Expansion in towel rail with element

[dan_the_plumber]

Hello all.

ive recently been asked to fit a towel rail with an electric element.

im wondering about the expansion issue.

The he way I see it you can either leave an air gap at top of rad.

or you can leave return valve open so water expands into heating system.

problem I've got with these solutions is that anyone could come along after, bleed the radiator of air, close both valves and now you've got a rad that's being heated with zero provision for expansion.

i just wondered if anyone had any thoughts and/or potential solutions.

Dan 🙂

 

[Chalked]

Lock shield on one side, then will expand into heating. Fill to top.

 

[dan_the_plumber]

Lock shield on one side, then will expand into heating. Fill to top.

Thanks for that.

but what about the other side? No valve at all is the only guaranteed safe way I can see.

otherwise even a lock shield can get closed and potentially boom!

thanks

 

[Sparkgap]

I think you'll find with most towel rails some air will remain even when 'bled' which will take up what little expansion there is. Also with the small amount of water inside and the temperature range from cold to hot I don't think it's likely to blow up.

 

[Chalked]

Small element too. The towel rail will get ris of any heat that is produced

 

[Frelon]

Manufacturers of these elements normally suggest that during the summer (central heating off) you turn off the TRV on the rad to stop the heated water being lost in the system. If there is any expansion of the heated water it will be accommodated in the CH circuit.

 

[oldhand]

When it heats up the metal towel rail expands more than the water inside it.

 

[Stanios]

Unscrew the cap from top of towel rail.
Hang and connect 12l expansion vessel above the towel rail.