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How to install a heated towel rail

Heated towel rail plugged into a nearby power point with two towels hanging from it

Overview

Once only found in fancy hotel bathrooms and luxury homes, heated towel rails are now incredibly accessible and easy to add to any space, adding a little luxury to the everyday experience.

They are also great for keeping towels fresh and dry, reducing the likelihood of a damp smell spreading through your bathroom or laundry, as well as acting as a heating source, keeping the entire room toasty.

Best of all, with the right preparation and tools, installing a heated towel rail is a simple D.I.Y. project that you can do in just a few hours! Say no to cold and damp towels and hello to a luxurious showering experience every time.

Steps

  1. 1

    Mark the position

    Mark the position of the towel rail on your wall, remembering to leave enough room for your towel to hang without touching the ground. You might want to use a tape measure to help you with the positioning. It’s also worth checking that your desired position is close to a powerpoint – you’ll need to plug your towel rail in at the end.

    how to install a heated towel rail
  2. 2

    Trace the legs

    Using a pencil, trace around the legs of your towel rail on the wall. Make sure it’s in the position you want and most importantly, level! The last thing you want is for the rail to be uneven. The best way to check this is with a spirit level.

    how to install a heated towel rail
  3. 3

    Find the stud

    Before hanging something on a wall, especially something as heavy as a heated towel rail, it’s important to find where the studs (vertical wall framing members) are. You should always aim to affix heavier items (10kg or more) to framing for a stronger foundation. If you’re fixing it to a masonry wall, it’s worth checking that you’re not going to hit wiring or plumbing.

    The easiest way to do this is with a stud finder. If you don’t have one of these, you can use a manual method, but it may require a little more work to be completely accurate. Start by tapping different areas of the wall and note the change in sound between hollow areas and not-hollow areas. A stud is probably going to be at the centre of a not-hollow area. You can check this by using a fridge magnet – see if it can find a nail or screw in the wall, above or below where you think the stud is.

    Another tell-tale sign of a stud is proximity to power or light switches – these are usually affixed to a plate that’s secured to a stud.

    how to install a heated towel rail
  4. 4

    Prepare the wall

    Now that you’ve found the stud, pin prink the wall in the spot you want to put your WallMate anchor. Use the screws that come with the towel rail to prick the plaster – this will make it easier for your WallMate to catch when screwing.

    Repeat at each point that you need screws.

    Use your screwdriver or drill to screw in each anchor at the nominated point, until each one is flush with the plaster.

    how to install a heated towel rail
  5. 5

    Screw in the mushroom screw

    Screw your mushroom screw into each WallMate using your screwdriver. Make sure you’ve got the right-sized screwdriver for the WallMate before trying to screw.

    how to install a heated towel rail
  6. 6

    Hang the towel rail

    Place your towel rail onto the mushroom screws. Once it’s securely in place, plug your towel rail in to start enjoying its benefits!

    how to install a heated towel rail
  7. 7

    Find the perfect towel rail for your bathroom

    Explore our range of heated towel rails – we’re bound to have a design that suits your bathroom.

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.