Yes you can. over, the connection of devices to the riser of HTW allows you to organize the smooth operation of the towel dryer during the whole year.
All the disadvantages of the traditional method are eliminated, the bathroom is always warm and dry.
In addition, the way of accounting for utilities changes. if the towel rail is fed from the hot water riser, it is no longer considered a heating device, and the consumed heat energy is accounted for only as the cost of heating water for DHW.
Step by step instructions for the connection of the water towel rail
General recommendations
- All necessary measurements, purchase of spare parts, adapters, couplings and other details should be made strictly before the start of work.
- Connection to the heating system in many cases is not possible without the participation of professionals. The fact that during the installation of a water towel rail (as well as the dismantling of old equipment) is necessary to completely block the supply of hot water in the system, and not always can do it by yourself.
- All threaded connections must be sealed with linen or plumbing thread, and excessive force must not be used when tightening connections.
- Any water circuit (towel racks are no exception) is a risk of leaks. Some insurance companies claim that the amount of property damage from leaks exceeds losses from burglaries. We recommend installing an anti-leakage system it will automatically detect leaks and if necessary shut off the water supply.
- Before beginning work, before tapping into a riser or mains pipe, a “rough-in” installation is advisable to ensure that all parts are compatible with one another. The principle of “measure a hundred times” is fundamental here.
- Before marking the wall and drilling holes for the brackets is also recommended “rough” installation, in order to understand exactly how the towel rail will be located and where exactly you need to drill holes.
Required tools
You will need the following tools for the job (the list is not exhaustive):
- Metal hacksaw
- angle grinder
- Blades
- Impact wrench and adjustable wrench or pliers
- An impact wrench or power drill with concrete and tile drill bits
- Cross-head and slotted screwdriver or screwdrivers
- Scissors for cutting polypropylene pipes
- Soldering iron for polypropylene pipes
- Pliers
- Hammer
- Level
- Tape measure
- A pencil or marker pen
- Gauze, sanitary floss and sanitary paste.
Before you begin installation, make sure you have all the necessary adapters, couplings, elbows, stopcocks, fasteners and other parts.
The choice of connection method
- The towel rail is connected either to the DHW system or to the central heating system, becoming part of it.
- Connecting to the DHW system is easier to do on your own. In this case, the device is connected in series or in parallel, which can ultimately affect the head and temperature of hot water. When connected in series, it will only work when the hot water is consumed.
- Connection to the central heating system. With this type of connection, the new device is usually installed in parallel with the central heating pipe by means of threaded connections and taps, and much less often by welding.
Dismantling of the old equipment
- If the old towel dryer forms with a riser unit, it is cut off with an angle grinder. When cutting, consider that the remaining parts of the pipes must be long enough to allow threading (if you plan to use a threaded connection).
- If the instrument is on a threaded connection, it must be carefully unscrewed. In both the first and second cases, you must first completely shut off the water in the riser pipe (contact the management company for an explanation).
- If there are ball cocks on the inlet and outlet of the towel radiator, you do not need to shut off the water in the riser. shut off the inlet and outlet cocks. Then carefully disconnect the threaded connections or cut off the towel radiator. Remember that if you do not have a bypass installed (a jumper in front of the inlet and outlet spigots of the towel radiator), then by blocking the inlet and outlet cocks, you will actually block the riser. If you are not sure what to do, you should contact the managing company.
- Next, the old device must be removed or cut from the brackets.
Install the new towel radiator on the old seats
- Perform the “rough” mounting of the towel dryer and mark on the wall the brackets for it, paying special attention to the flatness of the device horizontally.
- Remove the towel radiator and drill holes with a torch or drill, insert the dowels in them.
- If the location of the inlet and outlet nozzles of the new towel dryer coincides with their location at the dismantled one, then connect them to the outlets from the riser with the help of threaded connections. We recommend to use namely threaded connections because of their good repairability.
- If the old heated towel rail was welded, and you want to install a new towel rail on a threaded joint, you need to cut the pipe threads on the outlets from the riser.
- When the connection of the spigots of the towel radiator with the outlets from the riser is made, tightly tighten the device to the wall.
New connections, pipe welding and marking for the brackets
- If you perform the installation “from scratch” or the parameters of the new towel dryer are different from the old one, first make a cut of the riser to the required height. The height should be calculated taking into account the length of the sleeves and adapters that will connect the inlet and outlet pipes of the towel dryer with the riser.
- Currently, polypropylene pipes are very common in plumbing, and it is their plumbers recommend using because of their relative ease of installation and reliability. Such pipes are connected to faucets or iron pipes with couplings, and among themselves. straight and angular fittings with a special soldering iron (recommended temperature. 250-280 ° C). Nevertheless, you can use conventional steel pipes.
- When calculating the position of the inlet and outlet pipes, proceed from the fact that they must be flat, without humps and bends (they negatively affect water circulation), and also have a slope of at least 3 mm per meter.
- It is recommended to install the towel radiator as close as possible to the riser or main pipe to minimize heat loss. Installation at a distance of more than two meters is impractical.
