Heating a Chilly Bathroom

Even in a centrally heated home, getting the temperature in the bathroom correct can be tricky. The window often needs to be left open for ventilation, and because of the restrictions on using electricity in bathrooms you can’t just plug in an electric heater as you would elsewhere in the house. If you’re feeling the chill in your bathroom this winter don’t despair; there are a few options which will help you make everything a bit warmer.

Underfloor Heating

Credit: H. Raab

It’s not really practical to consider installing underfloor heating in your bathroom unless you are having other major work done at the same time. Electric underfloor heating mats may not be expensive to install, but once you have factored in the costs of ripping up the floor, having the work signed off by an electrician, re-plastering where required and replacing the flooring, the costs can escalate considerably. If you’re building a new bathroom as part of a loft extension or completely gutting your house to start again, it’s a practical way of heating your bathroom. For most bathrooms though, underfloor heating isn’t really an option.

Additional Radiator

If you already have a radiator in the bathroom, it's worth making sure that it is working properly before you go to the expense of replacing it with a bigger one. Bleeding a radiator to let air out is a simple job and all you'll need is a radiator key to open the valve and a towel to catch any drips. If this doesn't do the trick, then get a plumber in to replace it. Modern radiators aren't all square and white, and not all need to be at floor level. Look around on websites and in the pages of the glossy interior design magazines for inspiration.

Remember though that if you are moving the location of the radiator this will cost more than simply replacing an old radiator with a new, bigger one as it will involve more plumbing work. Always get a quote from your plumber before they start work.

Heated Towel Rail

An example of a electric heated towel rail

A heated towel rail will not only keep your bathroom lovely and warm; it will help to dry off towels after your shower too. A towel rail can either be plumbed into the central heating system or electric, and if you are retro-fitting one to an existing bathroom, an electric heated towel rail is probably the best option. These are cheap to buy, with many coming in at less than £100, and won’t take an electrician long to fit either.

Take advice from the retailers and your electrician about which size of heated towel rail is most appropriate for your room, and remember to get one fitted with a timer so that you can time it to switch on and off with the rest of the heating in the house.

Fan Heaters and Infrared Heaters

One of the most economical bathroom heaters to buy and install – if not to run – is the basic fan heater which can be mounted on the wall. A simple pull cord is used to turn the heater on when needed, and off again when you leave the room. The problem is that electric fan heating in general, is inefficient and will cost more to run than other types of heating, and it won’t solve the problem of you having to step into a chilly bathroom first thing in the morning as it will take a few minutes to take the chill off the room after you pull the cord. Infrared heaters are also powered by electricity and work by heating up bars which glow. These sorts of heaters are similarly inefficient and have a very old-fashioned feel to them.

Increase the Insulation

In older houses, it’s common to find no insulation at all in the bathroom, which means that however good your heating is inside, much of the heat will be lost straight through the walls. Investigate whether your home would be suitable for cavity wall insulation, think about replacing single glazed windows with double glazed units or add insulation on the inside of the walls when you are replacing tiles or decorating. Taking steps to improve your bathroom’s energy efficiency could also save you money in the long term, as you won’t be allowing as much heat to escape.

You should also try these tips on avoiding bathroom condensation.