How much does an electric heated towel rail consume per month?

An electric heated towel rail is a device used for quick and comfortable drying of towels. In addition, in the bathroom it can also be used as a heating device. Before purchasing such equipment, it is recommended to find out how many watts an electric heated towel rail consumes and which model is best to choose.

Are there GOST standards regulating energy consumption of equipment?

According to GOST R 51617-2000, during the heating season the temperature in the bathroom should be +25°C. If the room is small, then a heated towel rail with an electric water heater can handle its heating. When choosing it, it is necessary to take into account that the power corresponds to the area of ​​the heated room.

In order for this device to heat a room, a minimum of 100 W is needed per 1 m². Taking into account the fact that the equipment should not work to wear out, i.e. at its maximum capabilities, it is recommended to take its power into account with a reserve. 140 W per 1 m² is considered optimal.

In this case, the device will be able to heat the bathroom well, while the electricity consumption will be small.

Why do you need a thermostat?

Manufacturers of heated towel rails today offer several model options: from simple budget ones to those equipped with additional options for more convenient operation and saving energy consumption. The simplest option is when the unit operates at a constant temperature, that is, it heats up stably and operates in the same temperature range.

More structurally complex heated towel rails are equipped with special sensors that, when a certain temperature is reached, switch the devices into an energy-saving mode. Models of this type are quite expensive.

Complete set of electric heated towel rail with thermostat

An alternative option is an electric heated towel rail with a thermostat, which allows the user to independently set the temperature range. If you urgently need to dry your laundry or the room gets cold, you just need to set the device to maximum.

The rest of the time, the equipment will operate at minimum power, thereby significantly saving energy. An electric model with a thermostat will generally cost 5-10% more than a simple standard electric heated towel rail without additional options, but the difference in price will quickly pay for itself in ongoing savings on electricity bills.

Design features of electric dryers

The design of a modern heated towel rail will depend on the type of heating mechanism used in it. Depending on this, such equipment is:

• liquid;
• dry;
• hybrid.

Any electric heated towel rail consists of a body, a heating element and a power cord. In the liquid version, great importance is given to sealing the housing, because There is a coolant inside (oil or antifreeze). If heating occurs due to the cable, then it is placed in a graphite gasket.

The best option is a 2-circuit design. Here, one circuit of the device is powered by electricity, and the second by a hot water supply system. During the heating season, the heated towel rail operates using hot water supply, and in the warm season - from the mains.

Rules for connecting electric heated towel rails

Modern heating elements of heated towel rails are automatic, therefore, in addition to the heating element itself, they are also equipped with a temperature regulator and a fuse.

You do not need to control its operation - just set the desired temperature in the pipes, and the built-in thermostat will monitor this process itself.

The main thing is to connect to the network correctly. The figure below shows a diagram of connecting the Campa electric heated towel rail to the software unit (thermostat).

Heated towel rail connection diagram

If you are connecting a heated towel rail for the first time, it is better to rely on the factory instructions so as not to confuse the phase and neutral. It is best to connect the device to the network directly, without using sockets. After all, the bathroom is a kingdom of steam, with its own army of condensation drops flowing down the walls. Of course, you can install a special waterproof socket or purchase a residual current device, but they will not provide one hundred percent protection, and they are not cheap.

But in the case of combined heated towel rails, you cannot do without such solutions. The fact is that such a “dryer” is mostly used as a water dryer. The transition to mains operation is carried out only in the summer, when the hot water supply system is turned off. Accordingly, when switching to a water heat source, the heating element must be dismantled.

Installation and connection of a combined heated towel rail

As can be seen in the figure, the heating element can be mounted both horizontally and vertically. In both the first and second cases, the heating element should be located at the bottom of the heated towel rail so that the entire tube is immersed in water. If the heating element is located on top, even the slightest decrease in the liquid level in the pipes will lead to its failure. And then you will have to change it, as it is written in the article about the PKA Abat combi oven.

What affects electricity consumption

The energy consumption of a heated towel rail mainly depends on the type of heating element used. In addition, the dimensions of the device are also important; the larger they are, the more powerful the equipment and the more electricity it consumes.

The thermal cord ensures rapid heating of the device and consumes less energy, but after disconnecting from the network, the heated towel rail quickly cools down. The heating element has more power, therefore the energy consumption is higher. The device takes a long time to heat up, but after switching off it retains heat well.

It is also important that the device contains a thermostat, which allows you to set the required heating temperature, as well as a timer, with which you can set the operating mode.

