In the USSR period, domestic industry could not pamper consumers with a variety of bathroom accessories. And if there was a need to purchase a device for drying clothes, then there was nothing to choose from. In many stores there was only one option - a metal structure resembling a beech “G”. Currently, the situation is different - there is a choice, but this is not easier. Now you have to think about which heated towel rail is better - water or electric?
The main difficulty lies in the variety of assortment provided by many manufacturers. Moreover, the products can be of various shapes, from the classic look to the futuristic design. But to make the right choice, appearance alone, no matter how good it is, is not enough. It is necessary to take into account the advantages and disadvantages of heated towel rails. First, let's figure out what they are.
general information
This product is a curved pipe, which is intended not only for drying linen and towels (as the name implies), but also acts as a means for heating. Thanks to this, you can avoid the appearance of fungus and mold on the walls of the bathroom. And, as you know, it is here that there is a rather high level of humidity, which is a favorable environment for most pathogens.
In numerous forums you can find a lot of tips and reviews, which is better - a water or electric heated towel rail. Nevertheless, it is not so simple to answer this question unequivocally. In both cases there are some peculiarities. But no one will argue with the fact that both varieties contribute to creating a comfortable microclimate in the room. Having finished water procedures in the shower, you don’t have to worry about “goose bumps” from the cold.
It is worth taking a responsible approach to the selection of this product, taking into account parameters such as dimensions, power and material of manufacture. In this case, condensation can be avoided on the mirror and other surfaces, which is important for comfort.
Operating principle
If you understand, in fact, the heated towel rail is a radiator, like in a car or in heating appliances. His main task is to dry clothes, towels and excess moisture.
Due to the high temperature of the coolant, the coil heats up, evaporates moisture from things and at the same time dries the air in the room. As noted in many reviews of heated towel rails (electric or water), they can be installed on the wall or on the floor.
There is one important point that should not be discounted: water quality. Poor quality water will have a devastating effect on the inside of the pipe. Thus, before buying a foreign-made coil, it is worth checking whether it is suitable for your operating conditions. The greatest damage to the aggressive effects of water causes non-ferrous metal models.
Water pipes
These are the most common and inexpensive dryers that are known to all residents of the post-Soviet space. The heat carrier here is hot water. Additional pipes for adjustment can be installed on these pipes.
As a rule, coils are installed in apartment buildings with central heating. And since for the most part a hot water connection to the pipeline is required, they are mounted in a specially designed place. And if there is no interruption in the part of hot water supply, then the coil performs its function constantly.
Unlike electric, water heated towel rails can be connected to heating. In this case, they will function only during the heating season. And during that time when the central heating is turned off, the coil will serve mainly as an accessory for towels.
As for the form, at present, water heated towel rails can be made in the form of the letter “M” or “P”, as well as in the form of a zigzag or ladder. At the same time, manufacturers do not cease to amaze customers with original and unusual designs.
Electrical analogues
Unlike water heated towel rails, electrical analogues can be installed in any place where it will be most convenient. This is due to the fact that they work only from electric energy, respectively, interruptions in water supply are not afraid of them. In appearance, such products do not differ from standard coils. But which heated towel rail is better to choose - water or electric?
Electrical appliances provide heat thanks to the presence of a heating element in them, which has an adjustment to select the required temperature regime. Perhaps the only drawback is the additional cost of electricity during constant operation. However, it is better to choose between modern models. There are low-power models in which the consumption of electrical energy is equivalent to the use of conventional incandescent lamps.
Combined Option
We can say that this is a universal solution. Such heated towel rails use hot water as the main heat carrier, and electricity serves as an additional alternative. And if in the region of residence there are intermittent interruptions in water supply (it doesn’t matter if it’s only hot water or heating) and electricity, then the choice between combined, water and electric heated towel rails is more inclined towards the first option.
To a greater extent this is justified by the fact that such devices include two heating circuits. Moreover, they are located in such a way that they do not depend on each other. This makes it possible to use them in turn.
Such a symbiosis of water and electric type combines the advantages of both varieties in one product. If there is hot water (or heating), then the heated towel rail acts like a water pipe, and in its absence, an electrical reserve is connected. As a result, functionality is enhanced and power consumption is minimized.
Production material
When choosing a dryer in your bathroom, special attention should be paid to the material of manufacture. Indeed, the quality of the product largely depends on this. The coil must not only withstand a certain pressure, but also be resistant to corrosion.
Water or electric heated towel rails for bathtubs can be:
- Stainless steel - preference should be given to those pipes that are made using seamless technology. Such products will be heavy, but they can withstand pressure drops. As for the wall thickness, at least 3 mm, which already speaks of high quality and reliability.
- From "black" steel - such coils cannot boast of quality and for this reason are cheap. For the most part, this is the best option for an autonomous heating system.
- From copper, a more preferable solution, which is resistant to corrosion, pipes heat up faster and give off heat. And due to the light weight they provide installation without much effort. If it is necessary to connect to central heating, the outer surface of the pipes must be galvanized.
- From brass which heated towel rail to choose - water or electric? Products from this metal also conduct heat well and are resistant to corrosion. So the answer is quite obvious. Moreover, due to the internal chrome coating, the pipes can last quite a long time, which is a significant advantage. At the same time, it is not always possible to withstand pressure drops, and this is a serious minus.
To summarize, we can say the following. When choosing which material should be preferred, it is necessary to pay attention not only to its properties, but also to the presence of protective coatings, wall thickness, and painting. You should also consider the type of heating in the apartment and the limitations of the family budget.
