FAQ

Yes, we love working with interior designers, architects and general contractors! Please email customerservice@onlytowelwarmers.com and we will get back with you regarding trade discounts.

We can ship certain brands to Canada. Please contact us if there is a particular towel warmer that you would like to order. Another option is to have your order shipped to a US address or to a forwarding company, such as MyUS or Shipito. We do not guarantee their services, so you will want to do your own research.

Towel warmers are absolutely worth getting, as they give you the warm embrace of a heated towel and make a soothing start (or end) of your day. Towel warmers make drying towels very easy, leaving them pleasant and odor-free (which usually stays in damp towels). Moreover, despite their name, you can also use a towel warmer to warm up other items, such as your robe, bath mat, and even throw blankets.

European living spaces and bathrooms are quite small compared to areas of America. Smaller bathrooms don't have excellent ventilation. In this situation, bathrooms and towels are at great risk of remaining damp for a long time, so hygiene is one of the primary reasons that towel warmers are so popular in Europe. Another reason for the abundant use of towel warmers in Europe is their history and cultural affinity for making every process easy.

We at Only Towel Warmers have a great range of brands that we cautiously select considering their specialty in towel warmers, their exceptional reputation, and certification for safety usage. Some of the brands we offer are Amba, Artos, Kontour, MG12, Mr. Steam, Myson, Runtal, Sterlingham, Tuzio, Vogue, and WarmlyYours.

We do not recommend placing wet towels in towel warmers because most towel warmers in the market are designed to handle dry towels. Also, there are some potential hazards associated with placing wet towels in towel warmers, like safety — moisture from the wet towels can cause electrical shorts or damage to the internal components of the towel warmer. Also, placing the wet towels in a closed, warm environment can cause the risk of mold and mildew growth, which can lead to unpleasant odors and even health issues.

Towel warmers are designed to dry and warm towels. You can leave your towels on the warmer for as long as you want. Some clients never turn their towel warmer off. Additionally, most towel warmers have an auto-shut feature to prevent overheating, ensuring the safety of your towels.

The towel warmer collections below can be flipped and the wiring will be on the top left: Amba Radiant, Amba Quadro, Amba Sirio.

The short answer is no. All towel warmers reach the same surface temperature no matter the element size. The element size is based on the size of the unit, and ultimately the amount of liquid needed to heat up. These sizes are also determined by safety certification and cannot exceed a certain external temperature.

The best type of towel is a light, fluffy cotton towel. If a towel isn't absorbing well, it may be made from low-quality fabric. All towel materials should dry when exposed to heat between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius, but lighter and fluffier options tend to dry the fastest.

When towels are placed on the towel warmer, the unit becomes insulated and heats up more to effectively dry the towels. In contrast, when there are no towels, the unit remains at a lower temperature.

In most cases yes, but it depends entirely on the total electrical load of the units and the capacity of the switch and circuit. Always consult a licensed electrician.

Key considerations — wattage and amperage: The main constraint is the total wattage of all the towel warmers combined. You must ensure this total is safely below the maximum capacity of the switch, timer, and circuit breaker. Switches and programmable timers (like the A3400 programmable timer) have a maximum wattage rating (e.g., 1800W). The combined wattage of all connected towel warmers must not exceed this rating.

Because this involves electrical safety and capacity calculations, always consult a licensed electrician. They can calculate the exact load of your specific towel warmer models, verify the capacity of the existing wiring, switch, and circuit breaker, and ensure the installation complies with all local electrical codes for safe and reliable operation.

One of the best collections for certain wet areas is the Amba Jeeves collection, which has a wet-rated kit that you can purchase. Please make sure that it is compliant with local building codes. The Sterlingham towel warmer collection is also 100% waterproof.

Sterlingham towel warmers can also be ordered as a 220v. Several of the Amba collections can be purchased in 220v — lead time will be 14–16 weeks. Several of the Runtal collections can be purchased in 220v. If you see one that you are interested in, we will be happy to provide pricing and lead time. Please email us at customerservice@onlytowelwarmers.com.

