In article ,
polygonum wrote:
For various reasons, including using the things fitted in a holiday let,
I have become interested in heated towel rails.

The towel rail in this location is a decent size and would appear
adequate to heat the bathroom. It only heats when the central heating
combi boiler is on. Even at this early part of the year, this week we
have felt little or no need for general heating.

The towel rail itself has no controls on it (yes - lock shield but not
TRV, etc.). So all we can do is go round the place, turn down the TRVs
on all radiators, and play with the room thermostat to get the CH
running. Then the towel rail warms up nicely - if not too much!

Far more handy would be if there were a push-button which allowed you to
get the towel rail heated for, maybe, half an hour primarily to warm and
dry the towels. Without having to do anything else.

Another place uses TRV on the towel rails - at least you have local
control in the bathroom. But even then, you have to remember to turn it
down again and it might be rather more than is needed in warmer weather.

Is there a satisfactory answer to towel rail control? I am well aware of
the electric option but want to see of there is another answer.

I think you'd have to runa separate water feed to the towel rail controlled
by a valve (and have another valve on the rest of the heating). You could
then have a "call for heat" switch in the bathroom which open the relevant
valve and the turn on the boiler.

Probbaly less disruptive to geta towel rail that has an electric element as
well as using hot water.

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from KT24 in Surrey, England