Pressure
For a heated towel rail to serve faithfully for a long time, appropriate conditions are necessary. The working pressure in the DHW system should be in the range of 0.3-6 atm. Regarding central heating, the indicators here are slightly different and largely depend on the area of residence. As a rule, in multi-story buildings, the pressure does not exceed 10-12 atm.
As you can understand for those who choose between water or electric heated towel rails, this applies more to the first variety. With the latter, things are a little easier.
Maximum temperature
This parameter is also very important and should not be ignored. The temperature in the hot water supply system usually does not exceed 60 ° C, and as for heating, it is rarely when a figure above 80 ° C appears. In this regard, all stainless steel products are the best choice, as they are designed for a maximum temperature of 105-110 ° C.
However, it is not always possible to avoid emergency situations when the supplied water can be heated up to hundreds of degrees, if not more. Therefore, it is necessary to make a choice with a margin.
Release form
For some, the form is no less important, especially in those situations where you want to give the bathroom a bright personality. And today, in order to decide which towel warmer is better - water or electric in terms of appearance, there are all possible options:
- Ladder - the most common models that are fully practical in matters of operation: and heat the room, and you can dry a lot of things.
- A ladder with a shelf - everything is the same here, but with one difference - there is a shelf on top. Both convenience and practicality in one product - you can not only keep towels clean, but also save space.
- The letter E - here accuracy borders on simplicity, and products do not take up much space.
- The letter U is simple, stylish, concise. At the same time, many things such a pipe will not allow to dry due to its design.
- Letter M - due to its shape, the heated towel rail allows you to place much more linen than the above counterparts.
- The snake is the most popular appearance of curved pipes of a rather attractive design. On it, too, you can dry a lot of things.
Thanks to this choice of problems with choosing a dryer for the bathroom (and to match the interior of the bathroom) will not arise.
Domestic product or still imported?
Many consumers are not only concerned about the best - a water or electric heated towel rail, but they also want to know which manufacturer should be preferred. At present, not only domestic but also foreign-made dryers are in great demand. At the same time, good foreign analogues are obtained from manufacturers from Italy, Germany, and Finland. It should be borne in mind that products of European brands are mainly designed for the heating system, while domestic products - for centralized hot water supply.
In addition, European manufacturers in the manufacture of towel dryers do not take into account the quality of the coolant circulating in the system, and, as a rule, use thin-walled steel. In addition, a special anti-corrosion coating is not applied to the inner surface of the walls.
The peculiarity of hot water supply is that in the water there are mechanical suspensions, salts and chemical impurities. As a result, this leads not only to the appearance of corrosion, suspensions begin to settle on the inner walls, which is why the inner diameter decreases over time. This is especially critical in places of pipe bends. This should not be forgotten if the scales in relation to the choice of which heated towel rail - water or electric is suitable for a bath, tends towards the common option.
There is no oxygen in the water supply system, but the coolant from the boiler is simply rich in this element. For this reason, most buyers choose towel warmers of domestic production, since they are best adapted to the conditions of our communications.
List of worthy
Now it’s worth getting acquainted with those companies, which are not a sin to expose their products to a wide audience. Moreover, they not only work on improving it, but also conduct strict quality control, avoiding marriage. The list of such worthy manufacturers can include:
- Arbonia (Germany).
- Margaroli (Italy).
- Zehnder (Germany).
- Warmos (Finland).
- Vogel & Noot (Australia).
Among domestic manufacturers can distinguish "Thera", "Trugor", "Dvin", "Terminus." They also managed to prove themselves from the best side. However, most companies have a direct relationship with consumers and listen to their opinions in the process of creating new models.
Large firms, among other things, have a staff of professional designers. Together with the designers, they are working hard to create original designs that fit perfectly into the interior of the bathroom.
Useful Tips
What kind of heated towel rail to choose in the long run? It largely depends on the living conditions. If hot water supply operates all year round, and there are no interruptions, then you can safely opt for a water towel warmer. In this case, there will be no extra costs for electricity. As for the material, ferrous metal products are suitable, however, if the pressure in the system is high, it is worth stopping on copper pipes.
Some of us live in the private sector, but here, as you know, heating and hot water are provided by the owners themselves. Then in this case, what is the best heated towel rail - water or electric? Here, too, you can choose both a water coil made of stainless steel or even brass with the availability of funds, and its alternative analogue. Both options are good in their own way.
It’s a completely different matter when interruptions do occur, and it’s not so rare. Then the best option is to buy an electric heated towel rail, and preferably a combined analog. It can be used regardless of the season, and in winter you can save on electricity. Only you need to buy products from corrosion-resistant metal (copper, brass, stainless steel). Normal steel will not tolerate a change in operating mode.
Connection and installation of electrical appliances
The electric heated towel rail is powered by a conventional outlet due to low power. At the same time, do not forget that the device is installed in a room with a high level of humidity. For this reason, voltage must be supplied through a two-contact RCD, breaking not only the phase, but also zero.
But besides it, you need an automatic machine (one-contact is suitable). Moreover, the choice of these devices depends on what else will be connected to this highway. It makes no sense to draw a separate line for such a heated towel rail.
Still, what is the best heated towel rail - water or electric? In favor of the latter, it can be said that it can be installed anywhere. Moreover, it is permitted to carry out its installation even above the bathtub in accordance with protection class II. However, this approach is irrational - things will get wet all the time, and there are enough other inconveniences. Therefore, it is better to place it on any other free wall. Mounting brackets usually come with the device.