Heated towel rad, valves or not?

Don't know whether you have to or not but I've got a very similar rad and used valves.

Though I have to admit that the thought of installing a rad without valves had never crossed my mind tbh..
 
We just have on/off valves on our, no heat control - guess there's no reason you 'have' to have heat control, just that generally you'd want it so you don't overheat the room / towels. Having said that we've not had any problem without.
 
If you don't use valves you'll have to drain the whole system down when/if you want to replace it or remove it.
 
http://www.screwfix.com/p/verona-straight-radiator-valves-15mm-pair/84816#

We have some valves similar to these on our towel radiator, we have a slightly bigger kudox one to the one your posted the link to. Depending on where your pipes come from you can get them in straight and right angled versions. For the sake of a few quid I would fit some kind of non thermostatic valve as if you ever need to shut them off or change the radiator you will be able to without having to drain the system.

Dave
 
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You should definitely put valves on them, if the radiator ever leaks you could have big problems because you'll have to drain whole system to firstly stop it leaking and then to change the radiator. If it is about money just stick some cheap ones on there.
 
Participant said:
Your kids have got their own bathroom?! I got to get me some more bathrooms!
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We have the en sweet and they have the main bathroom which has just been tiled and shower to be fitted. Mean i will have shower gel and shaving foam from now on.

Nightglow said:
You can fit a TRV to a towel rail, but I prefer to just use a pair of straight or angled valves like these.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/verona-straight-radiator-valves-15mm-pair/84816
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Perfect, thank you

Now to find the chrome pipework to run up the floor as mounting this up along the wall
 
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No thermostatic valve on ours but we do have a pair of standard on/off valves so it can be isolated for repairs etc
 
Lisapete said:
We have the en sweet and they have the main bathroom which has just been tiled and shower to be fitted. Mean i will have shower gel and shaving foam from now on.

Perfect, thank you

Now to find the chrome pipework to run up the floor as mounting this up along the wall
Click to expand...

Not cheap, can be a bugger to work with, will mark easily so be careful

http://www.diy.com/search/15mm copp...lated-Copper-Tube-X015L-2CP-15mm-x-2m-9264629

Black Label is among the best copper pipe, but to bend it, I do prefer a pipe bender, you can use a spring, but I can't good results with one, & you also need to remove the chrome plating if your soldering joints, otherwise it doesn't join properly.

There is a good guide about bending copper here under literature,downloads.

http://www.ukcopperboard.co.uk/
 
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Have you plumbed it in with the central heating or on it's own circuit?
I didn't want our towel radiators to come on with the central heating as it doesn't get used during summer so plumbed them in on their own circuit with a programmer and a pipe thermostat for control.
 
Plumbed in with the central heating, not the ideal solution, but trv's are usually turned off on the radiators, but it doesn't get cold enough in summer for them to come on, if left on.
 
As mentioned above, DO use valves. Not just for draining, but so you can balance the flow through the rail without it affecting the other radiators.

Chrome pipe is nice and pretty but can be a pain to use (again as mentioned above). And dont even think about using plastic fittings on chrome pipe without first taking the finish off the pipe! Chrome plated pipe is so 'slippy' you can pull a speedfit fitting off very easily as the grab ring cannot hold it tight enough. If its out of sight then use compression fittings unless you are burying the pipework, then use soldered.

Mick
 
Personally, I'd use isolation valves and TRV's. You can just use isolation valves if you desire, as isolation valves will be able to restrict the flow, but it's easier to use TRVs aswell.
 
The problem with iso valves, is that they can be noisy when used to throttle, and have a habit of leaking, as they are not designed to cope with the crap that rattles around a heating system, and the internal diameter through the valve is quite small, so not great if you need a good flow through.

Mick
 
FlyingFish said:
The problem with iso valves, is that they can be noisy when used to throttle, and have a habit of leaking, as they are not designed to cope with the crap that rattles around a heating system, and the internal diameter through the valve is quite small, so not great if you need a good flow through.

Mick
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Yep. And TRV's are so much easier to use. Heck OP could then let his kids control the temp.
 
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