How To Install a Towel Warmer

Nothing beats the soft warmth of a hot towel fresh out of the dryer. A towel warmer allows you to have that luxury every time you shower—and, as a bonus, it’ll fight moisture and mildew in your bathroom.

Some towel warmer models plug into a power outlet, while other hydronic units connect to a home’s hot water heating system. While installing hydronic warmers requires advanced plumbing skills, they can be more energy-efficient in the long run. This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows you how to add one to your bathroom.

Preparing for a Towel Warmer Installation

Before you begin the installation process, figure out where your towel warmer will go, gather the necessary tools and materials, and take a few precautions for your safety.

Choosing the Right Location

Your hydronic towel warmer should be somewhere with plenty of wall space and easy access to plumbing connections. Find a spot that’s convenient to get to from your shower and doesn’t clash with the rest of your bathroom’s layout and design. 

Tools and Materials Needed

To install a hydronic towel warmer, you’ll need these tools and materials:

• Adjustable wrench
• Chrome nipples with shut-off valves
• Copper pipe and fittings
• Drill/driver
• Flame-retardant shield
• Hammer drill
• Pliers
• Propane torch
• Reciprocating saw
• Screwdriver
• Toggle bolts or wood screws

Safety Precautions

You’ll be working with plumbing and potentially electrical systems, so safety should be your top priority. Follow these steps for a safe workspace and project:

• Turn off the water supply to the area you’re working on.
• Drain the hot water heating system before making any cuts.
• Wear protective gear such as safety glasses and gloves.
• Ensure proper ventilation when soldering copper pipes.

Step-By-Step Towel Warmer Installation Process

The towel warmer Trethewey installs in the video also doubles as a radiator. He starts by removing the original radiator on the site from its housing. Then, he makes a few cuts to install new piping, connects the warmer, and tests it.

Removing the Old Radiator

Trethewey starts by draining the hot water heating system and turning off the water supply to the old radiator. Once everything’s empty, he uses a reciprocating saw to cut the hot water supply and return lines from the old radiator and carefully removes the old radiator from the wall.

Preparing the New Location

The new towel warmer has supply and return lines in different spots on the unit, so Trethewey needs to reroute the plumbing to match. He cuts the floor open with his reciprocating saw to expose the underlying pipes.

Hold the towel warmer against the wall and use it as a guide to measure and mark where the new lines will go.

Installing New Plumbing Lines

Double-check your marks and measurements for accuracy. Then, cut and dry-assemble copper pipe and fittings in the new locations. If everything fits as intended, safely solder the copper pipe and fittings together with a propane torch. Since you’re working with an open flame, use a fire-retardant shield to not accidentally set the surrounding wood ablaze.

You could run the new piping directly up through the floor to reach your towel warmer, but Trethewey recommends using a threaded copper adapter flush with the subfloor. Sweat the adapter onto the end of each line and secure them in place with screws. Replace the subfloor once everything’s in place. 

Connecting the Towel Warmer

Using the threaded adapters allows Trethewey to install chrome nipples with shut-off valves. There’s also a flange at the bottom so the assembly looks clean and less abrupt with the floor. Thread the nipples onto each copper adapter and tighten them snug with a crescent wrench.

Next, hold the warmer back up to your wall and mark the positions of the hanger bases. Then, attach the bases to the wall. Use screws only if you’re drilling into a stud. If you don’t hit a stud, Trethewey recommends using toggle bolts, which secure against the back of the wall with a spring-loaded assembly that fits through a larger hole.

Once all the hanger bases are in place, you can attach the towel warmer to the wall. Connect the chrome shut-off valves to the bottom of the unit with an adjustable wrench and pair of pliers.

Final Steps and Testing

At this point, you can start to refill the hot water heating system. Turn on the water supply and check carefully for any leaks. This also bleeds air out of the piping for healthy circulation through the unit. Let the system run for a few hours and repair any issues as soon as you find them.

Towel Warmer Maintenance and Care

Clean and dust your new towel warmer regularly, and check the connections for signs of leaks and loose fittings. Bleed the radiator at least once per year to remove any trapped air. 

Even with proper installation and maintenance, you might encounter a few common issues such as these:

• Cold spots on towels: This might be due to trapped air in the system. Bleed the radiator to resolve the issue.
• Inconsistent heating: Check for blockages or debris in the pipes that can obstruct water flow.
• Leaks: Check the connections and fittings regularly, and tighten them as needed to prevent water leaks. You can also use silicone caulk around the joints between the piping and floor.