FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

INSTALLATION / PRODUCT RELATED QUESTIONS

What are they made of?

Warmrails are made of high quality steel or solid brass, depending on model and come in a number of finishes including chrome, polished brass or satin nickel.

Do the measurements of the towel racks take into account the mounting brackets?

The measurements we show are the maximum dimensions, including the wall mounting brackets.

Can I install Warmrails in a shower enclosure or above a bath?

Warmrails are designed to be splash proof. They are not designed for immersion in water, being drenched in water or in fact anything more than the occasional splash. If there is a chance that the Warmrail could encounter more water than the occasional splash it should not be mounted in that location. A showerhead in the bath will definitely cause a lot of splashing.

Your Warmrail should be wired into a circuit that is protected by a GFI (circuit breaker). This is important, however most power sockets in modern bathrooms should already be GFI protected as a standard. If you are still unsure you should refer to your local city building code for guidelines.

How long is the power cord on a Warmrail?

The cord set on the free standing and soft wired models is 86 inches long (just over 7 feet).

Can I shorten the power cord?

Yes, but please have a registered electrician complete this modification. If they require instructions on how to do this, please have them call us during office hours on our toll free number 877-927-6724 (Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm PST).

Can I install my wall mounted Warmrail with the power entry at the top?

Warmrails have been designed to operate with the power entry at the bottom of the unit. Some models can be installed or used with the power entry on either the left or right side, but must not be used “up-side down”.

Do units have thermostats & cut off switches?

Because of their safe design, Warmrails can operate 24 hours a day at the factory set temperature, using less electricity than a regular light bulb! You can operate a Warmrail using a timer if you wish, but most people find the comfort and convenience of Warmrails so appealing that they run them continually.

We do not provide temperature controls, since Warmrails are designed to operate to the optimum performance level. If people turned the temperature down they would be dissatisfied with the heating and drying properties.

Does the on/off switch automatically turn the Warmrail on or off?

No - Since your Warmrail is so safe and energy efficient, we suggest you leave it running continuously so you always have warm, dry and fresh towels. However, if you go away or have a Warmrail in a guest bathroom that doesn’t get used regularly you will probably want to turn the Warmrail off – the switch is a manual one, and you will need to remember to turn your Warmrail on again next time you want to use it.

How are Warmrails and other towel warmers heated?

Warmrails use a new dry element technology called “Filatherm”,which is similar to the elements used in radiant under-floor heating, to give years of maintenance free and energy efficient heat. Warmrails reach operating temperature within 15 minutes.

Some of our competitors make hydronic warmers, which are expensive to purchase and require a plumber to install them and can only be used in conjunction with a central heating system. Operation is limited to the times that the central heating is running.

Most other models are electrical, but have oils or liquids. These can leak, especially if not maintained regularly to ensure the seals do not perish. Again, good quality oil filled warmers are expensive to purchase, and you should be prepared to have to wait for up to an hour before the warmer reaches operating temperature.

How long does a towel take to dry?

Like anything, it will depend on the circumstances; such as how wet is the towel, where the Warmrail is situated and so on. If you use a bath towel in the evening it will be dry and warm when you use it in the morning. For fastest drying time, have less layers of towels so the moisture can pass through quickly. For maximum warmth, use multiple layers of towels to trap the heat.

How much does it cost to run a Warmrail?

Just a few cents a day - amazingly Warmrails use on average less power than a standard light bulb! Unlike oil-filled heated towel racks, Warmrails use a high efficiency Filathermä element to heat the bars. As well as reducing the running costs it also means your Warmrail can never leak when seals get old and perish. (Every Warmrail draws less than one amp).

SAFETY RELATED QUESTIONS

Are Warmrails safe?

These heated towel racks have been used overseas for twenty years. They are proven to be very reliable and safe. All Warmrails are UL and CUL listed to ensure that they meet safety guidelines for temperatures and operation.

Are Warmrails safe around young children?

When our products were in the design stage we consulted Underwriters’ Laboratories for guidance on operating temperature. Their suggestion was that we follow their “4 second test”. This means that the Warmrail can be hot to the touch, however it should not scold or cause permanent damage if it comes into contact with the skin for up to 4 seconds.

We have designed Warmrails to operate at the maximum safe temperature, within the “4 second” guideline so that they give the best possible towel drying and warming performance without being a potential hazard.

