What we’ll cover…
Fitting a heated towel rail? This guide walks you through the tools you’ll need, how to prep and position the rail, install brackets, and complete a safe, professional finish.
How to install a heated towel rail
A step-by-step guide on how to dress and hang a heated towel rail in your home, so you can always enjoy lovely warm towels, use as a vice to dry clothes and for generally heating your bathroom.
Let’s get started with everything you need to fit a heated towel rail.
What you’ll need…
- PTFE Tape
- Screwdriver
- Impact Driver
- Tape Measure / Metre Ruler
- Spirit Level
- Pencil
- Adjustable Spanner
- Wall Fixing Kit
- Bleed Valve & Blank
- 10mm Ratchet
Starting to dress and hang your heated towel rail
Step 1
Carefully lay your heated towel rail flat and remove the protective plastic caps and rubber bunks.
Step 2
Screw in the bleed valve and blanking cap on either side, and use an adjustable spanner to tighten them up in position. However, be careful not to over-tighten and risk causing damage to the thread.
Step 3
Flip the heated towel rail over carefully, and remove the rubber bunks again on the other side of the component.
Step 4
Wrap the spigots on your radiator valves with PFTE tape around 17 times – this is an important precaution to take in aiding the prevention of leaks.
Step 5
Fully insert the spigots into your heated towel rail and tighten them up using a ratchet or adjustable spanner.
Measuring up your heated towel rail
Step 1
Measure the width of your heated towel rail to accurately identify the centre point. Then, measure the distance from the collector to the middle of the brackets to ensure the component will sit correctly on the wall when installed.
Step 2
Measure the distance between both brackets, again recording the centre point on both the top and bottom sets.
Step 3
Measure the distance from the bottom of the heated towel rail to the centre of the bottom brackets. Use your pencil to mark that centre point on the wall the towel rail will be fitted to. From here, you can also work out where the ‘top bottom’ bracket will be situated, and mark that point on the wall too.
Step 4
Using the bracket measurements, measure along where each of the bottom brackets will be situated with a spirit level to make sure the line is straight.
Step 5
Take a measurement from the bottom bracket to the top bracket, again using a spirit level to mark the spot on the wall. Then use the bracket measurements to mark the holes for the top brackets on the wall.
Completing your heated towel rail hanging
Step 1
Fix the brackets to the wall in accordance with your markings, using the spirit level to ensure they are properly level.
Step 2
Double check your measurements to guarantee the brackets are being placed in the correct position, then carefully mount your heated towel rail on the wall.
Step 3
Insert the top brackets first, enabling you to make any minor adjustments that might be required to the bottom brackets.
Step 4
Screw in the retention screws to ensure the heated towel rail is securely attached to the wall. Once it has been secured in place, you can attach the bracket covers to provide a neat, clean finish.
Step 5
To complete the final installation to your central heating system, enlist the services of a qualified professional, and you should be good to go to enjoy your brand new heated towel rail.
Watch bestheating how to videos
If you’d prefer a visual tutorial, you can view our instructional video on how to dress and hang a heated towel rail on Youtube.
We have a whole host of bestheating how to videos, but if you would like any further home heating help and advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
You can leave your queries in the comments section, or contact us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average cost to install a heated towel rail in a UK household totals £460, though this should only be used as a rough guide as many factors can influence a fluctuation in prices.
It is suggested that a heated towel rail will typically cost around £235 to purchase, and in the region of £225 to be fitted. These estimated prices can be volatile with regards to several circumstances, especially in terms of installation, including location and reputation to name just a couple.
Consult our heated towel rail buying guide for inspiration on the ideal model to select, and for further pricing information, our article titled how much does it cost to fit a bathroom radiator.
To work out the running costs of traditional gas heated towel rails, you can make an estimation based on your usual home heating habits and usage levels, factoring in that your towel rails will be switched on and working when your boiler is.
At the time of April 2023, the standard UK gas tariff worked out at 10.3p/ kWh in line with the Energy Price Guarantee of the UK government.
For a more detailed insight, browse our blog, Is a heated towel rail expensive to run?
A relatively simple equation can be used to work out electric heated towel rail running costs, with the same formula able to be used for practically any electrical appliance.
The equation to use is as follows…
Watts / 1000 = Kw X Hours in Operation = kW x kWh rate = Cost
An electric towel rail’s wattage will typically be displayed on the device, and is noted in the product descriptions on bestheating.com.
As of April 2023, the kWh rate can be worked out off a standard UK electricity tariff value of 33.2p/ kWh according to the UK government’s Energy Price Guarantee.
For further information, take a look at our blog, Is a heated towel rail expensive to run?
A dual fuel heated towel rail is a towel rail which is connected to both a property’s central heating system as well as a mains electricity supply.
Typical heated towel rail models will heat up when the central heating is turned on, and deliver warmth in cohesion with the other components in the house that operate via the same means. Dual fuel heated towel rails can contrastingly work in the absence of central heating, and be powered electrically instead.
For a more detailed insight, take a look at our dedicated blog on the subject – What Is A Dual Fuel Heated Towel Rail?
John is a Research Specialist for the Best Heating Advice Centre, where for over nine years he has dedicated himself to demystifying home heating for our customers. He specialises in creating clear, data-driven guides and how-to articles by collaborating directly with our team of certified heating experts and product engineers.
His work, built on a foundation of journalistic research, has helped millions of readers make confident and informed decisions about their home heating. When he’s not breaking down the heat output differentials from radiators to heated towel rails, John fancies himself as a fine football and music connoisseur.
