Bathroom Butler Heated Towel Rails

Bathroom Butler is a South African family business making stainless steel bathroom fittings, and heated towel rails are its best known product. Every rail here is electric rather than plumbed into the hot water circuit, so it runs independently of the geyser. All are grade 304 stainless steel, corrosion resistant, with the control built into the rail rather than a wall plate.

Picking a bar count and a width

Two numbers appear in every title and they mean different things. The millimetre figure is the width: this collection runs 430mm, 500mm, 530mm, 550mm, 650mm, 800mm and 1100mm. The bar count is how many heated bars the rail carries, which sets its height and how much it dries at once, from four up to fifteen.

Measure the clear wall first. A 430mm or 500mm rail suits a narrow gap beside a shower or a cloakroom, where four or five bars is enough. 650mm is the most common width here and covers a family bathroom at six to nine bars. Move up to 800mm or 1100mm where the wall is uninterrupted and you want to hang bath sheets open rather than folded, since a towel overlapping itself dries far more slowly. Where space is tight, a 12 or 15 bar rail on a 500mm width adds height rather than width.

PTSelect switch or TDC timer

Every rail comes with one of two controls. PTSelect stands for Personal Temperature Selection, a manual rotary control in the rail: turn right to switch on and raise the temperature, left to lower it and switch off, adjustable from 40 percent of output up to full. TDC stands for Total Digital Control, a programmable controller with a display offering Auto-Run, Quick-Run, Always-On and Always-Off modes, up to four on and off programmes in 24 hours, and temperature adjustment from 30 percent upward. Pick PTSelect to switch on yourself, TDC to have it run automatically.

Ranges, finishes and installation

Five ranges are stocked: Natural is the largest, then Cubic and Contour, with Loft and Edge in smaller numbers. Finishes are polished stainless steel, matt black and champagne gold. Almost all models are straight, with two curved Natural rails. These are hardwired appliances, so plan a supply point behind the rail at first fix and have an electrician make the connection. See also Bathroom Butler towel rails and the full Bathroom Butler range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between PTSelect and TDC on a Bathroom Butler heated towel rail?

PTSelect is Personal Temperature Selection, a manual rotary switch built into the rail. You turn it right to switch on and raise the temperature, left to lower it and switch off, adjustable from 40 percent of output upward. TDC is Total Digital Control, a programmable timer with a display. It offers Auto-Run, Quick-Run, Always-On and Always-Off modes, up to four on and off programmes in 24 hours, and temperature adjustment from 30 percent upward.

What size heated towel rail do I need?

Measure your clear wall width, then match it. The millimetre figure in the title is the width, not the height. 430mm and 500mm rails suit cloakrooms and narrow gaps beside a shower. 650mm is the workhorse size for a family bathroom. 800mm and 1100mm let you hang bath sheets open instead of folded, which dries them noticeably faster. The bar count then sets the height and the capacity.

Do I need a plumber or an electrician to install one?

An electrician. These are electric heated towel rails, not hydronic rails plumbed into the hot water system, so there is no pipework involved. Each rail is hardwired and the electrical connection must be completed by a qualified electrician. Plan the supply point behind the rail position at first fix, because retrofitting a concealed connection after tiling is far more disruptive than allowing for it early.

Can I leave a heated towel rail on all the time?

You can, and both controls allow it, but most people do not need to. A rail left on continuously draws power around the clock for a few hours of actual use. PTSelect lets you turn the output down and switch off between uses. TDC is the better answer if you want it automatic: set two programmes, one before the morning shower and one for the evening, and the rail handles the rest.

Is a heated towel rail the same as a normal Bathroom Butler towel rail?

No. The rails in this collection are powered appliances that warm and dry towels, sometimes called a heated towel rack, and they need a hardwired electrical connection. A standard Bathroom Butler towel rail is an unheated stainless steel bar that simply holds towels and needs no power or electrician. Plenty of bathrooms use both, a heated rail on the main wall and a plain rail beside the basin for hand towels.