Is a Heated Towel Rail Expensive to Run?

Why is a heated towel rail so expensive to run?

A heated towel rail is an excellent addition to your bathroom. A heated towel rail is a combination radiator and towel rail. It will heat your bathroom and dry your towels. These heated rails keep towels warm to get out of the shower to grab a towel. They also dry your towels quickly during colder months, which could otherwise take several days. They are energy-intensive, so there was always some concern about installing them.

Central Heating Towel Rails

Open-Side Chrome Towel Radiator - 1080mm X 550mm

Heated towel rails were either connected to central heating water supplies or electric. Each of these options has its disadvantages. The central heating rails require that your entire central heating system is active. This can be problematic in the summer months when you might only want to use the towel rail. 

Although this can be reduced by turning down the heat of the radiators, your boiler still has to supply hot water. Your heating bill will increase due to your boiler's additional time to supply hot water.

Electric Towel Rails

The electrically-heated towel rails can be turned on or off like any electric heater. The heated element inside these rails can consume more power than the rest of your central heating, making them easier to use. They function similarly to a kettle but require less power for short-term use. 

While an electrically heated towel rail will cost more to operate simultaneously than a central heating rail, it can be switched on and off at your convenience. An electric towel rail's cost can be reduced in properties that can generate renewable energy. This makes them an attractive option for homes with these resources.

Dual Fuel Towel Rails

Vertical Gold Dual Fuel Towel Radiator

Modern towel rails offer both the advantages and disadvantages of both. Dual fuel rails can be powered with electricity and hot water from your central heating system. When your central heating system is active, they receive hot water the same way as any other radiator. This means that they can heat your bathroom. 

They are also beneficial in winter when they can be set up to heat your bathroom during the day or to help with your bathing routine. You can use them as an electric towel rail. When switched on, an element within the rail heats the water. 

You can use your heated towel rail as a second heating source during winter or heat the water whenever you need it in summer. Dual fuel heated towel rails offer homeowners more flexibility and save homeowners money on heating while still providing warm towels (and warm bathrooms) throughout the year. 

When you need to use the electric option on your rail, dual fuel rails can benefit from the same environmentally-friendly electricity generation as other electric rails, such as wind turbines and solar panels. A dual fuel rail can be a sensible choice for homes with central heating, but it comes at a higher cost.

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