Electric heating to "take the edge off"

[Abi Cott]

This isn't strictly a period question but I'm sure I'll get some sensible suggestions.

I'm in the process of finalising the details of my bathroom refit.

I fancy a source of heating that isn't tied into the central heating system. Something I can set on a timer just to take the edge off when I'm getting ready for work.

Suggestions so far are:

Underfloor heating (My understanding was this needed to be on a while to be effective)

Infrared Mirror (I've found a 300w one that might do. The room is only about 7m3, but I'm unfamiliar with the technology)

 

[MikeG]

What sort of floor do you have? Is this bathroom on the ground or first floor?

The reason I ask is that there are two very different types of underfloor heating. The hot-water type, for centrally-heating a house as an alternative to radiators, is indeed rather slow acting, but is extremely effective (and relatively cheap to run). However, whatever anyone tells you, it really is only properly effective on a solid floor, not a suspended lightweight one, so is typically only suitable for ground floors. The other type of underfloor heating is that sold by tile shops and DIY chains, and it is an electric under-tile mat. This is much more rapid-acting (it only has to warm up the thickness of a tile, not 3 inches of screed), but being electric it is expensive to run. However, if used sparingly to make the cold floor warm for a few minutes a day, it might be worth considering. It is only worth considering if you are planning to install a new tiled floor. It certainly isn't something that could go under a timber floor, and I have no idea of it's compatibility with lino or vinyl-type floors.

Infrared mirror? That sounds like a weapon. Make sure that it can't be hacked by Russians or any of Dr Who's enemies. Seriously, I have no idea what it is, but would say that warming your feet is more important for comfort than warming your face.

 

[Abi Cott]

It's a second floor bathroom. I would definitely be looking at the electric mat option if I went with the underfloor option. I'm looking to supplement the gch rather than replace it.

I'm having the bathroom completely refitted the flooring is going to be ceamic/porcelain.

The infra red mirror is currently winning. It heats solid objects in the room not the air and it's suggested this could help reduce condensation/damp which are definitely two things that concern me.

I'm mainly looking to supplement the gch in the morning when I get up for work so I don't have to heat the whole house for a comfortable bathroom experience.

Here is a link to the mirror I've been looking at to give you an idea on the tech.

https://www.infraredheatersdirect.co.uk/herschel-select-xl-infrared-heating-panel-mirror-350w-660-660mm/

 

[Flyfisher]

We have a downstairs cloakroom/shower room with no heating except for a 250W electric towel rail and find that it nicely 'takes the edge off' after just one hour.

We also have spare bathroom with no heating other than an old wall-mounted fan heater with integral timer. This gets the room quite toasty after only 10-15 minutes or so.

For infrequently and sparingly used rooms I think this sort of electric heating is quite reasonable.

We also have underfloor heating in other parts of the house and while it is wonderful for more than 'taking the edge off', it's really not a responsive form of heating and would, I think, be fairly inefficient as a form of heating for an infrequently used room. Ideal for constantly occupied living spaces though.

 

[88v8]

Easy peasy.

When the heating is being installed, have one radiator, in the bathroom, that's on an open loop so it's always on when the boiler is on.
That way, it heats while the hot water is heating, and/or while the heating is heating.
Make that radiator a Period towel rail.
The hot water will be on in the morning? So the rad will quickly get warm.
Tried and tested for 21 years in our previous house.

I've no idea what an M3 is, unless it's a BMW, but if the rad would be big enough to heat the whole bathroom - our bathroom was 15 x 12' - then control it through a (period) thermostatic rad valve. If the rad would only be a portion of the total heat requirement - we had three rads in that bathroom - don't bother to control it, just turn it off in summer which is what we did.

You could do the same for the kitchen and the downstairs ablutions, if any.

Simple, just a bit of extra 15mm piping for the plumber. Obviously the open loop needs to start and finish at the boiler prior to any other pipe takeoffs or valves. Ensure he/she puts insulation around the pipe loop so heat isn't wasted. Of course all internal heating pipes should be insulated, just saying.

Ivor

 

[fernicarry]

I'm just finishing off our bathroom refurb. Well, finishing is a relative term, I've been at it off and on for over 2 years, but there are 'reasons'...

Chrome towel rails don't really give out huge amounts of heat (shiny things being least efficient at radiating) so I'm doing UFH heating as well. Our CH comes off a thermal store so I'm using the Polypipe Overlay wet system. I've filled all the space between the floor joists below with 80mm thick wood fibre insulation after digging out all the 'deadening'. The same insulation is in the new studwork against the outside wall. Its been a lot of labour but I have high hopes of it being the coziest room in the house!

If you go with UFH of any variety remember to take the build-up height into account. Some of the electric systems still need backer boards to spread the heat so are almost as thick as wet. I replaced the old floor boards with 18mm ply so I will end up pretty much at the same finished floor height as I started at. There should also be less movement in the ply which is beneficial when you come to tile. Our old floor still squeaked under the tiles!

-Alan

 

[Abi Cott]

I'm going to reuse the existing towel rail for the gch. With it being such a small space the output is enough to heat the room to a toasty level. They are very variable though. I sell them as part of my job and the difference in BTU between two seemingly identical rails can be considerable. Also white and grey ones output at least a third more than chrome. However having seen this one in operation I'm confident it can full fill my winter requirements. It's an extra option for a chilly spring morning that I'm looking for.

 

[MatthewC]

I wish these had been around (or made known to me) when I did my bathroom, which is about the same size as yours. I fitted a mirror with electric lights inside, and have to switch it on first or else by the time I shave after a shower it is still covered in condensation. I would have preferred one that actually warms the room as well as the mirror.

I assume that "far infrared" is not what is used by those wall heaters I have seen which actually can burn the top of your head if you are near them for too long? It sounds as though these recent ones are less industrial than those, and possibly operate on a slightly different frequency.

 

[JBean]

We have a little bathroom about the same size as yours and it used to be like a meat locker, even with a radiator.

So we installed a new towel rail / radiator (the pipery is chrome but the radiator bit is white, although I didn't realise the benefits of this at the time) plus electric mat UFH, under ceramic tiles. We have it on a timer so it goes on before we get up, but the warmth seems to remain for a long time after the timer has gone off - even in the middle of the night it never feels chilly underfoot, as the old tiles used to do. We're very happy with it as a solution.

 

[noj]

The mirror looks like a perfect solution in your case, and if your heating needs change at a later date (spending more time at home) the towel rail will take care of things...