To put it simply, a dual fuel towel rail is a heated towel rail which is connected to both your central heating and mains electricity. Whilst central heating towel rails heat up when the central heating is on (and so while the rest of the house is heated too), dual fuel towel rails are connected via electricity too.

What's a dual fuel radiator?

A Dual Fuel radiator or towel rail is one that is fitted with both standard valves and an electric element. They offer a flexible and efficient method of heating your home. In winter, they can be run as part of the central heating system, and in warmer months they can be heated by the electric element.

Is a heated towel rail as good as a radiator?

A towel rail usually gives out less heat than a radiator, however, if it has been sized correctly, then it should still be able to make your bathroom a warm and cosy place. A towel rail might take less time to heat up than a radiator.

Can any radiator 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 type of heated towel rail is best?

Popular Towel Rail Finishes

Chrome - The most popular type finish is a chrome heated towel rail and is the immediate choice for the majority of people renovating their bathrooms. Other fixtures like taps, light fittings and shower heads are chrome plated, so a matching towel rail always works well.

What is Dual Fuel Towel Rail?

Can you have a heated towel rail with a combi boiler?

No problem with your system being off a combi boiler,just may be better if you fit an electric element into your towel rail also for summer use,when your boiler won"t be in the heating mode.

Are heated towel rails expensive to run?

Electric heated towel rails are operated like any other electric heater, being turned on and off with the flick of a switch. 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.

Are dual fuel towel rails worth it?

Energy Saving & Cost-Effective

Because of this flexibility, dual fuel towel rails are much more cost effective than either a centrally heated radiator, or a towel rail heated solely by electricity. They give you the option to use the most energy-efficient power source whatever the season.

Can I convert my towel rail to dual fuel?

To Convert/Install a Towel Radiator as a “Dual Fuel” Version: Turn the towel radiator upside down and screw the T-pipe and electric element into the either site of the towel radiator. Use PTFE tape wrapped clockwise around all male threads to assist in making watertight and complete sealed joints.

What are the two valves on a towel radiator for?

The valves in a towel radiator control the flow of water through the pipes. This ensures your radiator heats up effectively and efficiently. They keep your towel radiator functioning and ensure that your bathroom is heated up when needed, and your towels are dry and ready to use.

Can you leave heated towel rail on all the time?

Heated towel rails are designed to be left on all the time and there are no safety issues to consider if you decide you want to keep them running. A standard heated towel rail will typically come on and off in accordance with the main central heating system.

Do heated towel rails warm the bathroom?

These towel rails are designed to be as low energy as possible with the sole purpose of warming and drying the towels. This means they are very energy efficient and will do an excellent job in warming and drying the towels but they is not going to add heat to your room.

What is the point of heated towel rail?

Heated towel rails also create a more hygienic environment in your bathroom by keeping towels dry and free from germs or mould. Heated towel rails also help save electricity and water as they reduce the need for continuous towel washing and tumble drying.

Do all towel radiators need electricity?

Dual Fuel Towel Rails

The way to keep the benefits of a heated towel rail during summer months without wasting electricity when your central heating system is being used is to fit an electric element to the towel rail, as well as have it plumbed in to the central heating circuit.

Can you have a heated towel rail without central heating?

If you do not have a gas central heating system, do not worry you can fit an electric towel rail to the mains electrical supply. A great benefit of an electric towel rail is that you can turn it on as required so it is only used when needed, meaning they are very cost-effective and energy-efficient.

Can you use a dual fuel towel rail for electric only?

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.

Is my towel rail electric or gas?

Yet, towel rails are powered directly by electricity and therefore are a great deal more efficient. So much so that they are regarded as being nearly 100% efficient as all the energy consumed by the electric towel radiator is converted into heat and transferred into the surrounding room.

How do you fill a towel rail radiator for electric?

Shake up the bottle of fluid and pour it into the top of the rail using the provided funnel. Once all the fluid has been poured in, pour in water until about an inch from the top of the towel rail. This will allow the solution to expand when it gets hot. Insert the element and tighten with a 22mm spanner.

Do heated towel rails dry towels?

You plug the towel rail into the power point, and the electricity heats up the liquid in the rails, which in turn dries the towels.

Can a dual fuel radiator be used as electric only?

It's important to remember that they are designed to be used either as a central heating radiator or as an electric radiator, they cannot be used as both at the same time. Turn the inlet and outlet valves off completely to isolate the radiator from the central heating system.

Do electric towel rails have water in them?

Inside every electric heated towel rail is a mixture of water (85%) and anti-corrosion inhibitor (15%). When the electric towel rail is switched on, the electricity causes the element to heat up. In turn the element heats up the fluid inside the towel rail and emits heat.

Can you turn a heated towel rail off?

Sometimes, a heated towel rail can become a tad too warm, but you can always switch it off at the mains or turn it down slightly. However, if it is still hot to the touch then you might have to delve a little deeper in order to resolve the issue.

How long do heated towel rails last?

A stainless steel towel warmer is better at this, than chrome towel rail. This is why these come with a guarantee period going up to 25 years.

Do white towel rails give off more heat than Chrome?

You would think that in the same size, they would all give the same heat output, but this is not the case. Instead the white and black models give out 20% more heat output than the chrome version. Chrome radiators will always give out less heat (up to 30% less) than a painted equivalent.