For a home foreman with skills in plumbing, installing a heated towel rail is not an overwhelming task. Before proceeding with the installation of the device, it is necessary to determine the optimal drying model and connection method.
You should develop a tie-in diagram and familiarize yourself with the installation steps. Compliance with the requirements and installation technology will ensure uninterrupted operation of the heated towel rail.
Criteria for choosing a heated towel rail for the bathroom
The durability of plumbing equipment depends on its initial characteristics and compliance with installation technology. An important role will be played by the compliance of the selected model with the operating conditions.
When choosing a heated towel rail, special attention should be paid to the principle of action, the material of manufacture and configuration of the heated towel rail.
When choosing plumbing equipment, special attention should be paid to the principle of action, the material of manufacture and configuration of the heated towel rail
Principle of operation and technical specifications
All models of “towel dryers” for the bathroom are divided into three types:
- water;
- electric;
- combined.
Water aggregates function due to the circulation of hot coolant. Connection is via heating or water supply. The main plus of such models is energy saving.
The disadvantage of a water heated towel rail is the difficulty of installation, if the device is not initially included in the communication system of an apartment or house.
When choosing a water model, the maximum pressure allowed for a particular device must be taken into account.
When choosing a water heated towel rail, the pressure in the pipeline must be taken into account.
In modern apartment buildings, the pressure in the DHW system is about 8-10 atmospheres, and in the buildings of the old foundation, it is 5-7 atmospheres. Most imported models of heated towel rails are characterized by low working pressure, and the pipe wall thickness does not exceed 1.25 mm. The service life of the device in a typical high-rise building is 1-2 years.
The choice of a coil for a private house is quite extensive, since the pressure in the autonomous heating system is small.
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Heated towel rails, through the coil of which water circulates, are connected to the circuits of either heating or hot water
Each of the connection options has its pros and cons. When connected to hot water, the appliance is usually cold in the morning
When connected to a central heating network, the device will function exclusively during the heating season and remain inactive for almost six months
According to the installation method, water heated towel rails are divided into wall and floor. The first ones are more in demand, because take up less space
In multi-storey buildings, heated towel rails are most often installed in bathrooms, connected to a hot water supply, and used as a radiator to heat an area of up to 5 m²
Heated towel rails are connected to the pipeline or to branch pipes with a diameter of 25 and 32 mm leaving the riser
Models available for installation in domestic hot water systems can be installed in heating circuits
Towel dryers produced for installation in heating systems can only be used in heating networks and are not suitable for installation in hot water
Water heated towel rail
Disadvantages of connecting to a hot water supply
Cons of connecting to a heating network
Floor-mounted towel rail model
Popular installation location
Standard pipe diameter for connection
Features of appliances for heating
Electric heated towel rail It operates autonomously, regardless of the operation of other systems. To work, you need an uninterrupted supply of electricity.
Use of the device is advisable in the following cases:
- requires quick installation without interfering with the heating or water supply system;
- installation of a “backup” heated towel rail;
- the need to place the coil outside the bathroom - a portable electric drying model is ideal.
To avoid excessive energy consumption, you should choose an electric heated towel rail according to the volume of the room. Optimally, if per 1 square. m accounts for 140 watts of energy - under these conditions, the bath warms up to 22-24 °. If the unit is needed for the spring-summer period, then low-power models are suitable at the rate of 100 W per 1 sq. m
You can install a heated towel rail not only in the bathroom. It is appropriate in the kitchen, in the hall or hallway. Heated liquid (oil, antifreeze) or cable acts as a heat generator of autonomous drying
The power of “wet” models reaches 2 kW, “dry” devices - 100-200 watts.
Combined towel warmers able to work in two modes: from the network or from the domestic hot water system. This is the most practical and effective option for heating, but the high cost of a universal coil frightens away many buyers.
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Features of the installation of electrical appliances
Rules for installing electrical equipment
Varieties of electric heated towel rails
Benefits of Using Cable Models
Material for manufacturing a plumbing device
Three metals are usually used in the manufacture of towel rail coils:
- stainless steel
- copper and brass;
- black steel.
Stainless steel appliances resistant to moisture, but susceptible to impurities contained in water. Over time, a precipitate forms on the walls of the coil, restricting the flow of water.
