Heated Rails

A heated rail is the quiet fix for the two things that go wrong in a Perth bathroom over winter: towels that never properly dry, and the damp smell that follows. It runs at low wattage, costs little to leave on, and changes how the room feels. QA Bathroom Warehouse stocks more than 15 heated rails at our Malaga warehouse in Perth.

Hardwired or plug-in
A plug-in rail needs a power point positioned outside the zone around the shower and bath, and is the straightforward retrofit into an existing bathroom. A hardwired rail runs the cable inside the wall for a clean finish with no visible cord, but needs an electrician and is best decided before tiling. Either way the switch position has to comply with the wet-area rules, so confirm it with your electrician rather than assuming.

Sizing it properly
Size the rail to the towels the bathroom actually has to dry, not the ones on display. A single bar or small ladder handles one bath towel; a family bathroom generally needs a wide ladder or two rails. Bars need to be far enough apart that a folded towel is not pressed against the one above it, since towels that touch dry slowly. Leave clearance so the bottom of a hanging towel is clear of the floor and the door swing.

Running cost
Most heated rails draw somewhere between 50 and 150 watts, which is comparable to a couple of light globes. Many people simply leave them on through winter. A timer or a switch tied into the bathroom light is the middle ground if you would rather they were not running all day.

Brands we stock
Radiant and Phoenix make up most of the range, alongside Fienza and Meir.

See the wider towel rails range for non-heated options, or under floor heating if you are warming the whole room.