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Should You Invest In Heated Towel Rail?

The question of whether or not to invest in a heated towel rail is one that is invariably asking the benefits of having such a facility and its implications if any.

To effectively answer this question, we will first have to look at what a heated towel rail is in the first place and then we will also look at how it operates to determine if there are any implications or downsides to being aware of. Finally, we will then look at the benefits of having one.

What Is A Heated Towel Rail?

A heated towel rail is a device that keeps your towel dry. As an added bonus, it also keeps it warm since what is used to dry the towel in the first place is heat. It is important to note that this device may not be able to heat your bathroom. It may, at best, provide some level of warmth in a small bathroom depending on the heat output of the rail.

How Does A Heated Towel Rail Work?

There are two basic types of towel rails that you will find. The two are differentiated by the type of element technology they use. The first type is the Wet Element Technology commonly called WET for short while the second is Dry Element Technology known also as DET for short.

Wet Element Technology

This type is sometimes called the fluid-filled heated rail because the heating process involves a cartridge element inside a liquid. This liquid acts as a heat transfer medium. The element heats the liquid up and as the liquid moves through the rail, it, in turn, heats up the rail.

This was the standard way in which all heated towel rails operated in the past. The downside of this method is that it can take quite some time for the rails to get really warm. In fact, it can take up to 90 minutes, making it unsuitable for situations where rapid heating is required.

Dry Element Technology

This method involves the use of special heating wires that run through parts of the rail. The element heats the heating wires which in turn transfer the heat directly to the rails. This is a much faster heating method which can heat the rails in as quickly as 10 minutes.

This method (which is also known as rapid heating) also helps you save on your energy costs. First, because it heats up quickly, you can afford to switch it on moments before you need the rails hot or the towels.

Secondly, the heating wire can be placed only on certain parts of the rail which will reduce the amount of heating wire to be heated and by consequence the amount of energy that will be consumed. This further adds to your energy cost savings.

Benefits of Heated Towel Rails

What value does a heated towel rail offer that should encourage one to get it? This is one of the questions we listed at the beginning of this article, answer to which will make it easier for anyone to decide if a heated towel rail is something worth investing in.

  • Heated towel rails add organization and aesthetic value to your bathroom. Having a lovely place where you can neatly hang your towels in the bathroom makes your towels easily accessible while also making your bathroom look better.
  • Wet towels can be a breeding ground for microbes. Having them constantly dry and warm increases the hygiene of your towel and your bathroom as a whole.
  • Heated towel rails can save you on water and energy costs. Your wet towel requires frequent washing and tumble drying, two processes that consume water and energy. With your towel being constantly dry, you will not need to wash it very often and of course, you will not need to tumble dry it.
  • Though heating towel rails are primarily for drying your towels, the heat generated can also add some warmth to your bathroom. This can make your bathroom welcoming and cozy particularly on cold days.
  • Having a warm towel ready for use can be very relaxing and convenient. This can help relieve stress after a hard day’s work.
  • Heating towel rails with enhanced controls bring a higher level of convenience with timer controls that turn on the rail at specific times and also set the desired temperature for it. It can be very convenient to wake up in the morning, walk into your bathroom to a warm towel and possibly a warm bathroom.

With the few benefits listed above, you can decide if these are benefits you really want to enjoy.

Consideration Factors for Choosing a Heated Towel Rail

When you do decide to go for a heated towel rail, there are a few things you may have to consider to enable to you get one that will serve you the best. This is aside from considering the type of element as already mentioned above. We will now list some of these here.

Size – This is one important factor to look at. Before deciding on the size you should go for, look at the size of your bathroom and then ask yourself how many persons will be using the rail. These two points should be able to guide you to the right size to go for.

Heat – Heated towel rails give out different amounts of heat. The amount of heat given out by a heating towel rail will determine how quickly it will dry the towel(s) on it and also how much warmth it can add to your bathroom. The amount of heat delivered is usually given in BTU which is an acronym for British Thermal Units. Once again, consider the size of your bathroom and the number of towels it would need to dry and keep warm when making your decision.

Controls – The more the controls offered by a heating towel rail, the more convenient it will be to use. Some rails come with timers that allow you set them to come on and go off at particular times. Others allow you choose the temperature you want the rail to operate at. These additional controls add to your convenience and they also help you properly manage your energy usage.

Finish, Design and Construction – You want a rail that looks great, adding good aesthetic value to your bathroom. At the same time, you also want something that is strong enough to last you for many years. A good choice is usually stainless steel which will generally be more durable than chrome.

Ratings – You may also want to check the safety and quality ratings of the product you want to get. This will give you an idea of the quality offered.

Conclusion

With the information you have received thus far you should now be able to comfortably answer the question; should you invest in heated towel rails? Hopefully, you have answered this question successfully and can now go ahead to take the next step.

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