Our Product FAQ section deals with questions about our products, installation types, rules and regulations, guidance and facts. If you still have not found an answer to your query, please contact us either by online chat, phone or e-mail so that a member of our team can offer assistance.
BTU, short for British Thermal Unit, is a basic measure of thermal (heat) energy. In the case of towel radiators, BTU, alongside with Watts, is used to measure and determine heating needs of internal spaces, such as rooms, bathrooms and kitchens. Technically speaking, one BTU is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit, measured at its heaviest point. In other words, if you placed 16 ounces of water at 59°F into a stovetop pan and turned on the gas burner, it would take one BTU to raise the temperature of the water to 60°F. As more BTUs continue to flow from the gas flame, the water will eventually reach the boiling point of 212°F.
Conversion calculations: One BTU is approximately: 1054 - 1060 joules, 252 - 253 cal (calories, small), 0.252 - 0.253 kcal (kilo-calories), 778-782 ft · lbf (foot-pounds-force).
The BTU per hour (BTU/h) is the unit of power most commonly associated with the BTU. 1 watt is approximately 3.412 BTU/h, and 1000 BTU/h is approximately 293 W.
Towel radiators can be used;
a- As connected to the central heating system only,
b- As electric-only, with an electric element and without any connection to a central heating system, or
c- As dual-fuel, both with an electric element and connection to the central heating system simultaneously.
Except for some designer towel radiators, which may have their connection points on the side of the radiator, the great majority of both standard and designer type towel radiators have their connection points at the bottom end of the two vertical bars, facing the floor.
Therefore;
When pipes are coming up the floor, a pair of straight radiator valves, and when pipes are coming out of the wall a pair of either angled or corner valves are required. To find out more about the valves, please see Q12.
We strongly recommend that you use the services of qualified and certified professionals to do the installation work.
While the exact method of installation may vary from product to product, we can briefly explain how, in general, heated towel rails are installed. Firstly, piping must be put in place in accordance with the distance between pipe centres of the radiator, taking into account the type of connection chosen (central heating only or dual fuel). Secondly, relevant types of valves and electric elements, if any, are used to complete the water connection. Finally, once brackets supplied with radiators are used to fix them onto walls and air vent/blanking plug is placed into its designated location, the installation job may be deemed complete, except for testing for leaks or flimsy fixings.
If the product code of the towel radiator / heated towel rail you would like to purchase begins with "EL, ELT or ELS", it is either pre-filled or a dry unit. Those are by design for electric only use. Therefore, you do not need anything else except for a spur socket on the wall.
However, if you want to purchase any other towel radiator, which by design connects to central heating, and convert it into electric-only use, you will need the following parts:
- Towel Radiator of your choice
- A matching electric element
- A blanking plug
Electric element is inserted into the bottom end of one of the two vertical bars, and the other bottom entry is sealed with a blanking plug. More information can be found on our Electric Only Use Towel Rails page.
Please note that we STRONGLY recommend you use the services of a qualified electrician to install your electric element/ electric towel rails.
Using electrical equipments in bathrooms may pose various safety risks, therefore the IEE Wiring Regulations are in place to minimise these risks by dividing bathrooms into zones and determining which electrical equipments can be used in which bathroom zones. While all certified electricians are expected to know these zones, the following list and illustrations can be used as guidance only for non-professionals. Please note that we recommend that all customers use the services of a certified electrician to install their electric towel radiator & electric heated towel rails.
Zone 0 The interior of a bath tub or shower cubicle which can hold water and is likely to be affected by splashes.
Zone 1The area directly above Zone 0, which is vertically limited to 2250mm up from the bottom of the bath tub.
Zone 2 The area beyond Zones 0 and 1, which stretches 600mm horizontally and up to 2250mm vertically. Zone 2 also includes any windows with a sill next to the bath.
Zone 3 The area beyond Zone 2 which extends 2400mm horizontally and up to 2250mm vertically.