Device with heating element

Depending on the model, the power of the heating element or insulated heating cable ranges from 300 W to 2 kW. Such devices use a coolant liquid:

• distilled water;
• antifreeze;
• mineral oil.

The last option provides maximum heat capacity; such heated towel rails heat up more slowly, but take a long time to cool down. The type and volume of coolant matter. This indicator directly affects the characteristics of the device.

The installation of such a device is carried out so that the heating element is at the bottom. Switching on and off the equipment is controlled by thermal sensors, so the main energy consumption occurs during warm-up. After this, the set temperature is only maintained, so electricity consumption is small.

Heated towel rail with cable

The principle of operation of such equipment is similar to how a “warm floor” works. A heating cable placed in a graphite sheath is installed inside the body of the heated towel rail, and when current passes through it, the device heats up. Thanks to this, almost instantaneous heating of the entire surface of the device occurs, but after the power supply stops, the heated towel rail quickly cools down.

Devices with a cable last longer than liquid models. This is due to the fact that the heating element operates in a dry environment and the thermal cord can heat up to +90°C, and the heating temperature of the heated towel rail is limited to +60°C.

Such devices have a power ranging from 30-165 W. This ensures their higher efficiency, but their heat transfer will be lower. Devices with a heating cord are suitable for drying towels or underwear, but it is irrational to use them to heat a room.

Methodology for calculating the heat transfer of heating devices with convective radiative action

The calculated heat load of a convective-radiative heating device (Kcal/h) is generally determined by the formula: Q = K x F x ∆t, where K is the coefficient. heat transfer of the device Kcal/( M 2. x hour x ° C), F - heating surface area M 2., ∆ t - temperature difference ° C ∆ t = 0.5 x ( t 1 + t 2 ) - t int. , where t 1 is the inlet water temperature, t 2 is the outlet water temperature, t ext is the indoor temperature.

According to the requirements of SNiP-2.04.07-86 *, when theoretically calculating the temperature pressure, the following values ​​are used: t 1 = 80 °C, t 2 = (t 1 -10 °C) = 70 °C, ext = 20 °C, therefore ∆ t = 0.5 x (80 °C +70 °C) -20 °C = 55 °C F = P x d x L; where d is outer. pipe diameter, L - pipe length K-coefficient. heat transfer of convective-radiative heating devices depends on the temperature pressure, pipe material, wall thickness (see table No. 1)

The table shows the values ​​of the heat transfer coefficient for the most common types of heating devices

But the data in line No. 7 of the table for “registers of steel pipes in two or more threads for Dу ≤40 mm” are objective for round steel pipes, Dу≥30mm and wall thickness ∆d≥3.0 mm Taking into account what is required for production Our products use polished stainless steel pipes with a wall thickness ∆d≤1.6 mm and Dу≤30 mm, then for a temperature pressure in the range (70-80) °C the value is K kcal/( M 2 x hour x °C ), can be obtained more objectively from the graph (see Fig. 1)

Rice. 1 Note: the obtained heat transfer value (Q) using this method is measured in Kcal/h; to convert to the SI system (Wh) it is necessary to multiply the obtained result by the conversion factor nper = 1.163

According to the requirements of SNiP 2.04.01.-85 *, the calculated heat transfer of a convective-radiative heating device for bathrooms must be at least 100 W/M 2 or 40 W/M 3

R. S

All calculations were made in accordance with the reference manual Author - M.M. Apartsev: “Adjusting water systems for centralized heating.” Ed. 1983

An example of calculating the heat transfer (Q) of a product: “Bohemia 800 x 500”

1. We form the initial data in accordance with SNiP 2.04.07.-86 * • t 1 - inlet coolant temperature: + 80 °C • t 2 - outlet coolant temperature - t 2 = t 1 -10 °C=70 °C • t in . =20 °C - indoor temperature

Selecting the heat transfer coefficient (K). • For the manufacture of the product, two types of pipes are used (D outer x ∆d), where D outer is the outer diameter of the pipe, ∆d is the wall thickness: a) 32x1.5 - this pipe corresponds to Dу = 29 mm. (see note) b) 18x1.5 - this pipe corresponds to Dу = 15 mm.

Note:

for calculations, we take Dу equal to the internal diameter of the pipe. Using the graph (see Fig. No. 1) we select the value of the heat transfer coefficient (K): a) for a pipe 32x1.5 (Dу =29mm.), K 32 =12.3 b) for a pipe 18x1.5 (Dу =15mm. ), K 18 =15.

