Material
Like stainless steel, aluminium towel rails tend to have a higher price tag, but for good reason. In return for the extra pounds, you get the highest heat output compared to a towel radiator of the same size and water content in other materials which makes them great for compact spaces as well as open plan rooms. For those of us who are keen to do our bit for the environment, aluminium is by far the best choice. Because of the higher heat output, the aluminium towel radiator you purchase doesn't need to be as big, meaning it requires less water to be heated. Smaller radiator/less water + higher heat output/heating on for less time = as environmentally friendly as a radiator can (currently) get. This also means they are better for your bank account, so although you may need to spend some extra cash when you purchase, in the long run, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint in your warm cosy home and be saving some money. Aluminium as a material also heats up quickly, which means that the towel radiator achieves its heat output quicker than other materials. This gives you more control over your heating system as a whole, reducing the amount of time you need your central heating to be on and therefore reducing the energy usage across your home.
Style
A popular pick for those looking to add a touch of design to their bathroom, the flat tube style offers a sleek feel that will work with pretty much any décor. Horizontal flat tubes are connected to two vertical square tubes (these are called collectors) on either side of the towel radiator. The powder painting gives the metal a perfectly even finish. It’s easy to maintain and clean and delivers a good level of heat distribution. The design means a greater surface area than a ladder towel rail of the same size and therefore more heat output – get those towels nice a toasty for when you step out the shower!
Colour
Anthracite is a high-end variety of coal noted for the purity of its carbon and the dark grey smoke it emits when burning. It’s also one of our customers’ most popular picks for a modern-looking towel rail that looks as good as it functions. The smoky matt finish you achieve with this colour is quite unlike any other and produces a stylish effect with even the most minimalist design. As we become more conscious of our surroundings, tastes shift from the functional and the merely decorative to something combining qualities of both, and anthracite towel rails certainly tick all of the boxes.
Heat Source
This central heating/hot water towel rail is one that is plumbed into your homes central heating system. Whether you have a Combi boiler, gravity fed (conventional) system or a system with a cylinder, you can install this heated towel rail.
Accessories
This towel rail has G1/2” connections at the base of either side of the towel rail and so the valves required will depend on your pipework (which is why they aren’t provided with the towel rail):
- For pipework coming from the wall to the bottom of the rail, use angled or corner valves (angled, for a valve head that sticks out into the room and corner for a valve head that’s tucked under the rail).
- For pipework coming from the floor and up to the bottom of the rail, use straight valves.
There are a few different types of valves available for you to choose from: Manual Valves provide easy on/off control – simply turn the valve by hand to allow the water from your central heating to pass through into the radiator or towel rail, just like a tap! These are commonly used with towel rails because of their ease, but that doesn’t mean you have to choose manual – unless your main boiler thermostat is located in your bathroom, which is unlikely. Thermostatic Valves provide multi temperature control of the radiators in your home – saving energy and money! These valves have sensor mechanisms inside that shut off the flow of hot water to the radiator when the room temperature reached the desired level!
All of our towel rails are supplied with everything required to hang the rail on the wall (brackets & masonry fixings) as well as a chrome bleed valve and blanking plug for the top of the rail. For ultimate style we recommend you also purchase some colour matching pipe covers, either match the colour to the towel rail or the valves!
