finally check the joints for leaks. An electric model is connected by a qualified handyman, observing the bathroom safety zones.

What to prepare

The radiator with brackets and valves, a photo of the spot and the pipework, and details of your heating: district heating in a block, your own boiler, or electric. The radiator’s connection centres must match the pipes in the wall.

Common questions