As winter settles in, it’s time to start thinking about new and alternative ways to heat your home. While radiant heating is the leading cost-effective solution for both indoor and outdoor heating, there are other innovative ways to heat the rooms in your home.
Today, we’re going to discuss an idea that has changed how people think about heating their bathrooms. Of course, you’ve probably heard of heated bathroom floors, the cozy alternative to the ever-hated cold bathroom floors.
But what about towel warmers? Can they be used to heat your bathroom, as well? The answer might surprise you!
It Warms Towels, but Can it Warm a Bathroom?
Few things are better than a warm towel after a refreshing shower or bath. That’s why Warmup offers a range of Heated Towel Rails, with several single-bar and multi-bar options available. They’re super easy to use, quick to install, and come in various sizes and finishes to match any bathroom’s size and interior décor.
You may be surprised to learn that towel warmers can do much more than just make your towels warm and snuggly. Depending on your towel warmer’s size relative to the size of your bathroom, it can be an alternative heating solution, as well.
Since towel warmers radiate heat, they work similarly to radiant heating solutions. Let’s break that down a little bit further…
How Warm Does a Towel Warmer Get?
Other towel warmers may only get up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but Warmup’s proprietary heating technology enables our products to reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit within three minutes of being turned on. So you’re free to turn on the towel warmers just minutes before you shower for effective towel warming.
Of course, if you’re trying to heat your bathroom, you’ll want to turn them on long before that. Fortunately, towel warmers are conveniently designed to be left on at all times, which is the most effective way to provide heat to your bathroom.
How Big or Small Does a Bathroom Have to Be?
Calculating the size of your towel warmer can get a little tricky. The effectiveness of a towel warmer in providing radiant heating to your bathroom is based on how much heat that room is loosing (aka heat loss) and is calculated based “U” and “R” factors.Here are the differences in a nutshell:
U-value (also known as U-factor) is a measure of heat transfer (heat gain or loss through glass), while R-value is a measure of heat resistance. U-value is not a material rating; it is a calculation of the conduction properties of various materials used in the construction of windows, doors and skylights.
R-value measures the performance of a specific material, such as insulation, based on the material’s ability to reduce the transfer of heat.
Heat loss calculations are typically completed by an engineer or an HVAC company.
Knowing how much heat is lost, will determine if the output of the towel warmers can offset that loss.
How Do You Connect and Control a Towel Warmer?
Our towel warmers are designed to be connected to your existing light circuit. In addition, all of our products come with complete installation kits that make attaching your towel warmers easier than ever. The benefit of this feature is that your towel warmer can be easily controlled from the same place you control the lights in your bathroom.
3 Types of Towel Warmers
There are three unique types of towel warmers you can purchase on the market, but some are less ideal than others. Here are the three types of towel warmers you’ll find most often:
1. Electric
Electric towel warmers are connected directly to existing light circuits. They are the best option on the market for performance and durability. They’re easier to install than hydronic towel warmers, safer than freestanding towel warmers, and provide energy-efficient, even heating.
2. Hydronic
Hydronic towel warmers use heated water to create heat. As a result, you can run into issues with product malfunctions and water leaks. Plus, installing them is much more complicated than the other towel-warming options on the market.
3. Freestanding
Freestanding towel warmers are typically connected to a standard electrical outlet but can be hard-wired into your bathroom’s electrical circuit. In this way, they are like electric towel warmers, except they aren’t attached to the wall. As a result, they require valuable floor space, which might be an issue in smaller bathrooms.
The Most Effective Bathroom Heating Solution
If you’re searching for ways to heat your bathroom this winter, you’ve come to the right place. At Warmup, we pride ourselves on crafting the most effective heating solutions on the market, each product created with ease of use, affordability, and durability in mind. So, whether you’re interested in towel warmers or radiant heating solutions, we have the perfect option for you.
Check out our extensive line of electric towel warmers, or contact us today to learn more about the innovative technology known as radiant heating.