A dual fuel towel rail works by allowing the flow of hot water throughout the radiator with a t-piece, whilst also containing a heating element within the towel rail itself to heat it electronically. When the central heating system is turned on the hot water can flow through the towel rail as usual.
What is a dual fuel towel rail?
Dual fuel towel rails are powered by an electric heating element as well as your home’s central heating system. This is achieved through the use of a ‘T-piece’; an adaptor that allows you to screw in a heating element and plumb the rail to your central heating simultaneously.
How do heated towel rails work?
An overwhelming majority of heated towel rails are installed directly onto your central heating system. This means that they only work when your heating is switched on. Great during winter. Useless during those hot summer months. Working off your central heating also means that they rely on fossil fuels.
What does D and E mean on a towel rail?
D = Dual Fuel, this means that the towel rail or radiator works with your central heating and can also be used with a heating element. E= Electric, this means that the towel rail or radiator can be used with a heating element.
How do dual fuel electric bathroom radiators work?
Our dual fuel electric bathroom radiators come with thermostatic elements too, which offer timer and temperature controls, or standard elements which operate at 60°C. Some ranges even come with matching valves and t-pieces. There are a few things to consider when purchasing a dual fuel heated towel rail.
What are the two valves on a towel radiator for?
Why do your towel radiator's valves come in pairs? The two valves on your towel radiator allow you to manage the flow of hot water and the quantity of heat it emanates. One valve controls the rate at which hot water enters the towel radiator. The other valve regulates the rate at which hot water exits the radiator.
What does a dual fuel radiator mean?
A dual fuel radiator is a radiator which can swap between being central heating orientated and electric. This means that whenever you choose, the dual fuel radiator can heat up with the rest of your radiator system whilst also being able to work independently of the other radiators in your home.
How do you control the heat on an electric towel rail?
The most common method for adjusting temperature will be to adjust the knob by turning clockwise to turn off - I.e. cool or anti clockwise to open and up the heat.
How do you fit a dual fuel towel rail?
0:513:55How To Dress & Hang A Dual Fuel Heated Towel Rail | BestHeatingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce securely in place nip up both spigots using a radiator spanner or ratchet insert the electricMoreOnce securely in place nip up both spigots using a radiator spanner or ratchet insert the electric element and tighten be careful not to over tighten however as you may damage the rubber.
Do heated towel rails run off central heating?
Standard central heating towel rails get plumbed into your central heating system and are heated using the same hot water as your radiators.
Can you have a heated towel rail with a combi boiler?
If you have a combi boiler and not a system boiler with cylinder your only option is to connect it to your central heating system. you can put a 2 port valve and have the boiler serve the 1 radiator but it is quite complicated process and would be time consuming.
Can you leave an electric towel rail on all the time?
You can certainly leave your heated towel rail on all day if you want. It's perfectly safe to do so, your towels will be dry and warm at any time of the day and your bathroom will enjoy a little added heat.
Do heated towel rails have an on/off switch?
Central heating towel radiators A heated towel rail linked to your boiler and central heating system functions just like the other radiators in your home. These rails turn on and off with your central heating, but most rails will come with a thermostatic radiator valve, allowing you to adjust the temperature as needed.
Do electric towel rails cost a lot to run?
Electric Towel Rails These rails avoid the issue of having to switch on the rest of your central heating, however they can be expensive to run due to the power requirements of the heated element within. Essentially, they function similarly to a kettle, though without quite so much short term power usage.
Are dual fuel towel rails worth it?
This is precisely why dual fuel towel rails are a simple and highly advantageous choice to heat your bathroom, cloakroom or ensuite – they bring together, in harmony, the best of both electric and central heating powered designs – a kind of 'home heating harmoniser' if you will.
What liquid do you use to fill an electric towel rail?
If you want to fill a radiator for electric use, you need a special solution of 85% deionized water and 15% Ethylene Glycol (car anti-freeze). This solution needs to be poured into your electric towel rail before you switch it on, as it is this solution that gets hot and causes your rail to give off heat.
Can dual fuel towel rails be used as electric only?
Dual fuel towel rails can generate heat using both central heating and electric power systems. This means in the winter you can run your radiator efficiently on your central heating system and in the summer when the rest of your radiators are switched off, you can turn on your towel rail using the electric element.
Are dual fuel radiators worth it?
Dual fuel radiators are a much more cost-effective solution compared with central heating radiators or electric radiators because they allow you to choose the most cost-effective heating solution depending on the season.
Can all radiators be dual fuel?
In theory, yes, any radiator can be a dual fuel radiator, but you should be careful when choosing whether you want to do adapt your radiators.
What does dual fuel heating system mean?
A dual-fuel system is a home comfort system that pairs an electric heat pump with a gas furnace and alternates between the two fuel sources to maximize comfort and efficiency.
How do I know if my house is dual fuel?
The easiest way to determine if you have a dual fuel system is to ask your local heating system repair company. However, it may be possible to determine this without a service call. The first place to look for this information is on the metal box inside or outside your home that controls your HVAC system.
What is dual fuel towel rail?
Dual fuel heated towel rails give you the choice of two different energy sources on one rail, electric or central heating. This is chosen by you, dependent on whether you want the whole central heating system running (typically in the winter), or whether you just want to have the heated towel rail alone running, when you would use the electric option (typically in the summer). You'll need both central heating pipes running into the rail and an element connected to a fused spur. Dual fuel is a great benefit in the summertime and is economically a good option and becoming ever more popular.
What does C mean in a towel rail?
