blog posts tagged with towel-radiator

Adding a new radiator or changing an existing radiator is a relatively simple job, but if you don't know one end of a valve from another, it is a good idea to ask a plumber to tackle the job. It shouldn't cost you a fortune and at least you don't have to worry about flooding the place. However, if you are reasonably competent at DIY, changing or adding a radiator in a wet central heating system (the most common type in the UK) is well within the capabilities of any DIY savvy person. However, before you begin, there are a few things you need to consider.

Can the Boiler Cope?

Boilers don't have an unlimited energy output. If there are too many radiators on a system, they will work but they won't get hot enough. So, before you go adding extra radiators all over the place, check your boiler's BTU—this will tell you the maximum output of the boiler. It is normally ok to add one or two extra radiators, but use a BTU calculator for radiators in the home and cross reference this against the boiler output.

Check It's All There

Buying a new radiator online may seem like a cheap solution, but unless you buy from a reputable company, you could end up missing a few vital pieces. The worst-case scenario is that you remove your existing radiator, only to discover that the new one doesn't have any screws to hold it and the stores are now closed. So check the package before you start the job.

Location, Location, Location

If you are installing a radiator in a new location, think carefully about where the pipes are going to go. It is a lot easier to fit a new radiator to existing pipe work than it is to pipe in from somewhere else. Do you want the pipes to feed up from the floor? If so the floor boards will have to come up, which could be messy. Give this some thought before you make a snap decision.

Air in the System

Adding a radiator means draining down the system, which invariably leads to trapped air in the pipes. Air locks are noisy, but bleeding the radiators should solve the problem.

Top Up the Boiler Pressure

Draining down the system will also reduce the water pressure in the boiler so don’t forget to top this up once you have everything running smoothly. A loud, whining pump is a symptom of low water pressure. If you ignore it the pump will eventually wear out—and a replacement pump is unlikely to be cheap!

More Inhibitor Needed

Another side effect of draining down the system is that you will need more inhibitor (the product that stops sludge building up in the system). The good news is that inhibitor isn’t very expensive.

If in doubt about your DIY skills when fitting heated towel rails for small bathrooms, call on the services of a reputable plumber to do the job. It might be more expensive, but at least your carpets won't be ruined.

While it still feels like December/January, we have gone past the Easter break and well into Spring 2013. Soon it will start to feel warmer – At least we all hope so - and many will take advantage of this warm weather by renovating their homes. Most of these renovations will also involve their bathrooms and perhaps replacing old bathroom radiators.

During the preparation period for a spring home renovation, most home-owners and especially women take forever looking for the perfect wall paper, paint, color and other features to use or implement. With an ever-growing number of designer radiators and heated towel rails on the market, it also takes a lot longer to select a new bathroom radiator. At the end some actually do give up this search during this preparation & research period. In fact many never bother to change the radiator at all. Depending on the model and type, they may well get a lick of paint but that is pretty much the only change or improvement on bathroom radiators.

It is however possible to buy a modern looking, designer towel radiator to replace your old and tired radiator. There are many variations to select from but it is not a daunting task. You will very likely need to re-arrange your pipe work to accommodate the new modern bathroom radiator. This can be done by a qualified plumber who is able to cut or extend your existing pipe work.

Most radiators on sale in the UK are made from steel, stainless steel or brass. While the first two are a more common material, last one is relatively rare. Finish on these products range from chrome, white, anthracite or other colors all of which actually look aesthetically pleasing. Whether you install your new radiator in your bathroom, lounge, kitchen or hallway, they will simply look great and improve your home.

With so many high street & online shops, range and availability, costs are relatively low nowadays compared to last decade. Prices start from as little as £70 going up to £200 or £300. If however, you have a bigger budget or wish to get something really to strike out, then you have the top end options where the price range starts from £300 or £400 and goes up to £1000’s

If you can get yourself a designer towel radiator or a heated towel rail to replace your old, outdated and tired bathroom radiator, it could form part of the décor that graces your bathroom in an affordable way.

Wide range of high quality towel radiators available for "Next Day" delivery to most locations in the UK.

Most of our towel radiators are designed to be plumbed into your central heating system but they can also be converted to "Electric Only" or "Dual Fuel". For each usage type, you will simply need to obtain the relevant parts. More information on usage types and the items required can be found on our FAQ section or by following the color coded links from our Help & Advice page

As easy as it seems, finding the right towel rail for your bathroom can be a lengthy process. With our wide range of size, shape and models and great deal of our knowledge in this filed, we can provide you with one which will simply be “perfect”

You will first need to establish some basics and narrow down your search accordingly. If you are renovating your bathroom completely and if you plan ahead, range of radiators you can use may be wider. However, if you are just replacing an existing radiator with no modification to your room, your options will be limited. Whichever the case may be, we have the right towel radiator for you. Please use the product navigation links on the left hand side on each page to view and purchase the desired model and size.

Top Tips Before Selecting your Towel Radiator

• Measurements – First and foremost work needs doing is to measure the space you have in your bathroom. Towel radiators do not traditionally take a lot of space, but they can also be quite large. Once you establish your limits with regards to width and height, you can start your search concentrating on those sizes while trying to get as close as possible to your heat requirements.

• Installation – Installing or replacing a towel radiator is not a quick DIY job. Almost in all cases you will need to drain your central heating system and may need to adjust your pipe work to accommodate the new width and pipe centre’s. All work should be carried out by professional and competent installers.