When choosing a stainless steel heated towel rail, preference should be given to chrome models with a wall thickness of 2 mm or more.
Brass and copper radiators characterized by high heat dissipation, but have a limited period of use. When buying, you need to check the product passport. It should indicate that the pipes are galvanized from the inside and that the heated towel rail is suitable for tapping into the domestic hot water system.
Black steel moody to the coolant. Models of such material are recommended for installation in an autonomous heating system, where pressure drops are excluded. It is permissible to connect a coil with anti-corrosion internal protection to the central hot water system.
Different metals and alloys react differently to an aggressive environment. When choosing, it is necessary to take into account the water hardness and the method of connecting a heated towel rail (+)
Dimensions and shape of the heated towel rail
Size and configuration are determined based on the location of the dryer, the dimensions of the bath and personal preferences. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the insertion method: lateral, diagonal, upper or lower.
Classic M- and U-shapes are affordable and optimally suited to replace worn-out Soviet coils. Radiators "ladder", "foxtrot" and "modern" are more spacious. The area allows you to place laundry, as in stationary drying.
Choosing the form and size of drying, do not be guided by the principle: "buy the one that fits"
The heated towel rail should be combined with the design of the bathroom and not clutter up the space.
Towel connection: DHW or heating
Before you install a water heated towel rail in the bathroom, you need to determine the method of connection.
Two options are available:
- Hot water inlet. The method guarantees year-round heating. The appliance heats up during the consumption of hot water - during the night the heated towel rail cools even when switched on directly through the riser.
- Inset to the heating system. The option is relevant in the absence of a centralized hot water supply network. Due to the forced circulation of the coolant, the coil remains warm all day. The disadvantage is the functioning of drying only in the cold season.
When replacing a heated towel rail in an apartment building with a change in the way it is connected, you will need to develop a project and approve it in the housing and communal services. Registration of a package of documents will take about a month.
The points of the insertion of the water device into the heating pipe or hot water supply can be hidden behind a screen or box constructed from drywall
General installation requirements
Installation of a heated towel rail with a "water" principle of operation is performed subject to a number of conditions:
№1. The diameter of the pipes of the device must match the diameter of the riser, restriction from installed fittings is unacceptable.
№2. A jumper must be provided between the drying outlets. Bypass performs a number of tasks:
- maintaining the speed of water circulation throughout the riser;
- the separation of the coolant flows allows you to save heat for subsequent points of water intake;
A significant plus of the inclusion of closing sections, bypasses, is the possibility of disconnecting the heated towel rail for repairs without stopping the operation of the system as a whole.
№3. It is forbidden to install shutoff valves in the pipeline section to the bypass and directly on the jumper.
Non-compliance with the requirement entails:
- slowing down the circulation of water in the riser and a drop in the temperature of the coolant;
- pressure deterioration in apartments located in the direction of water supply.
The closing sections can be equipped with the usual ball valves on the bypass and the supply line or more functional three-way valves, which allow the coolant to be sent either to the bypass or to the radiator.
№4. The recommended height for towel drying according to SNiP is 120 cm from the floor.
№5. Maximum distances between the heater and wall cladding:
- 3.5-4 cm - if the diameter of the coil is 2.5 cm or less;
- 5-7 cm - with a pipe section of more than 2.5 cm.
If a bypass is provided in the wiring diagram, it is permissible to install shut-off ball valves at the output and at the input of the device.
The use of bypass in the heating circuit allows you to divide the total flow of the coolant into two parts. One of the parts enters the battery, the other is supplied to the following devices, due to which all radiators receive a coolant of almost the same temperature as the first (+)
Recommended and invalid tie-ins
At the heart of the performance of the coil is the principle of "gravity pump". A competent insert provides natural circulation and radiator performance. Do-it-yourself installation of a heated towel rail is carried out in accordance with the design of a specific model and the location of the riser in the bathroom.
Side and diagonal connection
For most devices, the insert is considered optimal with the supply of coolant through the upper outlet and outlet from the bottom. This is achieved with universal connections, the diagrams of which are given below.
