When refreshing your bathroom with a new coat of paint or stylish tiles, leaving the heated towel rail on the wall can lead to an untidy finish and missed spots. Removing the appliance entirely is the only way to achieve a truly professional result. While the prospect of disconnecting plumbing may seem daunting, the process is straightforward if you follow the correct sequence of isolating, draining, and unmounting. This guide provides a clear walkthrough on how to remove your heated towel rail, protect your flooring from system water, and successfully refit the unit once your decorating is complete.
Why should you remove a towel rail before decorating?
Taking the time to remove the unit offers several advantages beyond just a better paint job.
Achieving a professional finish
Painting or tiling behind the horizontal bars of a towel rail is notoriously difficult. By removing the unit, you can ensure complete coverage across the entire wall surface, eliminating tide marks and visible unpainted patches. This is also the perfect time to install radiator insulation foil, which can reflect up to 30% of the heat back into the room rather than letting it escape through the wall.
Deep cleaning opportunity
Heated towel rails often accumulate dust and lint in hard-to-reach areas. With the unit off the wall, you can give it a thorough deep clean and inspect the brackets and valves for any signs of early corrosion or wear before refitting.
What tools and preparation do you need?
Before you begin, gather the necessary tools and ensure you have a second person to help support the weight of the rail.
Required toolkit
- Screwdrivers: Large and small Phillips heads.
- Adjustable Spanner: For loosening valve nuts.
- Radiator Key: To open the bleed valve.
- Containment: A washing-up bowl and at least two old towels to catch system water.
Step-by-Step Removal Process
- Isolate the Valves: Turn both the flow and return valves clockwise until they are fully closed.
- Drain the Unit: Place your bowl under one valve. Use the spanner to loosen the nut connecting the valve to the rail. Once the flow stops, open the bleed valve with your key to release the vacuum and drain the remaining water.
- Unmount: Undo the second valve nut. Carefully lift the rail from its brackets and tilt it over the bowl to ensure it is completely empty.
- Remove Brackets: Unscrew the wall brackets so you have a completely clear surface for decorating.
How do you refit the towel rail after decorating?
Once your paint or tiles are dry, the refitting process is essentially the removal steps in reverse.
Reconnecting and refilling
Screw the brackets back into their original holes and hang the towel rail. Tighten the valve nuts securely. Open both valves by turning them anti-clockwise to allow water back into the unit.
Bleeding and pressure checks
As the rail fills, air will be trapped at the top. Use your radiator key to open the bleed valve until water starts to spurt out, then close it immediately. If you have a combi boiler, you will likely need to use the filling loop to top the system pressure back up to between 1.0 and 1.5 bar, as removing the rail will have caused the pressure to drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
| Can I replace my radiator with a towel rail? | Yes, but check the BTU output. Towel rails generally produce less heat than standard radiators of the same size. |
| Will a heated towel rail heat my bathroom? | Most will provide adequate heat for a standard bathroom, but larger or poorly insulated rooms may require a high-output designer model from Bathroom Mountain. |
| When should I bleed the towel rail? | Always bleed the rail immediately after refitting and again after the heating has been running for an hour to ensure all air pockets are gone. |
Conclusion
Removing a heated towel rail is an essential step for any bathroom renovation, ensuring your new decor is flawless from top to bottom. By carefully isolating the valves and draining the system water into a bowl, you can perform this task without the need for a professional plumber. Remember to always check your boiler pressure after refitting, as the loss of water during the move will inevitably require a system top-up. With the unit safely back on the wall and properly bled, your Bathroom Mountain towel rail will continue to provide efficient warmth against a perfectly finished backdrop.
