The need to heat bathrooms is obvious. At the same time, bathrooms are rooms with specific functionality and special operating conditions, so solving the issue of heating them requires knowledge of the technical characteristics and features of the entire variety of heating devices that are offered to consumers today.
Let's take a closer look at the types of devices suitable for this, and which of them can be used as a heater for a bathroom or bathhouse.
Do you really need a battery in the bathroom?
The most common type of battery in the bathroom is a regular heated towel rail.
Not every consumer knows what the battery in the bathroom is called and what it is needed for. It is customary to use an ordinary heated towel rail as heating equipment for a bathroom in a typical apartment. It is a water radiator that performs heating functions. Since the room area is small, such a device copes with its tasks efficiently. In spacious rooms it will not be able to heat the space efficiently, so it will have to be replaced with full-fledged batteries. In such conditions the following are in demand:
- Steel units.
- Aluminum releases.
- Bimetallic batteries.
The last type is considered the most reliable and practical.
The importance of using a battery in the bathroom is due to the high humidity in this part of the house. The radiator is intended for the following tasks:
- Heating the room.
- Accelerated drying of clothes.
- Fighting fungus.
- Maintaining a comfortable microclimate while taking a bath.
In standard rooms, in addition to a heated towel rail, it is recommended to install 3-4 sections of radiators.
If the bathroom has good thermal insulation and is equipped with heated floors, then you can do without additional radiators. In other cases they are indispensable.
A bimetallic radiator is considered the most practical and reliable.
Additional heating methods
In addition to the main methods of warming up the bathroom, there are alternatives:
- "warm floor";
- "hot baseboard";
- installation of heated towel rails.
Warm floors perfectly maintain the required temperature in the room; they are created by laying electrical cables in the form of loops and waves. It is only important to perform high-quality insulation and waterproofing. The thickness of the floor here is relatively large, and the cost of work is high.
The electrical system provides comfortable heating of the floor surface in a city apartment
In private homes, water-heated floors are more common, which are cheaper to operate.
Hot baseboards are special parts in the form of corner floor panels with heating elements hidden inside. This heating is very efficient and takes up almost no space.
Baseboard heaters distribute heat more evenly and create a comfortable temperature at a height of up to 1.5 meters from the floor
Heated towel rails come in the form of water heating pipes or electric ones and are perfectly combined with any other heating devices.
There are countless models of heated towel rails available, from which you can choose the right option for any interior.
The most effective are models in the form of a ladder
Requirements for bathroom radiators
To maintain a comfortable microclimate in the bathroom, you need to wisely select the equipment that will be used for heating. Special requirements are placed on the housing material, power and safety of radiators.
Required power
The performance of the unit is selected taking into account the area of the room that will be heated. At the same time, the device must remain safe for finishing materials and people.
You cannot use overly powerful models that will heat the space to a critical temperature.
Housing material
The heater must be able to withstand high humidity. Therefore, you need to choose products with a body protected from splashes, corrosion and other consequences of contact with water. For the bathroom, they buy small but aesthetic battery models that do not disturb the harmony of the interior design and emphasize the overall tone of the room.
Safety requirements
Advanced heaters are equipped with advanced automation and auxiliary equipment responsible for safety. They can regulate the heating intensity, support automatic shutdown and a number of degrees of protection against unexpected breakdowns and failures.
Since there is excess moisture in the bathroom, the device must be reliably isolated from splashes that can cause a short circuit.
Warm floor
This is the most labor-intensive, costly, but sure way to heat a bathroom. Warm floors are installed precisely at the stage of major repairs. Therefore, it is not suitable for everyone. The advantage of such equipment is that you can regulate its temperature, turn it on and off as needed, depending on the temperature outside the window.
Warm floors can be electric or water. Which one to choose, each master decides independently, depending on the selected individual heating system in the house.
Types of heating batteries
There are different types of batteries for bathrooms on sale. They are distinguished by operating principle, power and material of manufacture.
Panel radiator
Equipment of this type is considered an alternative to traditional pipes. A radiator can be used as an additional accent in interior decor, especially if it is made in a modern style with a mirror surface. When choosing panel units, the heating area and the expected heating temperature of the space are taken into account.
Panel radiator.
Oil heater
The classic type of batteries operating on an oil substance is found in almost every room. The structures are characterized by the following positive qualities:
- Safety. Even if paper or a towel falls on the device, it will not cause a short circuit or fire. There are no open elements in the heater, so such troubles are excluded.
- Compactness. The device is lightweight and convenient in shape. It is easy to move from one part of the room to another.
In addition, the oil radiator does not cause the combustion of oxygen, which is important when heating small rooms.
An oil heater is valued for its portability.
Infrared panel
The device is installed on the ceiling and is used to heat the flooring and walls, not the air. The heater contains a quartz emitter - a special plate that generates heat. The device does not take up much space and supports automatic shutdown when the required temperature is reached.
The flow of infrared rays can be adjusted to more intensely heat the desired point. This is a useful feature for spacious rooms. High humidity does not harm the product, and the high price is justified by durability and efficiency.
Infrared ceiling panel.
Electric convectors
The heating element in such a device is made of a powder composition with a thin heating filament. For the production of the body, silumin is used. The device itself has a modular design, which allows you to adjust the power level and dimensions. The temperature is changed using a thermostat. Internal heating reaches 350°C, while the body warms up only to 55°C.
