Hello everyone.

I’m considering replacing the radiator in my bathroom and would appreciate some advice from people who have already done this. The current radiator heats the room reasonably well, but it takes quite a while to warm up, especially during colder mornings.

I’m looking at towel radiators, vertical radiators, and possibly a dual-fuel model so it can still provide some heat when the central heating is switched off. Are towel radiators actually effective at heating the whole bathroom, or are they mainly useful for drying towels?

What size and type would you recommend for a typical bathroom, and are there any installation issues I should consider?

If the main priority is heating the bathroom, I’d choose the radiator based on its heat output (BTU/W) rather than appearance. Towel radiators are great for keeping towels warm and dry, but many smaller models don’t produce enough heat to warm the whole room effectively.

A vertical radiator can be a good option where wall space is limited, provided you choose one with sufficient output for the bathroom’s size. If you’re comparing options from Radiators Ireland, I’d still recommend working out the required BTU/W first rather than simply replacing the existing radiator with a similar-sized one.

A dual-fuel towel radiator is useful if you want warm towels outside the heating season. Just remember that the electric element needs to be correctly sized and installed, particularly because it’s in a bathroom. You’ll also need to consider the bathroom’s electrical zones and have the electrical work carried out properly.

For a typical bathroom, I’d generally favour a decent-output heated towel rail if the room is small, or a separate radiator plus towel rail if you have enough wall space.