How to heat a bathroom

Knowing how to keep a bathroom warm, particularly in the winter has more benefits than you might think. Not only is a warm bathroom more comfortable to use, but it will help to prevent mould and add value to your property.

But what’s the best way to keep a bathroom warm? We take an overview of the most common methods for creating an inviting temperature, helping you to decide on the most suitable option for your home.

How to keep a bathroom warm in winter

Heated towel rails, underfloor heating, and traditional radiators are all popular ways to keep a bathroom warm in winter. But how much do these methods cost to install and run, and are there any other considerations to make when choosing the right option for your home? Let’s take a look.

Heated towel rails

Towel rails are wall mounted and slimmer than traditional radiators, making them a popular choice for smaller bathrooms.

However, they don’t give out as much heat as a radiator, so – on their own – they wouldn’t normally be sufficient to heat a larger bathroom.

How do heated towel rails work?

Standard towel rails are powered by the boiler, which pumps hot water through to heat up the rails, just like the radiators.

Towel rails will turn on and off with your central heating. However, most will have a thermostatic radiator value, which allows you to control the temperature.

How to use a heated towel rail

Using a heated towel rail is simple. Just like a radiator, your towel rail should have a valve so you can adjust the temperature to suit.

Turning the valve down will reduce the temperature; turning the valve up will increase the temperature.

Related content: A towel rail costs in the region of £535. Learn more about the cost of installing a heated towel rail.

Bathroom underfloor heating

Underfloor heating can be installed in most bathrooms, either as a wet or dry system.

Not only is the feeling of a warm floor underfoot highly appealing but heating your bathroom in this way allows you to keep the walls free, offering a more streamlined look.

How do heated floors work?

Wet underfloor heating uses pipes connected to your central heating system. These carry hot water under the floor to heat it up.

Typically, this system is fitted with a mixing valve, which allows you to adjust the temperature separately from your central heating system.

How much does wet underfloor heating cost?

In terms of installation, wet underfloor heating bathrooms cost around £1,200 (10m²). However, it is a more efficient heating system (compared with a radiator, for example) and will reduce the cost of your utility bills in the long-term.

Is bathroom underfloor heating expensive to run?

On average, it costs around £29 per month to run underfloor heating on a 10m² floor area for up to 4 hours per day.

This cost estimation will depend on the size of the bathroom, how well insulated the floor is, how often you have the system running, and your energy provider.

Related content: Learn more about the cost of wet, dry, and infrared underfloor heating in our expert guide.

Traditional radiators

With a bigger output, radiators are a popular solution for warming larger bathrooms.

They come in a wide range of styles, making it easy to find a radiator to match your bathroom design.

If wall space is limited, but your preferred heating option is a radiator, choose a column or vertical variety or a horizontal rad under a window.

Radiators are either plumbed (controlled through your central heating), electric (powered by the mains electricity), or dual fuel (best of both). It’s typical to choose a radiator that matches your current system as it’s easier to install.

How much do radiators cost?

Horizontal radiators tend to be the cheapest style, ranging from between £20 – £120. Whereas a designer vertical rad could set you back up to £1,000.

Related content: Find out more about the various types of radiators, the pros and cons of each, and their cost in our complete guide.

Heating a bathroom electrically

So far, we’ve looked at how to heat a bathroom via the boiler and hot water supply. But there are some options to consider if you want to use electricity only:

• Dry underfloor heating
• Electric towel rail
• Electric radiator
• Panel heater

Of course, there are strict safety rules surrounding the installation of electrical equipment in a bathroom. We always advise contacting a professional tradesperson to install this type of heating.

Other considerations for how to keep a bathroom warm in winter

The size of your bathroom will play a key role in deciding the most suitable type of heating solution for your space.

While traditional radiators take up more valuable wall space in a smaller bathroom, underfloor heating is completely out of the way, offering a sleek solution.

However, if space is an issue and underfloor heating is beyond your budget, a slim-line towel rail (or electric panel heater) would be a good option.

The BTU (British Thermal Units) rating measures the heat output of a radiator or towel rail to ensure an efficient level of heating. The BTU rating you need depends on the size of your bathroom and the number of windows it has. As you might imagine, a larger bathroom will require a higher BTU rating to heat it sufficiently.

Find an experienced plumber near you

Contact a trusted and reliable plumber to transform your chilly bathroom into a cosy and inviting space.

We always recommend getting a selection of quotes before you hire, which is easy to do using our request a quote feature. Simply add a few details to the form and a tradesperson will be in touch with you!

Alternatively, search our leading directory to see the plumbers who come highly rated in your area. Just add your postcode below to get started.