Calculation of heating area (F, M 2): 3.1 F 32 = P x d 32 x L 32 = 3.14 x 0.032 m x (2 pcs x 0.8 m) = 0.1608 M 2 F 18 = P x d 18 x L 18 =3.14 x 0.018m x (14 pcs x0.5m) = 0.3956M 2 • Calculation of thermal pressure ∆ t (°C) ∆ t =0.5 x ( t 1 + t 2 ) - t in = 0 .5 x (80+70) - 20 =55 °C • Calculation of the total heat transfer of the product (Q total) Q total = Q 32 + Q 18 = K 32 x F 32 x ∆t + K 18 x F 18 x ∆t = 12.3 x 0.1608 x 55 + 15 x 0.3956 x 55 = 435.2 Kcal/h • To convert Kcal/h to W/h, enter the conversion factor n = 1.163, Q W. = 1.163 x Q Kcal = 506 W/h.

Official energy consumption ratio

Energy consumption coefficient is the ratio of the entire period of operation of the device to the time of its active heating, when maximum energy is consumed. This indicator is close to the concept of efficiency. The better the device retains and longer releases the heat obtained by heating with electricity, the less energy it consumes and the lower the coefficient.

For household heated towel rails, this figure ranges from 0.4 (24 minutes of energy consumption) to 0.16 (10 minutes). It is influenced by the design of the appliance, as well as how much laundry is dried and how wet it is.

If the device is also used to heat the room, then the value also depends on the proportion of the equipment’s power to the air exchange of the ventilation system.

Do-it-yourself installation of the device

Of course, some models have their own installation subtleties, but all types of devices can be installed based on the basic installation principle:

1. In order not to redo all the work again and to simplify the installation process a little, you need to make markings in pencil in advance. During work, from time to time, you need to check the evenness of the product using a level.
2. All joints must be sealed and sealed. As a rule, tow is used for sealing (the joints are wrapped with it), and Teflon gaskets are perfect for sealing.
3. The nuts are tightened smoothly and carefully so as not to strip the threads. Place a piece of cloth under the wrench to avoid damaging or scratching the surface of the device.
4. The heated towel rail is attached to the wall.

As mentioned above, a lot depends on the type of heated towel rail. For example, water models must be connected to a general water supply system. And for the coil you will have to install an additional outlet. But, in general, anyone can handle the installation of this device.

How to calculate monthly consumption rate

To calculate the electricity consumption of a heated towel rail per month, the value of its power and the demand factor are taken from the device’s passport (for such devices it is taken equal to 0.4).

The calculation is performed using the following formula: EE = P * K * T, where:

• EE—electricity costs;
• P—device power;
• T is the time it works during the day.

If a heated towel rail with a power of 500 W is installed and it works for 4 hours per day, then 500x0.4x4 = 800 W, i.e. per month you get 24 kW.

In 2011, a study was conducted in which heated towel rails with a power of 300 and 600 W were tested. Both devices were set to maintain a surface temperature of +45°C for 3 days. The result was:

• A 300-watt device consumed 9.6 kW;
• 600-watt - 6.9 kW.

Such indicators are explained by the fact that less powerful equipment for heating the coolant to a given temperature worked at maximum load, and therefore spent more energy.

A more powerful heating element quickly heated the heated towel rail to the desired temperature, and then only turned on periodically to maintain it within the specified limits.

Calculation of electricity costs

After the buyer has decided on the power of the required device and has purchased a suitable model of electric heated towel rail, it is possible to calculate the future costs of electricity required to operate this device. It is directly dependent not only on the power of the device, but also on the heating time, as well as a special correction factor, usually called the demand factor: W=PxKcxT/1000, kW/h/

• P – rating value of the power of an electric heated towel rail, W
• Kc – demand coefficient, conventionally assumed to be 0.4
• T – operating time of the device for heating to a given temperature, hour

Having received the calculated value of energy consumption, you need to multiply it by the cost of 1 kW of energy in your region.

Some models of heated towel rails are equipped with a thermostat: this reduces energy consumption

The presence of a thermostat and a thermostat in electric heated towel rails allows you to reduce their energy consumption by disconnecting the heating element from the power supply when heating to the required temperature.

Based on the above, it follows that calculations of power and energy consumption are not difficult for the average buyer. Therefore, guided by these recommendations, it is necessary to determine the optimal option for an electric heated towel rail before purchasing it, which will have the highest operating efficiency in certain conditions and be characterized by economical consumption of electrical energy.