They both have pros and cons to them. The liquid filled units with heating elements take longer to heat up, but if the heating element dies after the warranty, they can be easily replaced. The units with wire cables heat up very quickly regardless of the size of the unit (about 15 min), but if something happens and it dies outside of the warranty, these cannot be replaced — you would need to replace the entire towel warmer.

Towel warmers that are liquid filled: Amba Jeeves & Traditional, Artos (except Artos Triondo), Runtal (all models), Myson (all models with the exception of the Gem Collection), Tuzio.

Towel warmers can be installed on almost any type of surface without any issues. The towel warmer is there to dry the towel out, but it will also help dry out the air in the bathroom to help reduce humidity and thus moisture/mold/mildew. More than 50% of towel warmers are installed onto drywall surfaces, as that is the most common wall surface used in the States. It could also be installed onto tile without problems, as well as bead board.

The most efficient way to place a towel over a towel warmer is very simple. Our advice is to fold your towel in half lengthwise, and then fold it in half again. If you are using a larger towel, you might consider repeating this step again. By following this method, you have created at least four layers of towel lying on either side of the heated bar. The more layers there are, the larger number of insulating layers which help the towel absorb and keep the heat in. Also, the more layers, the more weight will be resting on the bars, thus creating more contact surface area. Our suggestion is to have the towel cover at least three to four horizontal bars. You can also fold the towels on its length; place them on the heated towel bar, then cover it with a large, unfolded towel or bathrobe.

Towel warmers/rails can be used in other places other than the bathroom. Some models act as space heaters as well. They are also used in mudrooms, saunas, spas, kitchens, or in any room that may need additional heat.

An electrical towel warmer derives its heat from either being plugged in or hardwired. Electrical towel warmers are much simpler to install than a hydronic towel warmer. The advantage of a hardwired towel warmer is the wires are hidden. Neither do you have to worry about installing near an outlet. An electric towel warmer will utilize about the same amount of energy as one or two lightbulbs, depending on the model. If you purchase a plug-in towel warmer, in a matter of moments you can be enjoying the luxury of a towel warmer.

A hydronic towel warmer uses hot water or steam to heat the towel rails. Hydronic uses the same principles as a radiator. We only carry hardwired or plug-in towel warmers. If you need a hydronic model, please email us at customerservice@onlytowelwarmers.com.

The wiring of the Amba Jeeves collection and Tuzio towel warmers can be converted to the left hand side. Once you place an Amba Jeeves or Tuzio towel warmer in your cart, it will allow you to select left hand wiring.

Our primary focus is electric towel warmers. If you are looking for a hydronic towel warmer, please contact us at customerservice@onlytowelwarmers.com and we will be happy to assist you.

The Sterlingham towel warmer collection can be finished in Gold, Matte Gold and Antique Gold. Please email us (customerservice@onlytowelwarmers.com) with the model that you like and we will provide you with pricing.

There should not be any issue with a towel warmer being controlled by a home automation system. If the towel warmer has an on/off switch, you will need to keep it in the on position. When the home automation system turns it on, it will start heating up.

There are many variables (insulation, does the room have windows, does it have an outside wall) that will determine how effective a towel warmer will be at heating a room. Runtal is known for its ability to help heat a room. Amba also has several models (Quadro, Sirio, Antus, Vega) that can act as a space heater as well. There are many BTU calculators that you can find online that will give you the suggested amount of BTU/Watts required to warm a room, but many of these assume that you are heating the room from 0 degrees. This is 99% of the time not true. Although it may be the main source of heat for the bathroom, it will still get some residual heat from the rest of the house, so you must determine how many degrees you want to heat the room. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

1) Material it is crafted out of: Entry level towel warmers are normally crafted out of 201 stainless steel, whereas more expensive towel warmers will be crafted out of 304 stainless steel. High end towel warmers are crafted out of brass. 2) Where it is made: Entry level towel warmers are normally made in China. More expensive towel warmers are normally crafted in South Africa, UK or Italy (Myson, Amba). 3) MAP pricing: Most brands will not allow a retailer to sell below a certain price, as this helps protect the brand from eroding. 4) Method of crafting: If a towel warmer is custom made, it is being hand made specifically to meet the client's needs. Expensive towel warmers are normally hand crafted and not mass produced.

