Do any of you have a hydronic towel warmer? I thought they looked interesting so checked into some online and found them to be quite pricey. I saw some around $600 to $800, and then found a website selling them for over 3 grand. I don’t understand why it costs so much for a few pipes with water running through them. I would like to either find a waaaay less expensive type or else I thought they might be easy to make. Any input would be appreciated.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
In this FHB Podcast Segment, the team chats about the best way to build a paintable surface over an old wall.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I've seen electric ones at Bed Bath and beyond for
like $60.00.
Making one out of copper tubing would be easy enough, probably less than $100 in parts.
making it look pretty is another story.
I got a Runtal hydronic towel warmer that replaced a huge radiator for a small bathroom. Heats great, and now you don't burn your butt stepping out of the tub between the radiator and the toilet. Looks sleek and frees up space, but may be more than you want to do. My plumber got one for his bathroom after seeing what I had him do.
---mike...
Madison Renovations
Cambridge, Mass.
I looked at the Runtal towel warmers online. Nice units. Only thing I didn't like was the darn price.... but... I have yet to see anything as nice for less money.
Runtal offers trade discounts.
What do you mean??
Are you asking "what is a trade discount?"?If you don't know, then it probably doesn't apply to you. For contractors, plumbers, etc., as I recall, the trade discount was significant. If you're local (they're in northeast Mass.), they sometimes have some extras you can pick up cheaper. The round tube designs are much less costly than the Omnipanel.---mike...Madison Renovations
Cambridge, Mass.
oh right ... just read it wrong the first time! duh. Bit of a brain fade, there.
On the other hand even a 20% discount on a very big number is still a big number. $2K to warm my towels ... makes me cringe just thinking about it. I have to ask myself is it really worth that kind of scratch to have my towels toasty warm (as my mind wanders a bit like looking at a beautiful woman). Is this irrationality at it's best (next to sex promoted sales, I mean)? Course to sell these, I'm sure they use a very good looking mostly unclothed female grabbing for that hot towel. ... gotta go ...
As I recall, I paid something like $400 to replace the big honking radiator in the middle of the bathroom with a sleek, against-the-wall design that also dried towels. I think the trade discount was more than the standard 20%, but could be wrong. Maybe it was more because I was local and picking it up.---mike...
That's fairly reasonable dollars in my book considering I spent over $300 to try my experiment ... and then you still simply have a powdercoated pile of copper fittings.
I found lots of towel warmers in the $1200-$3000 price range for ones I thought were nice (better be nice at that price!!).
How much was it worth to buy?
Have a good day
Cliffy
You found the same thing I did ... outrageous prices for what seems to be a simple device.
I made one ... although my skills failed me on my first try. I'm ready to tackle it again. I used 1" copper. It cost about $200 in materials if I recall. Then we took it and had it powder coated ... nice!! I forgot to solder a seam ... it didn't hold pressure. Bummer ... have to trash it.
In hind sight: I wouldn't use 1" copper ... at least for all of it. It looks to bulky/heavy. I would go to 3/4". Maybe a combination of 1" and 3/4". You need to put an air valve in it, I think (up high). Potentially an aesthetic issue there, so plan it carefully (i.e. the fittings).
I used a reverse return configuration to help ensure water would go through the entire thing ... so that meant a third leg of vertical tubing ... it's either that or a supply down low and a return up high (I had both within a few inches of each other).
I ended up 'capping' my supply/return w/ a U tube until I can fabricate another. I incorporated it into my radiant floor and radiant shower wall loop. So not hot, but not cold, either.