There are advanced models that resemble the sector of horizontal blinds. They operate silently and do not require the use of infrared emitters.
Electric convectors.
A gas boiler
Devices that use natural gas as fuel have the following properties:
- Efficiency.
- Long service life.
- Compactness.
- Restrained fuel consumption.
But gas models burn air and release carbon dioxide. Even with an auto-shutoff feature, they are not 100% safe.
One of the advantages of gas boilers is their long service life.
Fan heater
The compact device is inexpensive and provides effective heating of a small area. The equipment is distinguished by a power of 2-2.5 kW, minimal dimensions and various configurations. The device contains a spiral that can heat up to 800°C. Thermal energy is distributed by a fan, which helps to quickly warm up the room.
The units are light in weight and can be easily placed on the floor, wall or furniture. Their only drawback is noise during operation. With poor quality care, an unpleasant odor cannot be ruled out.
The fastest option for warming up a room is a fan heater.
Heated floor system
Warm floors are universal heating equipment. For the bathroom, it is better to use autonomous systems that do not depend on the power supply in neighboring rooms. The room must be heated all year round.
Warm floor.
TOP 3 best heaters
Not every household appliance is suitable for use in the bathroom. Equipment must be safe, easy to maintain and functional. Among the popular electric models, we will highlight 3 of the best.
Nobo NFK 4S 07
The power of the convector heater is 750 W, which is enough for a room of 11 square meters. The body of the device is made in an ultra-thin design - 55 mm. When installed on a wall, the device hardly sticks out, therefore saving usable space.
The control of the convector heater is electronic, but without a screen. Mechanical switches (sliders) are located on the rear panel. The equipment operates in 2 modes, there is an auto-shutdown function when overheating, tip-over protection and heat maintenance at sub-zero temperatures. High cost is the only drawback.
Convector model Source expertology.ru
How to choose
To choose a heated towel rail, you need to evaluate a number of its characteristics. It is important to analyze the shape, size and placement of bends, as well as operating parameters.
The optimal pressure in the hot water supply is 0.3-6 atm. The indicator in the centralized heating system reaches 10-12 atm. in multi-storey buildings. The selected device must meet these parameters.
Heaters vary in shape and configuration. The following types are common in everyday life:
- U-shaped. They are distinguished by their simple form and low cost. The negative point is the limited heating area and low power. In addition, you cannot hang many things on such a heater.
- M-shaped. In the usual terminology they are called “coils”. Despite its complex shape, the equipment generates more heat and is inexpensive.
- Ladder. It consists of several crossbars, which are combined with vertical collectors. Such sections can be straight or serpentine. The device has 2 connection methods - bottom and side.
On sale you can find radiators of non-standard and complex shapes. Some models resemble designer interior decoration, rather than a piece of plumbing equipment.
Choosing a dryer based on its shape is not easy. It is important to consider the installation capabilities of the structure of interest, its dimensions and operating conditions.
Bathroom heated towel rails
Modern heated towel rails are suitable for any bathroom design. Liquid and cable modifications are common in everyday life.
Liquid heated towel rails
The classic type of heater consists of a curved pipe that is connected to the hot water supply. The device not only dries towels and damp clothes, but also maintains the optimal temperature in the room.
The heat transfer is not the highest, since the device does not have radiating fins or surfaces that form upward flows.
This heated towel rail is connected to the hot water supply system.
Cable devices
Cable-type devices are similar to equipment in heated floors. However, they consume much less electricity than full-fledged systems. Cable modifications look stylish and do not require additional sealing compared to the previous type.
The equipment can be placed at the workplace without connecting the heating elements installed in the lower part of the housing.
Electric heated towel rail.
Checking water drying fault
Clogging of pipes in the coil with rust and plaque
To determine why the heated towel rail in the bathroom is cold, you need to know the principle of operation of the radiator. There are two types of structure supply: dead-end and looped.
- The dead-end is built on a single-pipe system: water flows directly and if the tap is turned off for a long time, the water will cool down. Then the temperature of the heated towel rail in the bathroom drops and to increase the heat, you just need to flush the water.
- The ring method (loop) is used almost everywhere and is a system for supplying and draining water into pipes. The temperature is approximately 50-60C at the inlet and slightly lower at the return.
The main reasons for the low heat transfer of the coil in the ring method of operation are: clogged pipes, incorrect connection or no hot water in the system.
So, the heated towel rail in the bathroom does not work, you need to fix the problem. What you will need: an adjustable wrench, a winder, hoses for cleaning pipes. Also, if necessary, you may need installation tools and installation wires (if you have to connect a pressure pump).
Troubleshooting will require the following steps:
- Blockages in pipes can be cleared by flushing. If you don’t know how to turn off the coil in the bathroom, look at the sidebar: in the hot water riser, turn off the valve; if the installation is through a heating pipe, you will have to call the housing office foreman and turn off the heating. If the connection is made using a bypass, then you can turn off only the coil in the bathroom, leaving the water and heat supply as is. The pipe was removed, washed and put back! If the coil is welded, you will have to cut off the pipe and weld it again, or you will need to replace the coil in the bathroom.
- An incorrect connection diagram can mean many things: the radiator is located far from the riser and water does not flow due to high resistance. You need to move the coil in the bathroom or install it in the pressure pump system.
- The lack of hot water in the system may be due to a water supply shutdown or due to improper operation of the entire structure. In this case, the cause cannot be eliminated, since the entire water supply system will have to be redone.