- Perform a “rough” installation to understand exactly where to mark the holes for mounting.
- Mark the wall, drill the holes and insert the dowels. Pay special attention to the fact that the device must be placed in a horizontal plane.
Installing the bypass, ball valves and Mevskoi
- Bypass. is a crosspiece before inlet and outlet pipes of a towel dryer. It is placed before the ball valves, which are installed directly on the nozzles of the towel radiator. This solution allows you to shut off the water flow into the towel rail without interfering with the riser. Installation of inlet and outlet cocks without a bypass is not highly recommended, as it can disrupt operation of the heating system.
- Bypass is welded or screwed to the riser or main pipe, for threaded connection are good “tees” with a thread. It is recommended that the diameter of the bypass pipe was smaller than the diameter of the main pipe.
- The diameter of the ball valves on the inlet and outlet should match the diameter of the nozzles of the towel radiator. In addition to the ball valves, screw valves can also be used to regulate the water supply.
- A useful addition to the scheme of the towel radiator is a Maevsky faucet. It is mounted in the upper part of the device (for example, before the upper ball valve) and serves to remove excess air from the system. Airlocks prevent the circulation of water and, consequently, the normal heating of the device.
- When all the connections are made, the towel radiator should be mounted on the wall.
Choosing a connection scheme
The connection scheme plays an important role. There are three basic types of connection: lateral, lower, diagonal. The choice of scheme depends largely on the model of the device, as well as on how the room is originally laid pipes. The fact that too many adapters significantly increases the risk of leaks, and each additional bend worsens water circulation.
The side option. the most common for “snakes”, M-and U-shaped towel dryers, which have a place to connect to the water supply on the side. For “ladders” choose diagonal, side or bottom connection.
How to Install a Towel Bar in Drywall – Strong Towel Rack Installation
Installation in a direct connection
This method is used when there is a strong clogging of the towel dryer pipe and you need to replace a piece of pipe without moving the device to another place. This procedure does not require a large amount of time or special professional skills. Before you start dismantling the old pipe, you need to take care of the disconnection and drainage of hot water from the system. Otherwise there is a high probability of getting burned. After the unnecessary piece is cut off and a new one is fixed in its place. Depending on the conditions, it is either simply welded or fixed with threaded sockets.
If the installation of the device direct connection, it is worth taking into account the 2 main points:
- First, in places of installation of spigots, the diameter should not be less than in the riser. Otherwise the water circulation will be impaired, and because of the increased resistance there may be a threat of rapid wear and tear or burst pipes.
- Secondly, the installation of taps in a direct connection in general is unacceptable, because none of the tenants in the house has the right to shut off the water supply in the riser. But if you need to periodically turn off the device, you can install a bypass for the towel radiator. It is a small section of pipe that is welded to the riser pipe and ensures circulation of water in the main pipe at a time when the access to the device is blocked. It is not permissible to install shut-off mechanisms on the bypass.
In this case, you may install taps that allow you to disconnect the device from the network if it is not needed, or remove it completely. If desired, you can install a thermostatic regulator in the system, which will maintain a certain temperature in the device.
To make the new system looks good in the bathroom interior, you can use a decorative box to hide the riser pipe.
Installation of a combined type towel radiator
Producers have developed a model of universal dryer. It does not operate only during the heating season. That means it is cut into the pipes, both heating and water system, in the pipes with hot water supply. In addition, the combined dryer runs on electricity.
Most often it is a “ladder” model. An electric heater with a thermostat is installed in its lower left-hand side. The dryer itself is installed in the usual way, similar to a water towel dryer. For the combined model, the hot water supply pipes are also connected.
- When the cut-off cocks are closed and the device is filled with water via the upper supply pipe on the left side (from the side of the Mayevsky tap), the dryer can be heated with electricity.
- When the unit is de-energized and the cut-off valves are opened, it is heated by the hot water supply from the central system.
To comply with safety rules, the installation of an electric model is accompanied by the implementation of requirements related to electrical wiring.
As the electric dryer consumes a large amount of electricity, you should install a separate power supply point for it, with a supply cable with a cross section of not less than 2.5 mm. The cable is conducted individually, from the central switchboard, with the protection of a separate circuit breaker.
Grounding is provided, before you install the towel dryer. It is necessary to install an earthed socket and to lay a wire with 3 conductors. Work is done on the “grounding” if there is no grounding in the apartment. To do this, the “ground wire” is intercrossed in the wiring to “zero”. It is recommended to perform such a procedure as close as possible to the switchboard.
Where to install in the bathroom?
To choose the right place for the device, you need to consider the height requirements for installation, which are specified in SNiP. If we measure from floor level, the height should be 120 cm. Measuring the distance to the dryer from the interior or plumbing, you can’t install the device (electric or combined types) closer than 60 cm to them.
If for some reason it is impossible to maintain such recommendations about the height of the installation, the device should be installed at a height of 95 cm or more, but you should not install it at a distance of 170 cm from the floor or more.
