Heated Towel Racks FAQ
What
are they made of?
Warmrails
are made of high quality steel or solid brass, depending on model and come in
a number of finishes including chrome, polished brass or satin nickel.
Do
the measurements of the towel racks take into account the mounting brackets?
The measurements
we show are the maximum dimensions, including the wall mounting brackets.
Can
I install Warmrails in a shower enclosure or above a bath?
Warmrails are designed to be splash proof. They are not designed for immersion
in water, being drenched in water or in fact anything more than the occasional
splash. If there is a chance that the Warmrail could encounter more water than
the occasional splash it should not be mounted in that location. A showerhead
in the bath will definitely cause a lot of splashing.
Your Warmrail should be wired into a circuit that is protected
by a GFI (circuit breaker). This is important, however most power sockets in
modern bathrooms should already be GFI protected as a standard. If you are still
unsure you should refer to your local city building code for guidelines.
How
long is the power cord on a Warmrail?
The cord
set on the free standing and soft wired models is 86 inches long (just over
7 feet).
Can
I shorten the power cord?
Yes,
but please have a registered electrician complete this modification. If they
require instructions on how to do this, please have them call us during office
hours on our toll free number 877-927-6724 (Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm PST).
Can
I install my wall mounted Warmrail with the power entry at the top?
Warmrails
have been designed to operate with the power entry at the bottom of the unit.
Some models can be installed or used with the power entry on either the left
or right side, but must not be used "up-side down".
Do
units have thermostats & cut off switches?
Because
of their safe design, Warmrails can operate 24 hours a day at the factory set
temperature, using less electricity than a regular light bulb! You can operate
a Warmrail using a timer if you wish, but most people find the comfort and convenience
of Warmrails so appealing that they run them continually.
We do not
provide temperature controls, since Warmrails are designed to operate to the
optimum performance level. If people turned the temperature down they would
be dissatisfied with the heating and drying properties.
Does
the on/off switch automatically turn the Warmrail on or off?
No -
Since your Warmrail is so safe and energy efficient, we suggest you leave it
running continuously so you always have warm, dry and fresh towels. However,
if you go away or have a Warmrail in a guest bathroom that doesn't get used
regularly you will probably want to turn the Warmrail off - the switch is a
manual one, and you will need to remember to turn your Warmrail on again next
time you want to use it.
How
are Warmrails and other towel warmers heated?
Warmrails
use a new dry element technology called "Filatherm"™, which is similar to the
elements used in radiant under-floor heating, to give years of maintenance free
and energy efficient heat.
Some of our competitors
make hydronic warmers, which are expensive to purchase and require a plumber
to install them and can only be used in conjunction with a central heating system.
Operation is limited to the times that the central heating is running.
Most other models
are electrical, but have oils or liquids. These can leak, especially if not
maintained regularly to ensure the seals do not perish. Again, good quality
oil filled warmers are expensive to purchase, and you should be prepared to
have to wait for up to an hour or more before the warmer reaches operating temperature.
How
long does a towel take to dry?
Like
anything, it will depend on the circumstances; such as how wet is the towel,
where the Warmrail is situated and so on. If you use a bath towel in the evening
it will be dry and warm when you use it in the morning. For fastest drying time,
have less layers of towels so the moisture can pass through quickly. For maximum
warmth, use multiple layers of towels to trap the heat.
How
much does it cost to run a Warmrail?
Just
a few cents a day - amazingly Warmrails use on average less power than a standard
light bulb! Unlike oil-filled heated towel racks, Warmrails use a high efficiency
Filatherm element to heat the bars. As well as reducing the running costs it
also means your Warmrail can never leak when seals get old and perish. (Every
Warmrail draws less than one amp).
Are
Warmrails safe?
These
heated towel racks have been used overseas for twenty years. They are proven
to be very reliable and safe. All Warmrails are UL and CUL listed to ensure
that they meet safety guidelines for temperatures and operation.
Are
Warmrails safe around young children?
When
our products were in the design stage we consulted Underwriters' Laboratories
for guidance on operating temperature. Their suggestion was that we follow their
"4 second test". This means that the Warmrail can be hot to the touch, however
it should not scold or cause permanent damage if it comes into contact with
the skin for up to 4 seconds.
We have designed
Warmrails to operate at the maximum safe temperature, within the "4 second"
guideline so that they give the best possible towel drying and warming performance
without being a potential hazard.
Can
I use my Warmrail outside by the Jacuzzi?
Warmrails
are designed and UL / CUL listed for indoor use, however the free standing models
are portable and could be placed outdoors temporarily providing they are not
exposed to the weather. When using any electrical product outdoors it is important
to use a protected electrical supply and make sure the appliance is operated
safely and responsibly and does not come in contact with water.
Why
would you want to use a towel warmer in summer?
Most
bathrooms are poorly ventilated and even in summer months, many people find
that their towels dry so slowly that they become very unhygienic and smelly.
The traditional solution has been to change towels on a daily basis, creating
unnecessary laundry loads, using additional energy and water and limiting the
life span of towels. However, Warmrails are an energy saving way to keep towels
dry and fresh - reducing the need for constant laundering.
So you live in
Arizona and it's 120 degrees outside - why would you want a warm towel? If it's
that hot outside, chances are you have your air-conditioning running, and it
can be quite chilly when you step out of the shower or bath into the air-conditioned
bathroom. Since Warmrails are not BTU rated, they can be used year round without
adding additional heat to rooms.
Warmrails aren't
just for drying bathroom towels, think about how many additional wash loads
are created by all the towels generated by the swimming pool or Jacuzzi. Most
times these towels really need drying, not re-washing, so just throw the additional
towels on the Warmrail and they're good to go again for next use.
Competitive
products use more power, does this mean Warmrails aren't as warm?
No. If
the product is UL listed then the manufacturer must adhere to the same temperature
requirements for safety as we do. Most other manufacturers use an oil to heat
their products, which means they need a greater power consumption to reach the
same temperature.
notice that the wattage on Warmrails varies; this is because the bigger the
unit, the more power it takes to heat to the same temperature.
Getting
the best from your Warmrail
There
are a few things you need to keep in mind, which will help you get the best
from your Warmrail (or in fact any towel warmer). For maximum warmth remember
layers, layers, layers. Because toweling is made of loose fibers, a single layer
of towel will mean that the heat simply passes through the towel. This is great
when you just want your towels to dry quickly as the heat takes the moisture
with it. But in winter when you want towels the warmest this isn't going to
give you much satisfaction. Try experimenting with how many layers you fold
your towel into. Also remember that the very outer layer of towel may be quite
cold - this is because there's cold air circulating around the bathroom, which
basically takes the heat with it as it moves past your towel. If this is the
case (or you have a particularly drafty or air conditioned bathroom) try placing
an additional towel on top of the towel you want warmest. This will have an
insulating effect and the towel/s beneath will be toasty and warm.
Don't expect to
have warm towels in 10 minutes (only a tumble dryer can do this). If you don't
want to leave your Warmrail running continuously (remember it's safe and energy
efficient so you can), you will need to allow at least 50 minutes for the warmth
to build up in the fibers of the towel.
of towel).
Keep it simple
- there's no need to weave your towels through the bars, in fact this will have
a negative effect. Keeping the rails of your Warmrail insulated by layers is
most effective, so drape the towels over the top rail to hang evenly on either
side - this 'tents' the unit and helps trap the heat. Any part of the towel
hanging below the bottom heated rail will not get the benefit of the heat (since
heat rises). This law of physics is also why your towel will be warmest where
it is in contact with the top rail, especially if you have a good amount of
layers to trap this heat.
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