Bathroom - additional heating question

[Tom10001]

Hi, I need an additional heat source in a small bathroom. It has a decent sized towel rail heater, but this is mostly covered by towels. UFH is not an option.

I just need somethign to warm it up and take the chill off during winter mornings and evenings. Something I can connect to a smart plug and control timings.

I have very limited wall space, so i can't fit a panel rad or ceiling panel etc., so the idea is to fit some sort of heater under a floating vanity unit / sink cabinet. This is the only place I have space.

I have an electrical socket, but not water pipes (connecting them is too much disruption). This rules out hydronic plinth heaters. An electric plinth heater would be great, but i can't find one that is low voltage for bathrooms?

Toolstation seems to sell small downflow heaters that are suitable for bathrooms - maybe i could fit one of these under the cabinet? (i dont' understand how these are bathroom rated, when the plinth heaters aren't - the power seems the same (230v /2000w)?

any tips or help appreciated. (looking for electric only fan style heat source suitable for bathroom that can be mounted under a cabinet)

 

[pcaouolte]

Hi, I need an additional heat source in a small bathroom.
...
I have an electrical socket

Those two things don't usually go together. How far from the bath or shower is the electrical socket?

 

[Tom10001]

Those two things don't usually go together. How far from the bath or shower is the electrical socket?

of course you're totally right. what i meant to say was, i can get an electrician to fit a suitable power source (it's far from the shower and bath but not the sink) without too much disruption (as opposed to say, connecting to the central heating system)

 

[ChrisJP]

It's acceptable to have a mains voltage heater hard-wired in via a fused connection unit in a bathroom, although it's normally arranged to have such a heater wall-mounted with a pull cord on-off switch.
It's electrical sockets that you can plug anything into, and hands-on switches that are not acceptable.

 

[Tom10001]

It's acceptable to have a mains voltage heater hard-wired in via a fused connection unit in a bathroom, although it's normally arranged to have such a heater wall-mounted with a pull cord on-off switch.
It's electrical sockets that you can plug anything into, and hands-on switches that are not acceptable.

Thanks, so why can't I find an electric plinth heater or other type of heater than could sit at a low level that's suitable for a bathroom?

 

[ChrisJP]

I'm not sure, but I would hazard a guess that a low level heater would require an ordinary switch on it , since it would not be high enough for a pull-cord, so that's why it's not suitable for a bathroom. The concern is, if the heater is at a low level it's susceptible to getting splashed, or even doused, with water, and people with wet hands operating the switch

 

[RandomGrinch]

An electric plinth heater would be great, but i can't find one that is low voltage for bathrooms?

Toolstation seems to sell small downflow heaters that are suitable for bathrooms - maybe i could fit one of these under the cabinet? (i dont' understand how these are bathroom rated, when the plinth heaters aren't

The problem you are facing isn't directly related to the voltage of the appliance - it is also related to the appliances IP rating, and what zone they will be installed in.
(Take note - many zone diagrams on the web are incorrect I.e. they show sinks as being in a zone, when they aren't)...

Here's a rundown...

Bathroom Zones | R&M Electrical Group

Bathrooms are defined as areas of increased electrical hazard. Bathroom zones explained in a downloadable PDF

www.rm-electrical.com

In a small bathroom, a plinth heater may end up in zone 2; this would require an IP rating of IPX4, something a heater with open elements and a fan couldn't achieve.
On the other hand, a fan heater, mounted high enough, may be out of zone.
It is even theoretically possible to have a power socket in the bathroom; the room would have to be large, with the socket 2.5m away from the bath.
Also pull cord switches aren't a requirement in bathrooms - it's usually possible to mount a light switch out of zone.

However, and importantly, the supply to any new appliance in the bathroom should be RCD/RCBO protected.

...so depending on the size of your room, you may be looking at an IPX4 rated heater (low wattage tubular, oil filled, or a C/H rad, with a towel rail heating element).

Or a fan heater mounted out of zone, an IR ceiling panel, a slim over door down flow heater etc.

Or, dry your towels somewhere else!

Can you post a photo of the room, so we can get an idea of the space?

 

[Tom10001]

The problem you are facing isn't directly related to the voltage of the appliance - it is also related to the appliances IP rating, and what zone they will be installed in.
(Take note - many zone diagrams on the web are incorrect I.e. they show sinks as being in zone, when they aren't)...

Thank you.

I'll try and get an image. I'll check with my electrician but the area under the sink cabinet is definitely more than 0.6m from the enclosed shower or the bath.

I guess another question is, if they sell IP22 rated cassette style electric heaters which have a fan pointing down, is there any reason why they can't be mounted so the air comes out horizontally? This could then be set back under the cabinet, well away from any potential splash