Bathroom Heaters

Electric Bathroom Heaters

Bathroom heaters are a great way to ensure your bathroom is at a comfortable temperature all year round and make it a little easier to get out of a hot bath or shower on a cold day. Bathroom heaters, fan heaters, radiators, and heated towel rails all need to be water-resistant enough to cope with being fitted in a bathroom while also being effective at warming up the room to a comfortable level. Thanks to modern heating technology, they’re no longer an expensive luxury and there are quality heating options available for large, small, and mid-sized bathrooms and every budget.

IP Ratings

You probably know that, if you want to use an electric heater in the bathroom, it’ll need to be able to handle a bit of water! However, there are different levels of waterproofing. Some units are only able to resist drips, whereas others are able to handle splashes from any direction. Luckily, there’s an easy way to see how waterproof a heater is; by looking at the IP rating.

IP stands for Ingress Protection. It’s a rating given to electrical appliances that tell you how well-sealed it is against both water and solid objects (such as tools or dust). It’s shown in the form of two numbers, so you might see a heater that’s IP34 rated, for example. The first number indicates the level of protection against solid objects (in this case, the 3). The second (in our example, the 4) indicates how water-resistant the heater is. If either number is replaced by an X, that means it isn’t rated.

You can read our IP rating guide to get some more information, but for the purposes of a bathroom heater, the only number you need to worry about is that second one. You want it to be at least 4. A water resistance rating of 4 means your heater is protected against spray from above and from the side (up to an angle of 60° from vertical).

Wall Mounting Bathroom Heaters

Even if your heater is water resistant, it still needs to be wall-mounted when it’s in your bathroom. Obviously, an electric heater needs to be plugged in somewhere and, as you can’t have exposed plug sockets in the bathroom, wiring it up is your only option. This means you’ll need to have your heater installed by a qualified electrician. Remember this when you’re browsing for a bathroom heater! Make sure to look out for heaters with a wall-mounting bracket – an IPX4 rating alone isn’t enough to make it suitable!

Heated Towel Rails

A heated towel rail might sound like a luxury, but once you have one, you’ll wonder what you ever did without it! They keep your towels warm to give you a cosy treat when you step out of the shower, but they have a more practical benefit, too.

You probably know how important it is to dry damp towels properly. If they dry too slowly, the moisture that’s in the towel breeds bacteria. This is what causes that stale, musty smell in wet towels! You can leave damp towels on a heated rail to dry them quicker, preventing them from getting smelly and keeping them cleaner for longer.

Heated towel rails come in two varieties: electric and wet system. Electric towel rails are simple; they use an electric heating element to keep cosy. Wet system towel rails need to be connected up to your wet or dual fuel central heating system by a professional. Obviously, if your central heating doesn’t work this way, you’ll want an electric towel rail!

What to Look for in a Bathroom Heater

The only essential points for an electric bathroom heater are that it’s wall-mountable and splashproof. The rest all depends on you! Consider what your requirements are while you’re looking – we’ll help you make the right choice.

Size

The last thing you want after a relaxing bath is to catch yourself on the corner of a heater that’s jutting out of the wall! If your bathroom is a bit on the small side, you’ll want a smaller heater to fit in it. As larger heaters are usually (but not always) more powerful, if you have a larger bathroom, you’ll want a larger heater so you can feel the benefit.

Power

The power of your bathroom heater is important. As we mentioned above, you’ll need to find a balance between size and power. A general rule of thumb is that you’ll need 100W of power to warm every square metre of your room (so if your bathroom is 10m², you’ll need a 1000W heater).

Radiators or Electric Panel Heaters

Do you plan on drying wet towels on your heater? You’ll want a radiator if so. If you won’t be draping anything over the heater, you might be better off with an electric panel heater as they tend to heat up slightly quicker.

Design

For many of us, the bathroom is a quiet space to relax and unwind in. That means it’s nice to make sure it all looks good! Our range of heaters includes something for every bathroom, so you’re sure to find something you like by clicking above.

Energy Efficiency

As all bathroom heaters must be wall-mounted, that means all new models must comply with ERP Lot 20, the new energy-efficiency regulations. This is a good thing – it means you’re guaranteed an eco-friendly heater that’ll reduce your heating bills! However, some are still more efficient than others, so make sure you check out what energy-saving features your heater has before you buy.

Price

Heaters with lots of energy-saving features cost less to run, but they tend to cost more to buy. It’s a balancing act between short-term and long-term savings. We’re always happy to help you get more for your money, so if you have any questions about which heater is the best value for you, just get in touch! You can call 0800 091 3171 or use the live chat function at the bottom of your screen.