Townie Posted July 5, 2021 Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 Chaps Towel rail in the bathroom heated by the central heating system that we’re thinking about having replaced by an electric one with a timer. Is this a job for a spark because it involves (presumably) running a spur from a nearby plug (other side of a stud wall) or for a plumber because the water supply for the existing rail will need capping off? Or for a plumber who specialises in bathrooms? Any guidance welcome, although correct answers do not include ‘do it yourself’. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spurs 14 Posted July 5, 2021 Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 Most firms these days would say you need both . Plumber to fit it sparky to wire it up , days of a general builder who would do everything been knocked back by health and safety and general lack of common sense ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted July 5, 2021 Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 A half tidy kitchen/bathroom fitter should have the skills to complete the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted July 5, 2021 Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 1 minute ago, Konnie said: A half tidy kitchen/bathroom fitter should have the skills to complete the job. But you will still need a sparkie to 'test and terminate' to remain completely legal! Do you want the job doing, or do you want the paperwork that the job was done correctly? Frankly I've seen the poor excuses for both plumbing and electrics that 'kitchen/bathroom fitters' do and I'd trust neither as far as I could fling them. The correct answer is 'do it yourself', but have a spark-farmer make the electrical connections and test. If capping off a rad pipe or 2 is beyond your skillset, then yes, you will need a plumber/handyman/'bathroom fitter' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonm Posted July 5, 2021 Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 Probably need a spark as the electrical work probably comes under part p regs. Or you’ll at least need a spark to sign it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Townie Posted July 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 Thank you all. Never simple is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted July 5, 2021 Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 part p as it is a total new connection - in a bathroom or get it checked by the local council. Safer with sparky and part p as you will more than likely need to run in a new spare and fused switch. You council's website should have a list of companies that they approve to self certify Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted July 5, 2021 Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Townie said: Towel rail in the bathroom heated by the central heating system that we’re thinking about having replaced by an electric one with a timer. Just a thought; I have 4 towel rails in the 2 bathrooms heated by the central heating - but each also has an electric heater element fitted (simple addition of a T piece to the plumbing in many cases) which is controlled by a timer. In winter - central heating works (it which is cheaper to run) and in summer, the electric element heats it at just a short programmed time. Works very well both ways and a warm towel is a luxury no civilised person should be without! Edited July 5, 2021 by JohnfromUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Townie Posted July 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 1 hour ago, JohnfromUK said: Just a thought; I have 4 towel rails in the 2 bathrooms heated by the central heating - but each also has an electric heater element fitted (simple addition of a T piece to the plumbing in many cases) which is controlled by a timer. In winter - central heating works (it which is cheaper to run) and in summer, the electric element heats it at just a short programmed time. Works very well both ways and a warm towel is a luxury no civilised person should be without! Brilliant idea. Thank you John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilts#Dave Posted July 5, 2021 Report Share Posted July 5, 2021 4 hours ago, JohnfromUK said: Just a thought; I have 4 towel rails in the 2 bathrooms heated by the central heating - but each also has an electric heater element fitted (simple addition of a T piece to the plumbing in many cases) which is controlled by a timer. In winter - central heating works (it which is cheaper to run) and in summer, the electric element heats it at just a short programmed time. Works very well both ways and a warm towel is a luxury no civilised person should be without! Standard fitment on all the higher end builds I work on, and as you say gives the best of both worlds! 100% do this, you’ll need an electrician for the element connection/supply if you want to comply as bathrooms are ‘special locations’ and the work is notifiable. Unless the spark is prepared to do the plumbing side of things you could get a plumber to refit the towel rail with the element in then get the sparks in 👍🏼 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Townie Posted July 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2021 That's very helpful, thank you Dave. Our house certainly isn't a higher end build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted July 8, 2021 Report Share Posted July 8, 2021 It's a lot of work and expense for warm towels in summer. Best one I done was run the hot water feed to bath and shower through a pipe made rail. As you shower or run the bath the hot water pipe warms your towels. Simple with some copper pipe and fittings.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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