Should you buy an electric towel rail: pros and cons
A heated towel rail is a device that adds comfort to your bathroom. It helps maintain a good microclimate and ensures that towels dry quickly, preventing an unpleasant odor. However, not every apartment has such a device nowadays. People wonder whether it’s worth buying an electric heated towel rail, whether they can do without it, or whether they can choose a more classic model that connects to the heating system. Let’s look at such a device’s advantages and possible disadvantages.
What are the advantages of electric towel rails?
One of the reasons why it is worth buying an electric towel warmer is its complete independence from the heating system. Therefore, owners of central or autonomous heating can use it year-round without looking back at the availability of heating. After all, classic water-heated towel rails, traditionally connected to the heating system, delight their owners with heat only during the heating season. In the off-season and summer, their functionality is limited. An electric device will help you easily dry towels and other small items whenever needed.
Other advantages of electrically heated towel rails include:
- Cost-effectiveness. Modern devices save energy, especially if equipped with thermostats or timers like the Hygge Family towel rails. The temperature controller makes it easy to set the optimum temperature for drying towels, and the timer helps you program the device to turn off automatically after an intensive period of use.
- Easy to install. Installing a modern heated towel rail does not cause any problems for the user. It does not need to be connected to the water supply or heating system, which makes installation very easy – just fix the device in the desired location and plug it into an outlet. If you wish, you can organize a hidden connection – you just need to bring the power supply to the device. And there is no need for complex installation work.
- Mobility and design variability. This is another important reason why you should buy an electric heated towel rail. Unlike classic water models, an electric device can be installed anywhere in the bathroom. Of course, you should plan its position so no water splashes get on it. However, in both a small bathroom and a large combined bathroom, you can choose the most optimal place according to your preferences. Manufacturers also offer models of different styles that will help create coziness and fit well into the design of different rooms.
- Additional features. Manufacturers usually add various features to their devices, such as an automatic shutdown option, overheating protection, and connecting to a smart home system. Increased functionality makes using the device even more comfortable and safe.
Of course, the characteristics of a particular towel dryer directly depend on the features of a particular appliance. The product description provides this information.
Are there any disadvantages to an electric towel rail?
Considering the advantages of buying an electric towel warmer, it is worth discussing the possible disadvantages of such a device. The main disadvantages are related to dependence on electricity. Long and frequent power outages can cause inconvenience. But if the house or apartment is completely autonomous (due to its generation capabilities, using generators, batteries, etc.), an economical towel rail can be more convenient than other devices. Other disadvantages include:
- Limited power. Electric devices are usually not as powerful as their water counterparts. This can be a problem if you need to dry more than just towels and small items and increase the room’s temperature significantly. To heat the premises, you must carefully study the thermal power of heated towel rails because not all models can handle such functions.
- The need for costs. A high-quality electric heated towel rail for the bathroom, which has a set of additional functions and other advantages, will be more expensive than a classic model connected to the central heating system. In addition, electricity costs should also be considered (although they are usually insignificant due to the efficiency of such appliances). However, for some consumers, the initial costs associated with the cost of the appliance itself and the cost of connecting it can be quite high.
For some consumers, the need for regular maintenance is also a possible disadvantage. After all, an electric heated towel rail must be monitored to ensure the wiring is in good condition, safety rules are followed, etc. But in fact, a high-quality appliance only needs regular cleaning. Proper installation minimizes the risk of short circuits and other dangerous situations.
Thus, a high-quality electric towel rail can become a decoration and functional element in almost any bathroom. Choose products from trusted manufacturers, and you can appreciate the advantages of such devices.