Thinking about getting a heated towel rail? Smart move. But we know you probably have questions. We get asked the same things all the time, so we've pulled together the 10 most common questions about heated towel rails and given you straight answers. Let's dive in.
1. Do heated towel rails use a lot of electricity?
The short answer is: not a lot. Most heated towel rails are very effective at heating and drying your towels without guzzling electricity.
A typical heated towel rail consumes 100 to 200 watts per hour. To put that in perspective, the Gordon heated towel rail uses just 200 watts, which is about the same as having two or three light bulbs switched on. If you run it for four hours a day, the daily cost is around 28 cents.
2. How much does a heated towel rail cost to run?
Let's talk numbers. At average Australian electricity rates of around 35 cents per kilowatt-hour a 200-watt heated towel rail running all day costs about $1.68 daily, or roughly $50 monthly. But here's the thing, most households don't need to run their heated towel rail all day. If you use a timer for four hours daily, that drops to just 28 cents per day or about $8.50 monthly. That's less than $2 per week.
The Gordon heated towel rail is particularly efficient because it dries towels in about 2 hours, meaning you only need it on for a fraction of the time compared to traditional ladder-style rails.
3. Can heated towel rails be left on?
Yes, absolutely. Modern heated towel rails are designed for continuous operation if that's what you want. They come with built-in thermostats that regulate temperature automatically, preventing overheating no matter how long they stay on.
The Gordon maintains a constant 43°C surface temperature, which is warm enough to dry towels effectively but too cool to cause any safety concerns. That said, most people don't need to leave them on 24/7. Using a programmable timer gives you warm towels when you need them without wasting energy when you don't.
4. Should heated towel rails be left on all the time?
While you can leave them on continuously, the real question is whether you should. It depends on your household and priorities. For busy family bathrooms with multiple people showering at different times throughout the day, continuous operation might make sense. The convenience of always-ready warm towels could justify the $50 monthly cost.
For singles or couples with regular schedules, a programmable timer is the smarter choice. Set it to come on an hour before your morning shower and again before your evening shower. This approach keeps costs under $10 monthly while still giving you all the benefits.
5. Can heated towel rails catch fire?
Fire risk is extremely low with modern heated towel rails. Quality units meeting Australian Standards have multiple safety features including thermal fuses and temperature limiters. When professionally installed by a licensed electrician with correct clearances from water sources, heated towel rails are not a fire hazard.
The Gordon heated towel rail has an IP44 splashproof rating, which means it handles bathroom humidity and water splashes safely. The key is ensuring your unit meets safety standards and is properly installed. Skip the DIY on this one and get a qualified electrician to do the job.
6. Can you leave a heated towel rail on overnight?
Yes, you can safely leave your heated towel rail on overnight. Built-in thermostats and safety mechanisms prevent overheating even during extended operation. The Gordon's 43°C operating temperature is designed for safe continuous use, making overnight operation completely fine from a safety perspective.
However, whether you should leave it on overnight depends on whether you need it. If family members shower late at night or early in the morning, keeping it on makes sense. Otherwise, you're better off using a timer to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.
7. How do heated towel rails work?
Electric heated towel rails contain heating elements inside the tubes that warm the metal surface. Most modern units like the Gordon use dry element technology, which heats air inside the tubes rather than liquid. This is much more efficient because it loses less heat to surrounding space and heats up faster.
When you drape towels over the rails, the fabric traps heat and the temperature rises from the baseline (43°C for the Gordon) to about 50-55°C. This temperature increase is intentional and safe, designed to speed up drying without damaging your towels. The vertical design of the Gordon is particularly clever because it promotes better airflow around hanging towels compared to traditional horizontal ladder rails.
8. Do heated towel rails actually dry towels?
Absolutely, that's their main job. A damp towel typically dries in 2 hours on a Gordon electrical towel rail thanks to its aluminium construction and vertical design which makes for much faster heat up times.
From our official lab testing at Eskimo HQ in the United kingdom, results shows the Gordon dries towels in just 84 minutes, compared to 111 minutes for a traditional 350-watt ladder rail. That's a third quicker while using 43% less energy. The secret is in the design. Vertical rails allow each towel to hang freely with full exposure to the heated surface, plus better airflow carries moisture away more efficiently than the restricted airflow around towels stacked on horizontal rails.
For best results, drape your towels loosely across the bars rather than bunching them up. This allows air circulation while maintaining good contact for efficient drying.
9. Are heated towel rails worth it?
For most households, yes. Heated towel rails have come a long way in the past 10 years, and provide warm towels after every shower, prevent musty bathroom odours, reduce how often you need to wash towels, and add supplementary warmth to your bathroom.
The Gordon heated towel rail offers particularly good value because of its low running costs. At around $8-10 monthly for typical usage, you get luxury and hygiene benefits for less than the price of a coffee each week.
10. Do heated towel rails warm the room?
Yes, heated towel rails do provide some supplementary warmth to your bathroom, though they're not designed to be your primary heat source. The Gordon heated towel rail will take the chill off a small bathroom or ensuite, which is particularly nice during winter mornings. While you'll still want another heat source for larger bathrooms in cold weather, the supplementary warmth from a heated towel rail can make your bathroom noticeably more comfortable.
The bottom line
Heated towel rails are safe, efficient, and worth the modest running costs for most households. The key is choosing the right model and using it smartly. The Gordon heated towel rail combines low energy consumption, fast drying times, and safety features that make it suitable for any bathroom.
If you're still on the fence, consider this: for less than $10 monthly with a timer, you get warm towels every day, reduced laundry, better bathroom hygiene, and a touch of luxury that makes every shower feel like a spa experience.
Ready to upgrade your bathroom? Explore the Gordon heated towel rail and see why it's Australia's most efficient heated towel rail.