C = Central Heating, this means that the towel rail or radiator works with your central heating system.
Do you need a blank plug for a T-Piece?
D.Blank Plug Required as we supply 2x T-Pieces with our packs, so the blank plug blocks up the opening on the T-Piece which isn't occupied by the element .
When to use dual fuel radiator?
The correct way of using a dual fuel radiator would be to use central heating option during the winter and use the electric option only during the summer. You should also follow the correct procedure when switching from one to the other. Come April or May, you may wish to turn off your central heating and switch your towel radiator ...
How to isolate bathroom radiator from central heating system?
Before you switch usage, you must isolate the bathroom radiator from the rest of your central heating system by turning both inlet (flow) and outlet (return) valves completely off.
Can you use a towel radiator as a dual fuel radiator?
Have you ever looked at those “popular items” list on most online heated towel rail suppliers? It is no surprise that one very small item called “T pipe” also known as “Dual Fuel Adaptor” is almost always on those most popular lists. This tiny little adaptor will enable you to use your towel radiator as dual fuel meaning that it can be part of your central heating and can be used as electric only during summer months.
Can towel radiators be used as electric?
This tiny little adaptor will enable you to use your towel radiator as dual fuel meaning that it can be part of your central heating and can be used as electric only during summer months.
Can you turn off the heating in a towel radiator?
Come April or May, you may wish to turn off your central heating and switch your towel radiator from a plumbed radiator to an electric use. Doing so will still kill the chill in your bathroom and let you have warm towels after a bath or shower. By following the steps below, you can take advantage of your dual fuel radiator and protect your central heating, towel radiator and, most importantly, your electric heating element which is installed inside the towel radiator.
How do electric towel rails work?
Electric-only towel rails are powered by an electric heating element. These elements are screwed into an inlet at the bottom of the rail and then wired directly to the mains of your home. They can then be switched on or off at the wall. Some pricier heating elements even allow you to adjust the temperature.
What is a heated towel rail?
In recent years, the heated towel rail has become a staple of the modern bathroom. A more refined alternative to the radiator, these slimline heaters offer a stylish way to present your towels while keeping your entire bathroom warm. However, these must-have fixtures are not without their drawbacks.
How to wire a heating element into a towel rail?
1. If your chosen heating element was supplied with a T-piece, remove it. Then, wrap some layers of PTFE around your heating element’s male thread to ensure a tight seal. 2. Screw the heating element into your towel rail via the bottom inlet closest to where you plan to wire-in your rail.
How to seal a towel rail?
1. Wrap around three layers of PTFE tape clockwise around the male threads on your heating element. Do the same to your T-piece, as well as additional male-threaded pieces if you have them. This clever trick will work to ensure that your towel rail’s joints are sealed tightly, while also keeping screwed joints lubricated for easy removal in the future.
Is it cheaper to run a towel rail or a gas radiator?
Gas-powered alternatives, however, are slightly cheaper to run. Dual fuel towel rails offer the best of both worlds. When the heating is on these function the exact same way a radiator would, so you don’t need to remember to switch them on manually.
Can you use electric towel rails with central heating?
However, both have their own specific skillsets. Electric-only towel rails are useful as they can be switched on independently from your home’s central heating system. This makes them ideal for those warm summer months.
Can you use a towel rail for electric only?
Some pricier heating elements even allow you to adjust the temperature. Electric heating elements, such as this one, work convert your towel rail for electric-only use. Dual fuel towel rails are powered by an electric heating element as well as your home’s central heating system. This is achieved through the use of a ‘T-piece’;
What is dual fuel towel rail?
Dual fuel towel rails are a simple and highly efficient choice when it comes to heating your bathroom, cloakroom or kitchen. This versatile heating solution offers the best of both central heating and standalone electric heating. Along with being plumbed into the central heating system, the addition of a heating element allows a dual fuel towel ...
What to consider when purchasing a dual fuel heated towel rail?
- Firstly, the position within your bathroom: A bathroom is split into zones and electrical equipment should only be placed in the zones they are specifically designed for.
Can towel rails be used when central heating is off?
Along with being plumbed into the central heating system, the addition of a heating element allows a dual fuel towel rail to be used and controlled at any time, even when the central heating is switched off .
What is a Dual Fuel Towel Rail?
Dual fuel towel rails can generate heat using both central heating and electric power systems. This means in the winter you can run your radiator efficiently on your central heating system and in the summer when the rest of your radiators are switched off, you can turn on your towel rail using the electric element.
What is a dual fuel radiator?
A dual fuel radiator T-piece is a T-shaped connector. Instead of your radiator only having 1 input, the t-piece - sometimes spelled 'tee-piece' - turns it into a dual input radiator. One of these inputs connects to your radiator; another connects to a heating element, which is connected to your mains electric and the third input connects to the radiator valve used when in central heating mode. A t-piece is usually included in the purchase of the element, the only exception is Reina. You can buy their T-Piece separately here.
How does electric heating work?
Electric heating is activated by turning the central heating input valve completely clockwise until it stops turning; preventing hot water from flowing into the radiator. Then you can turn on your electric element which will begin to rapidly heat the towel rail.
What is a T piece on a radiator?
A t-piece is usually included in the purchase of the element, the only exception is Reina.
How to divide watts in a radiator?
Divide that radiator's Output in Watts by 1.81 and keep hold of that number.
Do you need to heat up water for a towel rail?
This brings great gains in efficiency to your heating system, as you don't need to heat up the water for a whole central heating system, just for one towel rail.
