Towel rail installation in Exeter
Professional towel rail installation services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£160
Typical Duration
2-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
I'll fit a heated towel rail to your central heating - warm towels every day, extra heat for the bathroom. Properly connected, bled, and tested.
Warm Towels Are One Of Life's Small Luxuries
You step out of the shower into a proper warm towel. Not damp and cold from yesterday - actually warm. It's the bathroom upgrade you didn't know you needed until you've got it.
💡 Pro tip: A heated towel rail also helps dry the bathroom faster (less condensation and mould) and gives you extra background heat in winter without running a separate radiator.
Why Professional Installation Matters
Towel rails look simple but getting them right needs plumbing knowledge:
| ✅ Done Properly | ❌ Bodged In |
|---|---|
| Balanced with rest of heating system | Other radiators go cold |
| Bled properly, heats evenly | Air trapped, cold patches |
| Level fitting, secure brackets | Wonky, pulls away from wall |
| Right size for room | Too small (cold bathroom) or oversized (boiling) |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Plan | Work out best pipe route, check your heating system |
| Prep | Drain down if needed, run new pipe or tee into existing |
| Fit | Mount brackets level, hang rail, connect valves |
| Fill & test | Bleed air out, check for leaks, confirm it heats properly |
📦 You're Left With
- Heated towel rail fitted and working
- Valves for control and future maintenance
- System balanced properly
- No leaks, no mess
Pricing Guide
| Job Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Replace existing rad | 1.5-2 hrs | £110-£135 |
| Add new rail (short pipe run) | 2-2.5 hrs | £135-£160 |
| Add new rail (long pipe run) | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Assumes standard towel rail supplied by you. Extended pipe runs or electric rails may take longer.
Perfect For...
✅ Bathroom upgrade - replace old radiator with towel rail
✅ En-suite - add a heated rail where there wasn't one
✅ Guest bathroom - make it actually usable in winter
✅ Utility room - dry coats and towels
Why Choose Us for Towel rail installation in Exeter?
Warm towels ready when you need them
Extra heating for the bathroom
Connected to your central heating
Level fitting, proper bleeding, tested
What to Expect
Step 1: Check Your System
I'll look at your heating setup - where the nearest pipes are, what size towel rail will work, whether the system can handle another radiator (pressure and boiler output).
Step 2: Fit The Brackets
Mark up level, drill and plug the wall, fit brackets securely. Towel rails are heavy when full of water and even heavier with wet towels on.
Step 3: Connect The Pipes
Either tee into the nearest radiator circuit or connect to existing pipe tails (if you're replacing a radiator). Fit isolating valves so you can work on it later without draining the whole system.
Step 4: Fill, Bleed, Test
Refill the system, bleed air out of the towel rail, check all joints for leaks. Run the heating and make sure it gets hot evenly.
🔧 DIY Tips
This is a bigger job than it looks - definitely not beginner-level DIY:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Spirit level
- Drill, plugs, screws
- Pipe cutter or hacksaw
- Spanners (various sizes)
- PTFE tape
- Radiator bleed key
- Probably a pipe bender if running new pipework
⚠️ Why this is tricky
- You're working with a pressurised heating system
- Needs draining down (or at least isolating)
- Pipe connections must be watertight
- Fitting must be level (wonky towel rail looks awful)
- System needs balancing after to maintain even heating
- If you get it wrong, you flood the house or ruin your heating
💡 If you insist on DIY:
- Turn off heating and let it cool completely
- Drain down the system (or at least isolate the circuit)
- Fit brackets dead level
- Connect pipes with compression fittings (easier than soldering)
- Fit TRV and lockshield valves
- Refill slowly, bleed air out carefully
- Check every joint for leaks
- Balance the system (close lockshield valves on other rads slightly until heat distributes evenly)
Common DIY disasters:
- Brackets not level (towel rail slopes)
- Leaking joints (wet ceiling below)
- Air trapped (cold spots, noisy heating)
- System unbalanced (some radiators go cold)
- Wrong valve types (can't isolate for future work)
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Electric vs plumbed-in? Plumbed-in is usually better if you've got central heating nearby. Electric is simpler if there's no heating pipework close, or for en-suites where you want warmth in summer when heating's off.
Dual-fuel towel rails have both central heating and an electric element. Best of both worlds - heating in winter, electric in summer. Bit more expensive but very flexible.
Size matters - too small and it won't heat the bathroom or dry your towels. Too big and you're wasting money heating a rail you don't need. I can advise on the right BTU output for your space.
Old system with microbore pipes? Thin 8mm or 10mm pipes common in 1980s houses. They can struggle with the flow rates towel rails need. Might be worth upgrading the pipe run at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you connect a towel rail to my existing heating system?
Usually, yes. I'll tee into the nearest radiator circuit - could be the bathroom radiator you're replacing, or the nearest one in another room. Needs decent pipe runs and enough pressure in your system, but most setups can handle an extra towel rail.
Electric or plumbed-in - which is better?
Plumbed-in (connected to central heating) is cheaper to run and heats up when your heating's on. Electric is easier to install if there's no heating pipe nearby, and you can use it in summer when heating's off. Most people go plumbed-in if they can.
Will it replace my bathroom radiator?
Depends on the size. A big towel rail can put out enough heat for a small bathroom. Larger bathrooms might need the towel rail plus another radiator, or you could get a dual-fuel rail (heating plus electric element for summer).
Do I need to buy the towel rail first?
Either way works. If you've already got one, great. If not, I can advise on what size and output you need for your bathroom, and what'll fit your pipe spacing. Measure twice, buy once.
How long does it take?
Usually 2-3 hours for a straightforward replacement (where pipes are already in the right place). Longer if I'm adding a new rail where there wasn't one before, or if pipe runs need extending.
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