Lateral and diagonal connection without narrowing and shifting the bypass are equivalent options. Schemes work well with different forms of coils (+)
Advantages of a universal insert:
- performance does not depend on the direction and speed of the water in the riser;
- after turning off the circulation, no air bleeding is required;
The universal insert option allows you to position the heated towel rail at any convenient installation distance from the riser.
Circuit functioning conditions:
- The lower insertion point is located below the radiator connection pipe, and the upper insertion, respectively, is above the upper outlet. The slope of the supply pipes is 2-3 cm per meter. Horizontal connection is acceptable for pipes with a cross section of 32 mm, as well as if the distance to the riser is less than 2 m.
- Leading pipes - without bends and “humps”. Otherwise, the system becomes airy and natural circulation ceases.
- The optimum diameter of the supply pipes: ¾ inch steel, 25 mm - polypropylene reinforced.
- Pipes are preferably insulated. This requirement is especially relevant for the hidden installation of a plastic pipeline.
A fully functional side / diagonal tie-in circuit with a narrowed bypass. Plumbers resort to this design on a previously installed heated towel rail, if there is no need to completely change the design of the riser.
Between the leads to the device, the bridge was narrowed by one diameter size. The sidebar option is only suitable for water circulation from top to bottom.
Offset bypass is justified if you want to keep the old approaches to the riser. With this method of connection, it is not recommended to use a narrowed jumper. The main requirement is the upper flow of the coolant.
The tolerances and installation requirements for tapping with offset bypass are the same as for side or diagonal connection with a straight jumper (+)
Some models of dryers are designed for lower connection. The insertion is performed according to three main schemes.
The circuits are operable in any direction of the coolant flow. When the water is turned off, the system is airy, so a drain cock should be located on the vertical manifold. As a rule, it is included in the kit (+)
Requirements for the implementation of the lower connection:
- The lower branch must be located below the heated towel rail.
- Lead pipes are preferably insulated.
- When using an offset or narrowed bypass, the upper outlet of the riser is located below the connection point to the device.
The optimum slope is about 2 cm per meter of pipe. The fulfillment of this condition ensures the independence of the circuit from the direction of the water flow.
Possible forced side options
With lateral connection, some deviations from the typical recommended schemes are permissible.
Pipe routing if necessary, non-standard location of the liner. The operation of the device is equally effective in different directions of the coolant (+)
The main conditions of the insert remain unchanged. The difference in the connection points of the heated towel rail with the riser, as well as the presence of vertical segments at the inlet and outlet of the device.
An alternative side cutout is presented below. The top of the heated towel rail is located above the upper bend. After shutting off the water, air will need to be vented from the coil.
The wiring diagram requires the installation of an air vent on the device. Due to the constructive “step”, when the water supply is stopped, an air plug (+) is formed in the system
The lower sidebar may also be slightly modified. The need to place pipes from the riser at a minimum distance to the floor forces to increase both ascending pipelines. Subject to all the requirements of the lower connection, the system works without failures.
The requirements for installation work during insertion with elongated vertical sections of the lower eyeliner are not changed. Allowed different direction of water circulation (+)
Incorrect wiring diagrams
Inexperienced masters sometimes do not adhere to the recommended schemes. As a result, the drying remains cold with an uninterrupted supply of hot water. Examples of possible omissions are shown below.
Incorrect execution of the side and bottom taps leads to a halt in the circulation of water in the heated towel rail (+)
In both versions, the device is located below the lower outlet from the riser. The coolant that has descended down is cooled and trapped. Water is not pushed back, since there is pressure from the coolant flow from above.
Side frame with loop at the top. The scheme is implemented by masters in order to hide communications behind a suspended ceiling.
In the resulting "hump" air accumulates. Over time, the air plug closes the circulation in the radiator and the heated towel rail cools.
The option presented below combines two errors at the same time. The scheme is obviously not working.
The combination of the lower and upper threshold makes natural circulation difficult. Such a performance is typical when the craftsmen try to hide the upper entrance behind the ceiling, and the lower one in the floor screed
Step-by-step installation of a water heated towel rail
The technology for installing a water heated towel rail with your own hands is the same for different connection schemes. The phased process includes dismantling the worn-out device, supplying pipes from the riser, installing cranes, and attaching the coil.
