If you’re on the hunt for an electric towel rail, you may wonder why the same style and finish comes in four different variations. Well, it’s all to do with the heating element. Not only does it heat your towel rail, but depending on its capabilities, it’ll also give you a variety of options when it comes to controlling your bathroom heater. But what does that mean exactly, and what kind of programming do these different elements allow? This blog has you covered.
What do we mean by heating element?
Quite simply, a heating element is a component that converts electrical energy into heat. When it comes to electric towel rails, the heating element consists of a length of resistive wire contained in a metal rod that is installed inside the unit, with an exterior control dial fitted at its base.
How does it work?
Our towel rails come pre-filled with heat-retentive thermal fluid. With the element fully submerged within the heating medium, it converts electrical energy into heat through the process of resistive heating, which transfers to the surrounding fluid. The oil starts to flow evenly throughout the towel rail, spreading across the surface and emitting heat out into the room, keeping your bathroom warm and towels dry and toasty.
How is it installed?
Fitting a heating element is not DIY friendly but it is a quick and easy job for a qualified electrician. Since it’s so compact, it easily slots into either of the side struts of the towel rail and is then hardwired into a switched fused spur.
Programming your electric towel rail: What are the options?
Our electric towel rails come with four different levels of control, stemming from basic programming to the most advanced smart technology on the market:
Basic control
Simple on/off operation
Thermostatic control
Manual digital programming
Bluetooth control
App control when nearby
WiFi control
App control from anywhere
The rule of thumb when it comes to our heating elements is this: the more sophisticated, the more ways to minimise energy usage and ultimately slim down running costs. However, no matter which element your electric towel rail uses, you’re still getting an inherently more efficient product than a central heating version. This is because 100% of energy taken from the mains is converted into useable heat, and a lack of moving parts means each towel rail acts as its own standalone unit. That way, you can control your bathroom heating on an independent basis rather than having to warm your entire house just to dry your towels. So, now you know the basics, let’s get down to specifics – what levels of programming come with our four heating elements?
If you want to learn more about the different styles on offer, be sure to check out our Electric Towel Rail Buying Guide or watch our video.
Basic control: Ecostrad standard element
Top features
- Effortless manual control
- Single heat level
- Splashproof IP68 rating
- Can be paired with an external controller
This element offers users the most straightforward form of control: simply turn your towel rail on and off like you would a light switch or plug socket. The standard element heats to a constant set level, with an internal temperature of 65°C. If you do want a little more control, an electrician can wire the element into an external controller like the Timeguard WiFi Controlled Fused Spur Time Switch, for a greater range of heat management options.
The standard element is ideal for those looking for total simplicity when it comes to programming. This element best suits those mainly looking to dry their towels on an ad-hoc basis – just turn the element on and off whenever it suits you.
We recommend:
Ecostrad Fina-E
Electric Towel Rail
Ecostrad Cube
Electric Towel Rail
Ecostrad Scala
Electric Towel Rail
Thermostatic control: Ecostrad digital element
Top features
- User-friendly digital control
- Precision digital thermostat
- 0-5 hour timer
- Overheating protection
This element is the perfect waypoint between basic and smart control: fitted with a precision thermostat accurate to 0.5ºC, manually navigate a user-friendly digital interface using the simple 4-button control panel. Use the four unobtrusive pushbuttons to set temperatures up to 35ºC or apply the countdown timer: the control dial comes in a range of colours to match the towel rail and contains a clear LCD display which highlights the current temperature or feature you have enabled.
With the Ecostrad digital element, you’ve got much more variety when it comes to programming your towel rail without your options becoming overwhelming – ideal for those who prefer manual control to using an app.
We recommend:
Ecostrad Fina-E
Thermostatic Electric Towel Rail
Ecostrad Cube
Thermostatic Electric Towel Rail
Ecostrad Scala
Thermostatic Electric Towel Rail
Bluetooth control: Terma MOA Blue element
Top features
- Bluetooth app control
- 0-2 hour timer
- 24/7 programming
- 5 heat levels
[UK ONLY] This element gives users greater control over programming by allowing you to connect to an app on a smart device via Bluetooth. Make changes when nearby the unit, whether that’s setting a bespoke weekly schedule or checking your energy statistics. With the Terma Blueline app, you’re able to sync all of your Bluetooth-compatible heaters for a more advanced approach to heat management. There’s also a handy LED interface that can be used for manual programming via the sleek, 2-button touchscreen display.
The Terma MOA Blue element is ideal if you like the idea of programming your towel rail from an app but don’t feel the need to have remote access.
We recommend:
Ecostrad Fina-E
Bluetooth Electric Towel Rail
Ecostrad Cube
Bluetooth Electric Towel Rail
Ecostrad Scala
Bluetooth Electric Towel Rail
WiFi control: Ecostrad iQ WiFi element
Top features
- WiFi app control
- Open window detection & adaptive start
- 0-8 hour timer
- Comfort, Eco & Frost modes
Our most sophisticated heating element, the Ecostrad iQ WiFi element gives you completely unrestricted access to your towel rail’s programming – simply connect to the Ecostrad Ecosystem or Smart Life app and make remote changes from anywhere in the world. With all the features of the previous elements at your fingertips – including a precision digital thermostat and 24/7 programming – the WiFi element contains a wealth of other features to keep energy usage to a minimum. Coming in tow is open window detection, which automatically switches to a low-energy mode to avoid heat loss from open doors and windows. Adaptive start allows you to pre-heat your towel rail to align temperatures to your schedule exactly.
If you like the idea of being able to program your towel rail as and when, whether that’s at home or on the go, the iQ WiFi element is your best bet. If you have other WiFi-compatible heaters in your home, connecting them all to your heating app equals limitless control from a single point of use. With WiFi control, you have far greater scope when it comes to managing your entire home’s energy usage – simply tap, swipe or drag to make instant changes that reflect your routine to a tee.
We recommend:
Ecostrad Fina-E
iQ WiFi Electric Towel Rail
Ecostrad Cube
iQ WiFi Electric Towel Rail
Ecostrad Scala
iQ WiFi Electric Towel Rail
Which towel rail heating element is right for you?
Whether you prefer simplicity or are looking for something with all the bells and whistles, we have an electric towel rail for you. Browse our full collection or take a closer look at our Ecostrad Fina-E, Cube and Scala ranges today.
Key learnings
- Ecostrad standard element – Basic control allowing for simple on/off operation.
- Ecostrad digital element – Thermostatic control that offers precision heating and a countdown timer.
- Terma MOA Blue element – Program your towel rail when nearby the unit using a Bluetooth app.
- Ecostrad iQ WiFi element – Pair with an app on your smartphone and program your towel rail from anywhere with a WiFi connection.
- The more sophisticated the heating element, the more ways to minimise energy usage and slim down running costs.