Towel Rad on DHW

[Plumbstar Tom]

Hi

Can any one advise how common the above install is?

 

[Puddle]

Not uncommon on larger installations with pumped secondary hot water circuits ,must be made of correct materials of course,copper,brass,see a lot in the old flats in mansion blokes were hot water is communial ,boiler and cylinder in basement and hot water secondary circuit is just gravity,rising through main riser to outlets and towel rails next to riser

 

[WHPES]

Could you install the rad on the primary circuit feeding the cylinder?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Hi all sorted

Was fitted on hot water circuit in a bathroom and was rusting

Found out it was made of steel!!!!

 

[sparky]

How would you know if towel rail was on h/w circuit apart from chasing the pipework.
I suppose if you drained the heating circuit and cracked the towel rail nut and it was still full theres a chance it could be on the h/w circuit.

 

[Robtheplumb]

If you turn the boiler off and the radiators go cold, if the towel rail stays hot then its on the hot water side unless it has the duel fuel element in and that is switched on, if it goes cold as well then its on the primarys

 

[sparky]

I overlooked that one didnt i!!

 

[Puddle]

Actually not that easy,as firstly you may not be looking for it

We are talking about towel rail being on Domestic hot water secondary return system so getting heated with water out of cylinder

So you would have to turn radiators and hot water off,let pipe work cool down and if water in cylinder hot, towel rail will stay hot,but maybe, just as you turn everything off ,timer on DHW pump goes off, as per sods law and were are you

Many have drained a system and not thinking broke the joint on a valve to a towel rail only to find water poor out,causing puddles everywere 🙂 and angry porters chasing after you
If you install one or come across one,always good to put label near boiler or cylinder informing plumbers in future

But basically if you see secondary return from cylinder ,maybe a clue or if in a old portered block,check with porter
Beware of towel rails in the larger properties