Getting the design of a bathroom right can be very tricky.
Most of the problems come from the fact that the location of the sink, bath and loo are pretty much fixed, unless you want to go through costly and disruptive plumbing work.
Freeing up some of the wall space can make the way in which you use your space more flexible, and one of the best ways of doing this is be replacing a bulky radiator with a heated towel rail.
Types of Heated Towel Rails
There are two main types of heated towel rail on the market – electric and plumbed in. A plumbed in towel rail can be a good option if you are putting it in as a replacement for a radiator.
This type of towel rail is heated by your combi boiler in the same way as the other radiators in the house, and will switch on and off with your central heating timer.
The other type of heated towel rail is electric, and can be positioned anywhere in the bathroom.
These can also be set on a timer or thermostat to come on and off when needed, and are a good choice if you don’t want to add additional plumbing costs.
Costs for Heated Towel Rails
Heated towel rails don’t have to be expensive.
A basic white or silver coloured model with room to hang a couple of towels will cost as little as £35, but if you’re in the market for an expensive designer rail, you can pay up to £1,000.
Think about the space you have available for the rail and where best to locate it in the room.
Any electrician or plumber will be able to advise on the best place to install your towel rail, and bear in mind that some of the towel rails on the market can go into very confined spaces, or even in corners.
Buying Heated Towel Rails
You have two main options for sourcing your heated towel rail. Either you buy it yourself, and get someone to install it, or ask a plumber or electrician to take care of the whole thing.
The benefit of buying it yourself is that you can shop around and look for bargains online, but getting a plumber or electrician to source it for you is a lot less hassle.
Measure the space you have to make sure you get the correct size, and look for tall, slimline rails if space is at a premium.
Cost of Installing a Heated Towel Rail
The type of heated towel rail you choose will determine who you get to fit it, as a plumber will deal with the plumbed in sort, and an electrician with the more common electric towel rails.
Expect to pay around £400 to £500 for a professional to supply the towel rail and fit it.
Never go with the first quote you are given; always use recommendations from friends and family or Top Tradespeople to contact at least three local plumbing, bathroom or heating companies and get quotes in writing, that is of course if you decide to not do the installing the heated towel rail yourself.
