Hi.
What should i use to fill a non-plumbed towel rail.
I realised that nearly all plumbed in towel rails can have a electric heater 
element fitted inside, this is so the towel rail can be used when the 
central heating is not being used (summer). What i was going to do because 
to plumb in the towel rail would be too differcult (locacation) was just to 
use the electric element on a fused switch when required, the thing is i'm 
not sure what to fill the rail with, normal water, distilled or something 
else?
Is this idea possible, has anyone else done this?
Cheers
T

T wrote:


>What should i use to fill a non-plumbed towel rail.
>I realised that nearly all plumbed in towel rails can have a electric heater 
>element fitted inside, this is so the towel rail can be used when the 
>central heating is not being used (summer). What i was going to do because 
>to plumb in the towel rail would be too differcult (locacation) was just to 
>use the electric element on a fused switch when required, the thing is i'm 
>not sure what to fill the rail with, normal water, distilled or something 
>else?
>Is this idea possible, has anyone else done this?


One possible snag with your plan is that there is no provision to
cope with expansion of the fluid, unless you leave a deliberate
air space, which would mean that the top of the radiator would be
cold.  Not sure how it would be for corrosion either.

Chris
-- 
Chris J Dixon  Nottingham UK
chris@cdixon.me.uk

Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

"Chris J Dixon"  wrote in message 
news:voe0j1dhunfsonjcca2rfla7i5fk4n9tkd@4ax.com...

>T wrote:
>
>>What should i use to fill a non-plumbed towel rail.
>>I realised that nearly all plumbed in towel rails can have a electric 
>>heater
>>element fitted inside, this is so the towel rail can be used when the
>>central heating is not being used (summer). What i was going to do because
>>to plumb in the towel rail would be too differcult (locacation) was just 
>>to
>>use the electric element on a fused switch when required, the thing is i'm
>>not sure what to fill the rail with, normal water, distilled or something
>>else?
>>Is this idea possible, has anyone else done this?
>
> One possible snag with your plan is that there is no provision to
> cope with expansion of the fluid, unless you leave a deliberate
> air space, which would mean that the top of the radiator would be
> cold.  Not sure how it would be for corrosion either.
>
> Chris
> -- 
> Chris J Dixon  Nottingham UK
> chris@cdixon.me.uk


How much expansion do you expect from a two hundred watt heater in a towel 
radiator? The pressure in a combi central heating system may rise up to 3 
bar when hot and most rads will take much more before leaking. I have seen 
plumbers presure test up to 5 bar when they commissioning systems. As for 
corrosion then use central heating inhibitor in the radiator as I pointed 
out on the OPs first post asking the same question.

Adam

Thanks,
I was thinking of leaving approx 2cm gap inside for any expansion, plus what
about adding a mixture of 25% of anti-freeze to 75% of distilled water?
Comments please.
T

"ARWadsworth"  wrote in message 
news:7u%Xe.112365$G8.78037@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

>
> "Chris J Dixon"  wrote in message 
> news:voe0j1dhunfsonjcca2rfla7i5fk4n9tkd@4ax.com...
>>T wrote:
>>
>>>What should i use to fill a non-plumbed towel rail.
>>>I realised that nearly all plumbed in towel rails can have a electric 
>>>heater
>>>element fitted inside, this is so the towel rail can be used when the
>>>central heating is not being used (summer). What i was going to do 
>>>because
>>>to plumb in the towel rail would be too differcult (locacation) was just 
>>>to
>>>use the electric element on a fused switch when required, the thing is 
>>>i'm
>>>not sure what to fill the rail with, normal water, distilled or something
>>>else?
>>>Is this idea possible, has anyone else done this?
>>
>> One possible snag with your plan is that there is no provision to
>> cope with expansion of the fluid, unless you leave a deliberate
>> air space, which would mean that the top of the radiator would be
>> cold.  Not sure how it would be for corrosion either.
>>
>> Chris
>> -- 
>> Chris J Dixon  Nottingham UK
>> chris@cdixon.me.uk
>
> How much expansion do you expect from a two hundred watt heater in a towel 
> radiator? The pressure in a combi central heating system may rise up to 3 
> bar when hot and most rads will take much more before leaking. I have seen 
> plumbers presure test up to 5 bar when they commissioning systems. As for 
> corrosion then use central heating inhibitor in the radiator as I pointed 
> out on the OPs first post asking the same question.
>
> Adam
> 

In article <dgro89$4ph$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>,
	"T"  writes:

> Thanks,
> I was thinking of leaving approx 2cm gap inside for any expansion, plus what
> about adding a mixture of 25% of anti-freeze to 75% of distilled water?
> Comments please.


You could just leave the bleed nipple open, like a tiny
vented system, although you'll have to change the inhibitor
every few years (just like a vented system too).

Central heating inhibitor with antifreeze is available,
if you think there's a risk of freezing, e.g. Sentinel X500

-- 
Andrew Gabriel