Attention! In SNIP there is a prescription that the washing machine should be installed under the towel dryer. If the washing machine has a vertical load, it is worth taking care that the device does not touch the pipes.
Example of how not to install a new water towel rail in place of the old one, because the diameter of the device does not match the diameter of the riser.
Scheme of the parallel connection of the towel dryer and tapping into the hot water system with the recommended distances.
Electrical device connected openly, when the cable is led outside and plugged into the socket.
Placing of connection
Usually the towel radiator is connected to the hot pipe. Less common is to cut into the heating circuit. It is not recommended to do it, after all then the coil will be heated only during the heating period of the year.
When buying the device, be sure to note that the diameter of his socket was the same as the diameter of the underwater pipe.
Otherwise, when installing will have to use adapters, and this. additional joints that increase the likelihood of leaks and less aesthetic appearance.
Installation of structures with bottom connection
Consider how to accurately and quickly how to install a heated towel rail with a concealed connection to the wall already finished with ceramic tiles:
Pull the plugs from the bends with a wrench, remove dirt.
Screw all the connections of the towel dryer, for reliability tighten with a wrench. It is recommended to use paronite gaskets that are not afraid of heating and high pressure, and retain their elastic properties for a long time.
On the outlets install the decorative caps and adapters.
Lay the gaskets in the adapters, attach the towel dryer to the outlets and fasten them with nuts.
At this stage the dryer is fixed on the wall by means of dowels. Since the finish is ready, you need to proceed very carefully. Remove the towel radiator, drill holes, mount the fixtures.
Hang the appliance on the wall again, check its position with the level and, if necessary, adjust vertically and horizontally.
Tighten all the nuts. once and for all. Proceed with the test. If when the coolant passes, the towel dryer warms evenly. the work was carried out correctly. Otherwise it is necessary to try to bleed air with the help of the Mayevsky tap (if any) or slightly unscrewing the nuts in the upper corner.
Towel dryer types
So, all wall heaters for the bathroom are divided into 3 varieties:
- Electric, working from 220 volt. Are available of 2 types. with a heating cable inside or with a liquid heat carrier and a heating element. Both variants are connected in the same way.
- Water towel dryers are connected to the hot water or heating system.
- In combined double-circuit devices, the heat output is organized from 2 sources. electricity and DHW network.
Note. The construction of combined dryers is quite simple. The heater consists of 2 separate circuits. electric and water, which can operate simultaneously or alternately. Accordingly, the price of the universal towel dryers is 1.5-2 times higher.
Variety of linen and towel dryer heaters
The principle of operation of electric devices is the following: TEN or cable is heated to a predetermined temperature, then the thermostat turns the power off. After a cooling of the tubular body by 3-5°C, the heating automatically resumes. In the heating element dryers, filled with antifreeze liquid, the air is vented through the Maevsky tap.
It is easier with water dryers. they are heated to the temperature of the coolant flowing inside. The body is made of stainless steel or black painted steel, less often made of copper. Shape. in the form of a ladder, coil, E-shaped, M-shaped. Since we are purely considering the installation of towel rails, shape and material does not play a big role, it only matters how to connect. at the side or bottom.
Wiring Diagrams
The water towel rail can be connected to the water riser in various ways. In apartments and houses with a big bathroom, it makes sense to install floor models. If the connection can be made from both sides, it is either to the left or the right of the riser. The diagonal method is used for those water supply systems that do not have a strong water head, this method provides good circulation.
When you first install the product you should figure out what heat source to connect the towel dryer. If there is no hot water system in the house, then the question is solved unequivocally. it must be connected to the heating system. This is a widely used variant abroad. But in the periods when the heating is switched off for lack of necessity the dryer will not work either.
When developing a connection diagram on the towel radiators should be provided by the system of water shut-off, t. е. Valves must be installed in the supply and return pipes. The installation of a towel dryer should not be closer than 60 cm to other sanitary appliances. The lower part of the appliance should be at least 90 cm above the floor. Several towel dryers installed at the same time should be placed at least 90 cm apart.
The simplest tapping schemes
When making the connection, you must correctly choose the material of the connecting pipes, their diameter and the geometry of their location.
The experts have also worked out the procedure, because the principle of this device is always the same: in one end of it water is fed from the system, and from the other end it flows out and goes back into the system. When connected to the hot water system or central heating it becomes part of the pipe. Incorrect cutting will cause problems for all the apartments connected to the riser.
First install the bypass, using pipes of the required size and tees. Then the towel radiator itself hangs on the brackets. Connect the device to the system through the cocks. After that carefully inspect the installation and slowly open the taps.
Recommended connection diagrams
We recommend only the workable schemes determined by the design of the product.
Possible forced cut-ins
Incorrectly installed towel dryer can disrupt the operation of the hot water system, because in apartment buildings owners connect towel dryer to the hot water supply pipe. And it becomes part of the system, a loop in the pipeline, so mistakes in its installation will lead to a failure in the plumbing system, not only in the apartment, but in the entrance to the whole house. No forced options are allowed.
