towel rail in bathroom

[wardsj2003]

i have a radiator in the bathroom connected to the central heating.i am also installing a towel rail.should i connect the towel rail to the hot water system so it would heat when the central heating is off.

[stanleyman]

This would involve quite a lot of work to make it work other than when only hot water is timed and thermostaticly called for, it may only be on for a an hour or two. Far simpler to fit an electric one with a time switch but electrical work in a bathroom has to be done properly and should be reported to the building inspector.

[MustafaTinkl]

The answer to your question is almost certainly that the towel rail will not operate satisfactorily if connected to the hot water. You need the pump on the heating system to push the water around the towel rail, and you presumably do not have a pump on your hot water.

[buildersmate]

As per the above answer, you would have to install a pump. It is also imperative you use a stainless steel towel rail because the water in the hot water system is aerated and has no corrosion inhibitor in it as the closed system CH system does.

It can be done, but in view of the hassle I agree with Stanleymans solution.

[Tim B]

Doesn't wardsj mean connecting the rad in series with the boiler primary to the hot water cylinder? If so this is often done and as the primary water should be 'Fernoxed' there will be no problem with corrosion.

HNY

[stanleyman]

Using the cylinder water would simply lose the stored hot water and be even more complicated. He does mean connecting the towel rail in parallel to the cylinder heating coil but this is only on when it is heating water, one or two hours a day.

It can be connected before any motor valves but will still only work when central heating or hot water is called for unless extensive modification of the pipework and wiring is carried out to create a separate zone for the towel rail.

Some towel rails can also have an electric element fitted for summer use but as there is already a radiator in use, it is still simpler and much less expensive to use an electric towel rail for all year timed use.