USAGE RELATED QUESTIONS

Can I use my Warmrail outside by the Jacuzzi?

Warmrails are designed and UL / CUL listed for indoor use, however the free standing models are portable and could be placed outdoors temporarily providing they are not exposed to the weather. When using any electrical product outdoors it is important to use a protected electrical supply and make sure the appliance is operated safely and responsibly and does not come in contact with water.

Why would you want to use a towel warmer in summer?

Most bathrooms are poorly ventilated and even in summer months, many people find that their towels dry so slowly that they become very unhygienic and smelly. The traditional solution has been to change towels on a daily basis, creating unnecessary laundry loads, using additional energy and water and limiting the life span of towels. However, Warmrails are an energy saving way to keep towels dry and fresh – reducing the need for constant laundering.

So you live in Arizona and it’s 120 degrees outside – why would you want a warm towel? If it’s that hot outside, chances are you have your air-conditioning running, and it can be quite chilly when you step out of the shower or bath into the air-conditioned bathroom. Since Warmrails are not BTU rated, they can be used year round without adding additional heat to rooms.

Warmrails aren’t just for drying bathroom towels, think about how many additional wash loads are created by all the towels generated by the swimming pool or Jacuzzi. Most times these towels really need drying, not re-washing, so just throw the additional towels on the Warmrail and they’re good to go again for next use.

I’m renovating my bathroom, which Warmrail would you suggest?

If you are having an electrician come in to add more electrical sockets or completely re-wire the bathroom, we would suggest you add a wall mounted Warmrail. The hard wired models are direct wired and require installation by a professional, so this would be the perfect time. Otherwise, have the electrician install an electrical outlet low on the wall where the towel bar should be. Always ensure any electrical outlet in a bathroom is installed with a GFI device.

Competitive products use more power, does this mean that towels on a Warmrail aren’t as warm?

No. If the product is UL listed then the manufacturer must adhere to the same temperature requirements for safety as we do. Most other manufacturers use an oil to heat their products, which means they need a greater power consumption to reach the same temperature. Because Warmrails use the energy efficient Filathermä element, we reach the same temperature quickly and efficiently (Warmrails are up to temperature within 15 minutes, while oil filled models can take up to an hour). You will notice that the wattage on Warmrails varies; this is because the bigger the unit, the more power it takes to heat to the same temperature.

Getting the best from your Warmrail

There are a few things you need to keep in mind, which will help you get the best from your Warmrail (or in fact any towel warmer).

For maximum warmth remember layers, layers, layers. Because toweling is made of loose fibers, a single layer of towel will mean that the heat simply passes through the towel. This is great when you just want your towels to dry quickly as the heat takes the moisture with it. But in winter when you want towels the warmest this isn’t going to give you much satisfaction. Try experimenting with how many layers you fold your towel into. Also remember that the very outer layer of towel may be quite cold – this is because there’s cold air circulating around the bathroom, which basically takes the heat with it as it moves past your towel. If this is the case (or you have a particularly drafty or air conditioned bathroom) try placing an additional towel on top of the towel you want warmest. This will have an insulating effect and the towel/s beneath will be toasty and warm.

Don’t expect to have warm towels in 10 minutes (only a tumble dryer can do this). If you don’t want to leave your Warmrail running continuously (remember it’s safe and energy efficient so you can), you will need to allow at least 50 minutes for the warmth to build up in the fibers of the towel (about 15 minutes for the Warmrail to warm up and the remainder for the heat to gently radiate up through the layers of towel). Oil filled warmers need almost a couple of hours to give the same results, as it can take up to an hour for an oil filled model to get to operating temperature, and another 45 minutes for the towel to warm up.

Keep it simple – there’s no need to weave your towels through the bars, in fact this will have a negative effect. Keeping the rails of your Warmrail insulated by layers is most effective, so drape the towels over the top rail to hang evenly on either side – this ‘tents’ the unit and helps trap the heat. Any part of the towel hanging below the bottom heated rail will not get the benefit of the heat (since heat rises). This law of physics is also why your towel will be warmest where it is in contact with the top rail, especially if you have a good amount of layers to trap this heat.

Can I use my Warmrail to dry other items?

ABSOLUTELY – check the page on “different uses” for all the other great applications for Warmrails.