Towel warmers in S. Fla.

5 years ago

So I am remodeling an area that will be a Granny Suite, thinking ahead on all things that will come in handy. I am researching now, "towel warmers". I see the subject is vast. I like the look of the wall racks (modern design) but hear about Warming drawers also. My concern, we have to cool our homes 85% of the year, we rarely see cold temperatures anymore. I really don't want something that is going to warm the room up to an uncomfortable temperature and fight with the a/c. But, you want toasty towels. My Mom enjoys a cool room now but I know that can change as she ages. So maybe that feature would be a good one. Also with the walk in tub, it was mentioned there is an extended length of time before one can get out of the tub till the water drains (I hear they are improved now with filling and draining) and becoming cold is an issue so the snuggly warm towel sounds like a nice thing to wrap up in while you are waiting. I have purchased the BB&B plug in towel warmers and they just don't get hot at all, I would hate to purchase something that was a repeat of that performance. I would love some feedback. BTW she will have a zero entry large walk in shower as well so she will have a choice.

What kind of towel warmers should I be looking for?
What brands would you suggest?
Is there an ideal temperature range?
Do you leave the towel warmer rack on 24H? Our towels dry overnight by themselves in the A/C so thats not an issue we deal with in this state.
What am I looking or in a warming drawer?
What temperature do you put on the warmer for towels?
How long does it take to warm up the towels in a drawer?
How do you know if the warming drawer is safe to put towels in?
Is fire a possibility with the drawer?

Thank you all for sharing your experiance and advice.

Featured Answer

jjaazzy
Original Author

5 years ago

I think you are right about the hot spots or overall high heat. When I go to the nail salon and get a pedicure they do a wet warm towel wrap and it’s pretty darn steaming hot when they pull it out. They do the same thing, shake it some to release some of the heat. Thank you so much for taking the time to try and help me.

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Comments (7)

maifleur01
5 years ago
Forget the small warmers and look for something that is large enough to contain several small blankets or cotton throws. While drying off with a warm towel is nice for many elderly having something warm placed on them when they feel cool or achy brings smiles. Just be careful about using microfiber as some have a low melting point and there is no labeling system yet. You can of course put a towel or two in the warmer before bathing for the extra comfort.
jjaazzy
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Maifleur, So I was just considering moving away from the drawer system but you bring up a very good point about the blankets being warmed up too. I just can't find enough good info about what I am looking for, should it not get past temperature x for cotton. Good point about the Microfiber. I see the drawers go from 80 d to 200 d. And now I have to find a great spot to put it. Does it have to be an outdoor one, since it is in a bathroom?
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Eric, I just leave the bath towels on the warmer all the time. It would be a bit of a hassle remembering to move them back and forth. Smaller hand towels and the bath mat hang on other towel bars or rings. I have the Runtal automatic controller. It allows you to program different on and off cycles for each day of the week, multiple on and off cycles per day, and to control the temperature setting. Since I'm a creature of habit, the week days are all programmed the same, but at the weekend, the warmer comes on later and goes off later, as I tend to get moving later on those days. If my schedule deviates from normal, I can easily override the programming. The warmers in my guest rooms are programmed to be on in the mornings and again in the evenings, but off during the middle of the day. When I don't have guests, I simply set the temperature to "0", and they don't come on at all. The controllers are hidden away in cupboards or closets, where they're out of sight, but easily accessible, so their appearance wasn't a consideration. If you choose to go with a Lutron timer, be sure it's one rated for a heating appliance, and be aware that it probably won't provide as much flexibility or allow you to control the temperature level. I usually don't operate my warmers at their highest setting, and I appreciate being able to lower the settings on them during the warmer seasons. I've been totally happy with Runtal and recommend them.
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An old thread, but my experience with Mr. Steam towel warmers which may be valuable to others is… STAY AWAY Our family was getting burned left and right from ours. I have spoken with and emailed Mr. Steam with absolutely zero follow up from them. Perhaps they’re afraid I will litigate? No, I only ask they send someone to check the temperature, that I may have received a defective product. Nope, deaf ears. Nonexistent customer service. The problem is the dang thing is hardwired into expensive tile. It’s usable by setting the timer between 3am - 5am, when I figure everyone will be asleep (and out of danger!).
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Our towel warmer made the towels not quite as toasty as a dryer. So try an experiment: put your towel(s) in the dryer and make them toasty. Then take them out and set them outside your shower. See how warm they are when you finish your shower, assume they'll be a bit less warm/toasty coming off a towel warmer, and judge for yourself whether they retain their heat sufficiently for your needs.
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A btu per hour is a btu per hour, it doesn't matter the source. And a btu need for a room is just that. I've experienced towel warmers in Europe and while nice, I don't think they're all that special. Remember that radiators of whatever kind are usually on or near the floor. That provides even heat in the room as the cold air that sinks in the space is what gets warmed. A towel warmer midway on the wall is going to result in a unevenly heated room and unwarmed cold air at and above the floor. Depending on where you live, I suspect a large towel warmer should be available to provide enough BTUs for a small bathroom. It's an easy question to answer, the specs of BTU emission for hydronic fixtures ("radiators") is supplied by each manufacturer for each model.
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maifleur01
5 years ago
I do not think so but contact a company that does medical equipment supply. The nursing home my husband is in uses one and it is kept in a room that is probably 6X8. One thing that they do is to shake the blanket before putting it on a patient. I have not asked why but it may be that being folded could cause hot spots.

Although it might be expensive and I know it is not covered by insurance if a medical supply company can rent you one you could see if it would work for you. Then if it does you can purchase the size you need.
H B
5 years ago
We have a Runtal wall unit (electric but they also make hydronic). It has three heat settings and the highest one is quite hot. It is on a wall timer, so the kids just hit 30-60-90 minutes, whatever they want. It takes a little to heat up and in addition to heating towels, dries them (and sweaters) beautifully. These can count as heating units, and weigh enough that ideally there is sufficient blocking in the wall to support. While FL temps probably don’t need extra room heat, I’d guess that drying towels quickly may offset humidity issues.
kathyg_in_mi
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
What about a heat lamp? We are in Florida for the winters and a heat lamp is nice to have on cod days. It is in the ceiling.
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Cabot & Rowe
4 years ago
Here in south Texas we advise our customers to run them only when they want warmed towels. Otherwise they heat the room too high.

Towel warmers in S. Fla.

jjaazzy
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maifleur01

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Towel warmers in S. Fla.

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