A friend made the comment that a bathroom with bad accessories always looks like people who renovated and now can’t afford to decorate. After the initial giggle I realised how right she was and how we all have been guilty of cheap and easy bathroom accessories. With the help of On Tap and Jeeves we explore a few towel rail options.
The latest trends
According to Mark Bennett, Sales and Marketing Director at Jeeves black sanitary ware and bathroom fittings helps to create a sultry, masculine effect, currently very popular with young singles, bachelors and those with a penchant for contemporary styling. “Jeeves now offer their heated towel rails in jet black to complete this uber contemporary trend.” The experts at On Tap agrees that “heated towel rails have been at the forefront of bathroom luxury for decades and due to technological advancements and increased availability it really completes a stylish bathrooms. A popular heated towel rail choice are the 6 bar rails in high polish Stainless Steel however if you are one of those who like to make a statement, they are available in a wide variety of finishes, shapes and sizes. If you are sceptical about installing a heated towel rail, know that modern heated towel rails have mastered the art of efficiently heating and drying towels without being a burden on your electricity bill.”
Q: What are the different types of towel rails we will find in shops and what are the characteristics of each type?
Jeeves: “Hydronic and electric heated towel rails. Hydronic Heating allows users an option to use their heated towel rails without using any electricity at all! Hydronic heated towel rails do away with electrical heating elements as they are designed to operate as part of a recirculating hot water system. A simple circulation pump can be used to circulate hot water from the geyser or solar storage tank to the heated towel rails before re-entering the geyser or solar storage tank, to be recirculated. Hot water passes through all horizontal and vertical tubes of the towel rail providing warmth for effective towel drying and heating. Solar generated hot water together with a wholly solar powered circulation pump allows for grid-fed electricity free heated towel rails!”
ON TAP: “There is a wide selection of heated and non-heated towel rails to choose from and by assessing the different internal characteristics, it will help you to make your final decision.
Heated towel rails:
- DET: Dry Element Technology found mostly in Bathroom Butlers range of heated towel rails utilises lengths of special purpose heating wire which is installed within the heated towel rail to warm up the surface. When the power is turned on the wire heats up which in turn heats up the towel rail.
- WET: Wet Element Technology found mostly in Jeeves range of heated towel rails utilises a cartridge element that is immersed into a heat transfer fluid such as oil or water. When the element heats up, the transfer fluid absorbs the heat and through convection currents, causes the fluid to move around inside the heated towel rail to distribute the heat.
Non–heated towel rails
- Wall mounted towel rails: Wall mounted towel rails are great for smaller bathrooms where floor space is limited. Installing your towel rail requires skill however once installed, your towels can be neatly displayed and off the floor.
- Freestanding towel rails: For those who prefer not to install a towel rail, there are many free standing towel rails available on the market.”
Q: What products do you have available and which ones are most popular?
Jeeves: “The models in the Jeeves Classic Range are our flagship and appeal to discerning buyers. Available in an array of sizes, the best selling Classic Range is designed with a generous allocation of heated tubes to ensure sufficient heat output required to dry and warm bath towels. Surprisingly, the most effective way to warm and dry towels after bathing or showering is to fold damp towels in half, and in half again. The Jeeves Classic Range has been specifically designed with groups of bars to increase heat density. As a rule of thumb, one group of bars represents enough space for one bath sheet.”
ON TAP: “We found that the Bathroom Butler Natural Five Bar Curved Heated Towel Rail that makes use of a dry element technology system is very popular. It comes with a 304 stainless steel, polished to a mirror finish and a 5 year guarantee
Also available in 4, 7, 8 or 12 bars. The Zack Fresco Stainless Steel Towel Shelf is also very popular.”
Q: What type of maintenance do these towel rails require?
Jeeves: “Supplied with an extended 25 year guarantee, the Jeeves range requires no maintenance whatsoever. All components are 100% serviceable and replaceable should the product be damaged in any way.”
ON TAP: “All polished heated towel rails made from 304 Stainless Steel are rust resistant – therefore you can maintain the look of your heated towel rail by polishing the towel rail with stainless steel polish and a dry, soft cloth.”
Q: What must readers keep in mind when choosing a towel rail for their bathroom?
Jeeves: “Firstly, readers should ensure that they have sufficient space in the bathroom to accommodate the selected heated towel rail. Depending on whether electric or hydronic heated towel rails have been selected, it is imperative that readers ensure their builders leave provision for an electrical power point or water piping in the bathroom. This cannot be done after the bathroom has been plastered or tiled. From a functional perspective, electricity consumption, or the lack thereof in certain instances, is one of the most important considerations when selecting heated towel rails. All electric heated towel rails from Jeeves feature Automatic Heating Technology (AHT) which ensures that optimum operating temperatures and the lowest electricity consumption are achieved without any input from the homeowner.”
Q: Please give our readers some DIY-tips when installing a towel rail on a tile surface?
ON TAP: “Heated towel rails will need access to electricity and you may therefore need to remove tiles to install the wiring. It is best to consider installing your heated towel wiring before tiling. Heated towel rails are best installed by a qualified electrician.
If you are installing a non-heated towel rail, consider the type of tile you would like to install the towel rail on. If it is a porcelain tile, this might be harder to drill and install the towel rail due to the hard surface. A high powered or heavy duty drill with a strong drill bit will work best for these areas.
If your tiles are ceramic, best you use a high speed drill that is not on the “hammer drill” setting – this is to avoid chipping the tiles as they are rather fragile.
It is always best to call upon an experienced and qualified handyman if you are not too sure how to install the towel rail.”
Q: Do you have towel rails available that would be suitable for the kitchen – and if so – tell us about it?
Jeeves: “The Jeeves Classic H is often fitted into kitchens for an uninterrupted supply of dry kitchen towels.”
ON TAP: “Yes – the Bathroom Butler, Soho Kitchen towel Dryer is manufactured especially for kitchen towels. There are three bars made of polished stainless steel and each bar can swivel to allow for better drying and easy access.”
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