Stepping out of a hot shower onto cold tiles is one of the less welcome parts of winter. If you’re wondering why your bathroom is so cold, the usual culprits are a towel rail that gives out less heat than the old radiator did, draughts, poor insulation on outside walls and an extractor fan pulling warm air out. Most of these can be fixed, and if you’re planning a new bathroom in Hertfordshire or Essex, that’s the ideal time to get the heating right.
The most common causes
A towel rail that can’t keep up
Swapping a radiator for a chrome towel rail is a popular upgrade, but many towel rails give out noticeably less heat than a panel radiator of a similar size. Chrome finishes tend to emit less heat than white or coloured ones. And once the rail is covered in towels, even less warmth reaches the room.
The heating isn’t on when you need it
Towel rails on the central heating only warm up when the heating runs. If you shower early in the morning before the timer kicks in, or in summer when the heating’s off, the room will be cold.
Draughts and outside walls
Bathrooms often sit on a corner of the house, with one or two outside walls and a window. Old seals, gaps around pipework and poorly fitted boxing can all let cold air in.
The extractor fan
An extractor fan is important for controlling condensation, but one that runs for a long time or doesn’t close properly can pull warm air out of the room.
Cold floors
Tiled floors feel cold underfoot even when the air is reasonably warm, which makes the whole room feel chillier than it is.
Ways to warm up a cold bathroom
- Choose a towel rail with the right heat output. The output should be calculated for the room, not chosen on looks alone.
- Fit a dual fuel towel rail. This works with the central heating in winter and has an electric element for when the heating is off.
- Add a separate radiator if there’s room, and use the towel rail mainly for towels.
- Consider underfloor heating. Electric mats under tiles are common in bathrooms, and wet systems can work in some homes. Warm floors make a big difference to comfort.
- Tackle draughts around windows, doors and pipe gaps.
- Check the extractor fan has a working backdraught shutter and a sensible run-on time.
Planning a new bathroom? Think about heating early
Heating is much easier to sort during a refit, when floors are up and walls are being tiled. It’s worth asking:
- How much heat does this room actually need?
- Will the towel rail on its own provide enough?
- Is there space under the floor for underfloor heating?
- Do I want warmth in summer too, when the boiler isn’t heating?
If you’re heading to our bathroom showroom, bring a rough sketch of the room and note which walls are external, so the team can suggest heating that suits it.
Cold bathrooms in Hertfordshire and Essex homes
Older cottages and period homes around Saffron Walden, Dunmow and Bishop’s Stortford often have solid walls and small bathrooms squeezed into converted spaces, which can make them harder to heat. Newer homes tend to be better insulated, but towel rails are still often sized for looks rather than warmth.
Frequently asked questions
Is a heated towel rail enough to heat a bathroom?
Sometimes, if it’s sized for the room. Many towel rails give out less heat than a radiator of similar size, and towels hanging on them block some of that heat. In larger or colder bathrooms, a separate radiator or underfloor heating alongside the rail usually works better.
What is a dual fuel towel rail?
It’s a towel rail connected to your central heating that also has an electric heating element. In winter it heats with the rest of the system, and in summer or when the heating is off, you can switch on the element to dry towels and take the chill off the room.
Is underfloor heating worth it in a bathroom?
For many people, yes. Warm tiles make a bathroom far more comfortable, and it frees up wall space. Electric underfloor heating is often used in bathrooms because it’s thin and simple to fit under tiles during a refit. Running costs depend on use and your tariff.
Can I just turn the towel rail up?
If it has a thermostatic valve, turning it up fully may help a little. But if the rail simply doesn’t have the heat output the room needs, it will never get the room properly warm. In that case, a different rail or an extra heat source is the answer.
Want a warmer bathroom?
If your bathroom’s always cold, give us a call on 01279 771981 or drop us a message and we’ll talk through the heating options for your room.