Yes, we have had clients purchase towel warmers to use them as unheated towel bars.

There is really no exact science to how far a towel warmer should be off the ground. Most of the decision will come down to how convenient is it to get the towels off of it and what is aesthetically pleasing. If it is a smaller towel warmer, some clients will make the on/off switch plate on the towel warmer to be even with the other switch plates in the bathroom. You can also use the same method as if you are hanging a picture, which is around 57" on center.

Most towel warmers are going to be at least 20" wide. If you are looking for a narrow towel warmer, you will have to go with a custom size. Please email us at customerservice@onlytowelwarmers.com and we will be happy to help you.

Not necessarily. When you drape the towel over the bars, the heat is trapped. If given enough time, it will provide you with a warm and toasty towel.

The wiring of a towel warmer is similar to wiring a light fixture.

Yes, a programmable timer will work for several towel warmers.

Runtal towel warmers come with a standard manual controller: off/low/med/high/high for 3 hours. For the high option, you can manually select the position at high for 3 hours. The other option is to install your towel warmer with a programmable timer.

The main difference is appearance. Also, some feel that it is easier to add and remove towels on the curved style towel warmer.

Please email us the model of the towel warmer that you own and we can provide you with pricing. We have had customers that replace the heating element in their towel warmer. We cannot advise you on how complicated it is because each towel warmer is different.

There are so many variables that come into play. First of all, the specific unit that is being used will have a big effect, the material & thickness of the towel has a big effect, the ambient temperature of the room and how wet the towel is. But a broad guess without any specific would be between 30–75 minutes.

Yes, a Polished Steel finish will resemble a Chrome finish.

Yes, please email the serial number or a picture of it. We will let you know if the model is still available: customerservice@onlytowelwarmers.com.

The video below will give you a general idea on how to replace a faulty switch on your towel warmer: Replacing a switch (YouTube).

Yes, every towel warmer comes assembled and ready to install.

The BTUs of a towel warmer work the same way as the BTUs of a radiator or AC/Heat. A towel warmer that emits more BTUs will heat up to a higher temperature than another unit. Also, a towel warmer that emits more BTUs will often have more bars/surface area, allowing it to emit more heat.

You will want a towel warmer that is around 20" x 50". If you are looking for a towel warmer that will hold 3–4 towels, the Amba Jeeves D Straight would be a great choice.

A towel warmer should not cause any type of damage to a vanity (of course it should not be touching). The unit doesn't get hot enough to scorch.

An ideal temperature for a warmed towel is around 110F to 120F. This is slightly warmer than your skin temperature when you emerge from a shower. This ensures a comfortable transition from 100F (the water temperature which your skin equalizes with) to a 70F room whilst you are drying. Please note, by design the towel will not feel hot to the touch (like it would directly from a dryer), especially when you are dressed and dry. The aim is to remain comfortable and relaxed. Whilst a hot towel is pleasant, it increases thermal shock when removed. A warm towel maintains your comfort.

Unfortunately there isn't.

If you google, "What is the best towel warmer," you will find a lot of misinformation written by people who are not familiar with towel warmers. You won't find a list of the top 5 towel warmers on our site. What you will find is that we are familiar with towel warmers and we want to help you choose the best towel warmer for your situation. We feel that it's crucial to purchase a towel warmer that is made by an established brand, that has stood the test of time. There are a lot of towel warmer brands out there. Be aware, not all towel warmer brands are equal. It is easy to create a brand and import towel warmers from overseas from an unknown manufacturer that might not be certified. Because of this, we are cautious of the towel warmer brands that we offer. Each brand that we carry is vetted and has been around for years. Please contact us, and we will be happy to help you determine which towel warmer is perfect for your bathroom.

We only offer the following towel warmer brands (beside each brand is the year founded): Amba – 2004, Artos – 2005, Kontour – 2004, Mr. Steam – 1917, Runtal – 1950s, Sterlingham – 1986, Tuzio – 2004, WarmlyYours.

Most towel warmers will get between 120–170 degrees, which is hot enough to warm a towel but might not feel hot to the touch. One thing to consider is that towel warmers are open-air warmers, which means they have to compete with the ambient air in the room.