What power of heated towel rail should you choose for your needs?

If the device will only be used for drying towels and clothes, then its power of 35 W/m² is sufficient. If it is also used for heating a bathroom, you will need 140 W/m². This will be enough to maintain a room temperature of +25°C during the heating season.

If you install a heated towel rail with a lower power, it will not be able to heat the air to the required temperature and, at the same time, the electricity consumption will be greater. A device that is too powerful should not be installed. Due to the thermostat, electricity consumption will not increase, but turning it on/off frequently will lead to a reduction in service life.

Calculation example

In most multi-storey buildings, the bathroom area is from 3 to 5 m², although in private buildings it can be up to 10 m² or more. When choosing a heated towel rail, the best option is 140 W per m², i.e. for a bathroom with an area of ​​4 m² you will need a 560 W device.

You can always choose a model whose power corresponds to the area of ​​the room. A deviation of the power indicator by 20-30 W is considered insignificant and does not affect the operation of the device.

When choosing a heated towel rail only for drying clothes, the given parameters are not followed. In this case, the main attention is paid to the dimensions of the device so that the towels of all family members fit on it.

Comparison with a water heated towel rail

Water models are connected to a heating or hot water system. Hot water circulates inside them, thereby heating the surface of the device. When choosing such models, pay attention to its dimensions, as well as the pressure for which it is designed, the optimal indicator is 7-10 atm.

The main disadvantage of a water appliance is that it only functions when hot water is supplied. If it is turned off in the summer, then the heated towel rail does not work either. If the temperature of the water model cannot be adjusted, then many electric options have the ability to set its value.

Materials of construction

It is important to consider what the dryers are made of. Strength and resistance to aggressive factors depend on the material

The most common appliances are made of stainless steel. Such a heater can easily withstand high operating pressure with significant differences that sometimes occur in multi-storey buildings with centralized hot water supply. But the stainless steel device weighs quite a lot.

Copper has significant thermal conductivity and resistance to corrosion. Such heated towel rails warm up quickly, weigh little, are quite easy to install, and look beautiful. But the inside of the pipes must be galvanized - this will protect the copper from contact with the coolant liquid.

Brass is an alloy based on copper. Devices made of this metal also conduct heat well and are resistant to corrosion. They are often produced with an internal chrome coating, which helps to increase the service life.

Structures made of “black” steel with pipes without an anti-corrosion coating on the inside are inexpensive, but are quite unstable to the coolant, especially aggressive ones. It is recommended to install them exclusively in an autonomous system that excludes pressure surges.

Tips for reducing energy costs

To reduce energy costs as much as possible, you need to purchase equipment that has energy-saving components.

Installing a thermostat

Many models have a temperature sensor and regulator installed at once. They are installed only on liquid models with heating elements. Cable heated towel rails do not have a thermostat, because... their maximum heating temperature is +60°C.

Using models with a timer

It is convenient when such a device is additionally equipped with a timer. With its help, you set the time to turn on the device, and it will automatically turn on and off. This allows additional energy savings.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other device, an electric heated towel rail has its advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing an electric heated towel rail, you need to decide on its advantages:

• such a device, in addition to drying towels, helps to briefly heat the room, for example, during bathing;
• The thermostat allows you to control the temperature of the pipes;
• helps save space thanks to the rotating mechanism;
• ease of installation, you can install it yourself without any problems;
• some models can turn off automatically thanks to a timer;
• its installation does not require additional permits from utility services;
• does not require any changes to the heating system;
• The inside of the heated towel rail pipes do not rust.

Unfortunately, this product also has disadvantages. First of all, these are energy costs. Depending on the power of the electric heated towel rail, the amount for electricity will vary.

A more serious drawback is possible electric shock. It is necessary to position the device so that it is far enough from water sources so that liquid cannot get on it. Considering that a person is often naked and barefoot in the bathroom, any contact of an electrical appliance with water carries the risk of receiving an electric shock.

Depending on the model of the device, it may be less practical to use. For example, many heating cable models do not have a timer and will run all the time. This implies significant costs in terms of electricity. In addition, a cheap electric heated towel rail does not have enough power to heat a large bathroom, so you will have to use a heater.

Should you use a heated towel rail to heat your bathroom?

A heated towel rail can be the main source of heat in the bathroom of a multi-storey building. Here this room is surrounded on all sides by other warm rooms, so the power of such a device is sufficient for heating. In private homes, the bathroom walls are often external, so heat loss is greater. In such cases, only a heated towel rail for heating may not be enough, then it is used as an additional source of heat.