Preparation of tools and materials
The set of tools required to install and replace a heated towel rail depends on the type of water pipes in the room. For installation through polypropylene pipes you will need: ball valves; mounting brackets; polypropylene pipes; a soldering iron and a knife for cutting PP pipes.
The standard equipment for a heated towel rail includes:
- transition corners;
- silicone gaskets;
- locking nodes;
- telescopic brackets;
- Mayevsky crane.
It is advisable to use components of the same metal in the system in order to avoid electrolytic corrosion.
All connections are sealed with gaskets, threaded plug-in units are sealed with plumbing (+)
Dismantling of old equipment
Before dismantling the obsolete coil, it is necessary to coordinate actions with the house management organization. Disconnecting the riser from the water requires special permission.
Following actions:
- If the towel dryer is not integral with the hot line, then the threaded connections just need to be unscrewed.
- If the device is welded to the riser, then it should be cut off with a grinder. The remainder of the pipe feed should be enough for threading.
- Remove the old device from the brackets.
The height of the riser in the riser should exceed the distance between the nozzles of the new device by the length of the couplings and bends required to insert the bypass jumper
The size of the dismantled area must be determined with maximum accuracy. It’s better to “not cut it a little”, and after the “fitting” of the device to the installation site, adjust in fact
Installation of bypass and ball valves
The coil can be mounted without installing a bypass, but experts recommend that a jumper be provided in advance. Ball valves are installed at the ends of the heated towel rail. If necessary, it will turn out to shut off the flow of coolant to the device, while water will circulate freely along the riser.
The insertion of the bypass into the riser from the PP pipe is performed using tees and couplings (+)
To install taps on pipe sections, cut a new thread using a die of the desired diameter. If the thread survived after dismantling the old device, then it is enough to “drive” it with a die to improve the connection. Install stopcocks on prepared pipes.
The jumper is installed in the steel pipeline by welding. The diameter of the bypass is equal to the cross section of the riser pipe
Towel coil mounting
The procedure for “hanging” and connecting the device is as follows:
- Mark on the wall under the brackets - it is necessary to observe the horizontal placement of the coil.
- Prepare holes and insert dowels into them.
- Screw the brackets to the heated towel rail, attach the device to the wall and fix with screws. It is important to maintain the recommended distance between the radiator and the wall cladding.
- Connect the unit to the valves on the jumper using fittings, seal the connections with linen winding.
Depending on the type of connection, straight or angle threaded fittings are used.
At the end of the installation, inspect the tightness of the joints and gently open the taps to check the operability of the device. No leaks and drops should be
Features of the installation of electrical models
Unlike water models, electric dryers can be installed anywhere, as they are independent of the location of the heating pipes and hot water supply. In this case, special attention should be paid to the quality of the wiring.
Requirements for the installation of electric heated towel rails:
- The installation location is selected taking into account the level of protection of the device from moisture. The distance to the bathroom or washbasin is at least 60 cm.
- The minimum distance to the floor is 20 cm, to the wall - 30 cm, to the surface of furniture - 75 cm.
- The heating device must not be placed directly under the outlet.
Electrical connection is carried out in accordance with the international standard NFC-15-100.
Optimal location - zone number 3. When mounting in zone No. 2, the device must be protected from splashes (+)
Wiring under the heated towel rail is carried out in compliance with electrical safety standards in rooms with high humidity:
- connection via a three-wire cable with grounding;
- only concealed wiring is permissible;
- the socket must have a rubber seal and a cover covering the openings of the contacts;
- for the power network, copper wires of the VVGNG and VVGNG-LS brands are used.
A prerequisite for the installation and operation of electrical devices is the use of an RCD, which turns off the device when current performance is exceeded.
Oil heated towel rails require rigid fixation, and cable can be installed in any position
Recommendations for choosing a towel dryer are provided in the video clip:
The installation process of the heated towel rail is shown in the video clip:
The technology for installing a heated towel rail depends on the model selected. The performance of the water device is determined by a well-designed and executed insertion scheme.
When installing the electric model, special attention is paid to operational safety. Installation of a combined “coil” is best entrusted to professionals.
Do you have personal experience installing a heated towel rail? Want to share helpful tips or ask questions about the topic? Please leave comments - the feedback form is located below.