The towels will be clean and dry every time, so you don't need to be concerned with putting them in with your laundry as frequently. The two benefits of using a towel warmer that most people don't think of are: it will keep the normally damp towel fresh, but it also removes any mold or mildew from growing on the towels because they stay at optimal warmth levels all day long!

The short answer is use a towel warmer (heated towel rack). The heated towel rack efficiently reduced the growth of bacteria on towels under daily wetting conditions. After seven days, a towel on an unheated rack produced 890 million colony-forming units (CFUs), while a heat-treated one had 520 million — representing 99% less than initially seen. Additionally, the test revealed the towels on a towel warmer maintained a fresh or pleasant odor over seven days. Comparatively, the unheated sample produced a musty smell by day four.

A towel warmer, or as our neighbors across the pond call it, a heated towel rail, drying rail, or heated towel rack, is most often found in a bathroom but can also be used in the mudroom or laundry room. Like a towel rack, it is a place where towels are hung to dry. But the big advantage is a towel warmer uses electricity (electric) or water (hydronic) to warm the towels. What was once considered a luxury only for the wealthy, now can be enjoyed by most. Stepping out of a shower and into a warm towel is considered by most to bring a delightful gratification. A towel warmer can also be used to dry delicates instead of using a dryer, as well as wet shoes by hanging them on a robe hook. They can also help keep bathrooms cozy, dry, mold, mildew and humidity free. It can also be used to dry a used towel, thus reducing laundry load and water consumption. Not only is this a benefit to you but it is also a benefit to our environment.

Freestanding: Towel warmers that are moveable and are not stationed to the wall. Hardwired: Wired directly into your electric. Most mounted towel warmers will either be hydronic or hardwired. Hydronic: Heated by circulating warm water. Mounted: A towel warmer that is permanently mounted to a wall. Plug in: Plugs directly into an outlet. All freestanding towel warmers will be plugged in.

Mild steel has a name in the bathroom market for rusting, but most towel warmer manufacturers do three things: they treat the steel before using it to craft a towel warmer, use high quality plating and powder coating, and use glycol (rust inhibitor) in the liquid within the towel warmer.

There are two ways to turn off a hydronic towel warmer. Typically, the valve set will have a knob for you to turn it off or on, or you can turn it off directly from the boiler.

Whether a bath towel warmer is worth it depends on individual preferences and priorities. Here are some factors to consider:

Luxury and Comfort: Towel warmers can provide a luxurious and comfortable experience, especially during colder months. Wrapping yourself in a warm towel after a shower or bath can be a pleasant sensation.

Energy Consumption: Towel warmers use electricity to generate heat. While they are generally not very energy-intensive, it's essential to consider the ongoing cost of operating the warmer. If energy efficiency is a concern, you may want to explore models with energy-saving features.

Space and Installation: Consider the space available in your bathroom and the installation requirements of the towel warmer. Some models are designed to be wall-mounted, while others are freestanding. Ensure that you have the necessary space and can install the warmer easily.

Usage Frequency: If you frequently use towels and enjoy the comfort of warm towels, a towel warmer may be a worthwhile investment. However, if you rarely use towels or don't find warm towels particularly appealing, the cost and space requirements may outweigh the benefits for you.

Types of Towel Warmers: There are different types of towel warmers, including hydronic (connected to the hot water system), electric (plug-in or hardwired), and freestanding models. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, so choose one that fits your needs and preferences.

Ultimately, whether a towel warmer is worth it depends on your personal preferences, budget, and lifestyle. If the idea of warm towels appeals to you and you're willing to invest in the comfort and luxury they provide, a towel warmer might be a worthwhile addition to your bathroom.

A great option for this type of environment is a Sterlingham towel warmer. It's made out of solid brass tubing. If you go this route I would recommend a PB finish. You won't have to be concerned with the plating coming off.

Yes, please contact us, and we will send you an invoice for the Calmova heating element.

The surface temperature of our towel warmers is regulated between 50 and 60 degrees Celsius. While it will be hot to the touch, it is not hot enough to burn if accidentally touched. If you still have concerns, simply check the surface temperature to ensure it falls within the range above.