If this device will be the main source of heat in the bathroom, then its thermal power should be in the range of 100-140 W/m², then it will cope with the task.

Calculation of boiler energy consumption per hour, day and month

The following data will be required for calculations:

• boiler capacity (in liters);
• declared power (you can see it in the data sheet);
• full tank heating time;
• energy consumption of the device (indicated in kilowatts).

• volume of hot water consumed daily;
• amount of electricity for one heating cycle;
• time of use of the boiler (in days).

The formula is used for calculation: T=0.00116*V(T2 –T1)/W

, where: V - tank volume (50, 80 or 100 liters), T2 - maximum heating temperature (60-70 degrees), T1 - temperature of the water entering the boiler (about 15 degrees), W - power.

Low power models

Many manufacturers offer heated towel rails with low energy consumption. This is achieved not due to the low power of the device, but due to the high level of energy saving. A low-power device does not always help save money. Low-power heated towel rails are only suitable for small bathrooms that have basic heating.

To ensure that the equipment does not constantly work at the limit of its capabilities, it must be purchased with a power reserve. Popular manufacturers of heated towel rails with low energy consumption: Sunerzha, Terminus, Arbonia, Devon, etc.

A modern heated towel rail does its job well and looks beautiful, so it fits seamlessly into the design. After installing such a device, you can forget about the dampness and unpleasant smell that often occur in the bathroom.

Primary requirements

The main requirements regarding the electrical power of heated towel rails are:

• The ability to maintain a given level of air temperature in the bathroom. In accordance with the requirements of sanitary standards, the temperature in the bathroom should not be lower than +23 0 C, which ensures the elimination of excess moisture and is perceived comfortably by people.
• Optimal ratio of consumed electrical power to the amount of heat generated. Excessive electricity consumption will affect your electricity bills. For this reason, all options for using less powerful electrical appliances should be considered.
• The ability to connect a heated towel rail to an already installed stationary electrical wiring with a certain level of electrical power. If you connect a powerful heated towel rail to old low-power wiring, a short circuit or overheating may occur, which will cause a fire.

Experts recommend purchasing a heated towel rail at the rate of 150 W of power per square meter of bathroom. This indicator was obtained experimentally, so it may differ slightly for objects with different configurations.

No. 10 – Domoterm M-shaped

Price: 2,700 rubles

A good and inexpensive unit. It wins comparison with other colleagues at a similar cost due to the fact that it has a convenient on/off button, as well as an auto-shut-off function when heating up. Having reached a certain temperature, the device will turn off and will only start to maintain it. This significantly reduces the device's power consumption.

The cheapest device in the rating comes with all the fastenings necessary for installation, so users do not have to make any additional expenses. Considering how much the model costs, it has no significant drawbacks.

Domoterm M-shaped

Dimensions of sauna stoves: metal

All that can be found on the market are metal stoves. They can be steel or cast iron, wood-burning, electric or gas, but they all belong to the class mentioned. So there shouldn’t be any problems with them: the manufacturer will tell you everything himself.

You can find out which models are the best for a Russian bath by studying the information from a separate publication.

Since the stove is built from brick, it cannot ignore its size. Therefore, the first thing you need to remember or rewrite for yourself is the dimensions of a standard red brick (250 mm length, 120 width, 65 height) - stoves are most often made from it (despite the fact that the inner core is usually made of fireclay).

With this data, you can easily calculate the length and width of any sauna stove if you have its order - just look at the very first row, which will show the number of lengths and widths of bricks on each side.

The smaller the sauna, the more important the size of the stove becomes. Low-power heaters are usually very modest in size. An example is the Harvia Compact stove - its width is 24.5-30 cm, depth 22 cm, height 54 cm. It weighs only 9 kg (without stones). Another model from the same company - Vega Compact - weighs even less: 7 kg and has dimensions: 28x29.5x50.5 cm.

IMPORTANT! Information on sizes is essential for selection, therefore it is always indicated in catalogs. Yes, and one more interesting point: ovens of the same size (within the same line) can have different power

This allows the manufacturer to reduce production costs, and the consumer to choose a standard-sized heater for the volume of the steam room

Yes, and one more interesting point: ovens of the same size (within the same line) can have different power. This allows the manufacturer to reduce production costs, and the consumer to choose a standard-sized heater for the volume of the steam room.

Further information will be useful to those who have already purchased a stove and need information on how to properly install and connect it.