If you’re remodeling your bathroom or perhaps designing a bathroom for a newly-built home, you probably have a lot of “wants” to incorporate into this new space.
Many homeowners are looking for a deep soaking tub or perhaps the whirlpool kind. For others, the pièce de résistance is a huge walk-in shower with multiple jets that will provide them with an invigorating shower each morning or a relaxing steam shower when it’s time to wind down.
Other homeowners simply want two sinks, so they don’t have to share with their partner/spouse, and others are looking for features such as upgraded tile or countertops for that high-end look.
All of those features are pretty obvious. But what about the little things…like the towel racks? Did you ever consider that you can have more than just a bar hanging on the wall for your towel(s)? Instead of just the ordinary, you can enjoy a heated towel warmer in your bathroom, one that provides you with a toasty, cozy towel each time you depart from the shower or bathtub. Towel warmers also help your towels dry more quickly, especially if you live in a humid environment where drying can take some time.
But how do you choose one and are they easy to install on your own?
Different types of heated towel warmers
There are several different kinds of towel warmers from which you can choose.
The wall-mounted towel warmer is a popular choice, especially if you have a blank wall that offers you plenty of space for such a fixture. As the name infers, it hangs on the wall and usually consists of a number of bars through which you weave the towel so that all of it gets warm, not just one part.
You can also choose a free-standing towel warmer, which can be placed in a convenient spot but does not hang on the wall, or a cabinet-style heated towel warmer. The latter is a cabinet- or pail-shaped box that plugs into the wall into which you place your towels. They work well but take up a lot more space than a wall-mounted warmer.
Plug-in or hard wired?
Some wall-mounted towel warmers simply plug into the wall but they tend to be somewhat unsightly and can mar the look of your upscale bathroom. Instead, many homeowners who opt for a wall-mounted towel warmer choose to have their fixture hard-wired for convenience AND aesthetics.
Another reason to choose a hard-wired towel warmer is that today’s models are designed to run all day with little impact on your electric bill. Furthermore, if you’re clever in the placement of the rack, you can use it as an additional heat source in your bathroom, keeping it especially toasty when needed. These racks are generally made of stainless steel as well, so rusting isn’t an issue.
Disadvantages include the fact that, once installed, it’ll be a chore to have it moved to another wall. Some homeowners also worry about little ones getting burnt if they have access to the towel warmer, so those with small children in the house either choose not to install one or choose the kind that can be plugged in when needed.
Installing your heated towel warmer
If you’ve opted for the hard-wired type of warmer, it’s best to hire a certified electrician to do the installation. He or she can help you determine placement, since you’ll need to be sure that there is a wall junction box close to where you’re going to place it. That’s because the towel warmer’s electrical outlet will directly connect to the junction box cover. As such, this will determine the location of the warmer’s anchor supports. The towel warmer should also have its own dedicated circuit since it will be on all the time.
If you have further questions about installing a hard-wired heated towel warmer in your bathroom, which can add a beautiful element of design to your room, call the professionals at Stapleton Electric or contact us. They can help you determine the correct placement and install the rack in just a few short hours or less, eliminating the dangers of DIY installation for those unfamiliar with electrical systems. Just call 778-985-9395 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
