Most towel warmers are racks of heated bars that are either wall mounted or free standing. They can be hydronic (water based) or electric. Electric models are either "wet," meaning they use an electrical element to heat a liquid solution (like mineral oil) inside a closed-loop system, or "dry," with heat provided only by electrical elements. For situations requiring multiple warm towels, like a spa or massage room, there are also towel warming cabinets. Towel warmer racks typically dry towels overnight and may warm them slightly, but most are not designed to instantly produce hot towels.
Typical costs:
Low-end towel warmers cost $60-$300 for stand-alone or wall-mount models with light chroming or inexpensive materials, and a simple on-off switch with no temperature adjustments. For example, the 24"x37.75"x10.5" WarmRails Heatra Classic[1] costs $70 -$130; it can be either wall-mount or free-standing, and has a 7' cord that plugs into a standard electrical outlet. The stainless steel Pearl-Myson Electric Towel Warmers, which are mass-produced on an assembly line in a limited selection of sizes, styles and finishes, cost $199-$237. They are wall-mounted but plug into a standard outlet (no wiring required).
More durable and more decorative towel warmers with a timer or a thermostat to adjust the temperature can cost $500-$2,000. These typically are made from more durable materials and have a higher grade of chroming. For example, the 24"x32"x9" Warmly Yours Portofino Towel Warmer[2] with a timer control costs $800, and includes a 9" top shelf for additional warming space.
Luxury towel warmers can cost $2,500-$7,000 or more; they come in a variety of elegant designs, are made to order using premium materials like solid brass, include features like a remote control or higher heat output. The hydronic 73.5"x27.25"x5.5" Myson Windemere B49 with 1.25" diameter brass tubing and 1/4" copper brass costs $3,000-$6,800 depending on finish and can be used with central heating or hot water circulating systems.
Do-it-yourself installation can be fairly straightforward for most wall-mounted electric towel warmers, and more challenging for hydronic models. Expect to pay an additional $100-$250 to have an electrician install a hard-wired (no plug) electric towel warmer, and $150-$300 to have a plumber or contractor install a hydronic model.
Towel warmer cabinets can cost $80-$250, depending on capacity, style and materials. Towels are stacked inside the unit to keep them warm and moist. Many less expensive models are typically the size and shape of a large microwave or similar appliance, and larger units resemble two microwaves stacked vertically. The 18"x11"x14" One Touch Massage 23 Liter Single Door Towel Warmer[3] with a hypoallergenic UV sterilizer removable towel tray costs $95-$120; it holds approximately 70-80 small hand or face towels.
The towel warmer should include all required installation hardware. Stand-alone models plug into a standard outlet, but installation of wall-mounted towel warmers varies significantly. Hydronic models require plumbing hook-ups and are typically professionally installed, while electric wall-mount models may require some electrical work, which often is done by an electrician but could be a do-it-yourself project. ThisOldHouse.com posts a video[4] demonstrating how to install a hydronic towel warmer, estimating that it will take 4-6 hours and require advanced plumbing skills. DIYNetwork.com provides DIY instructions[5] for installing a wall-mount electric towel warmer, rating it an easy to moderate project taking about two hours.
Most towel warmers come with instructions for how to use them for maximum benefit, and are designed to stay on 24 hours daily, without heavy energy usage.
Discounts:
DoItYourself.com provides instructions for a homemade towel warmer[6] using a heater vent or a portable electric heater.
Manufacturer Myson offers discounts on its overstock towel warmers.
Shopping for a towel warmer:
Think about how the towel warmer will be used and how it will fit in the available space. For inspiration, ThisOldHouse.com provides a photo gallery of various styles of towel warmers[7] .
At ABathroomGuide.com, radiant floor heat manufacturer Warmly Yours lists tips for selecting a towel warmer[8] .
Manufacturers include Amba[9] , Mr. Steam, Myson[10] , Runtal[11] and Warmly Yours[12] .
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