As its name suggests, the towel rack is a support designed to hang bath towels. Made of wood, stainless steel, or PVC, it allows moisture to be evacuated and contributes to the room's decor.
Towel racks are made from various materials.
Models made of PVC are appreciated for their lightness, resistance to moisture, and ease of installation. Their affordable price is also an advantage.
Wooden versions appeal for their natural look and authenticity. They fit well in bathrooms decorated with furniture made from the same material.
Stainless steel models stand out for their sturdiness and resistance to rust. Some feature a modern design.
Towel racks also differ in their installation system.
Wall-mounted models are the most common. They are fixed to the wall using screws and plugs. This type of accessory saves floor space. They come in the form of fixed bars, movable bars, or rings.
Freestanding versions are also available. They have the advantage of being easy to install. It is possible to move them if necessary. Some models can hang towels as well as washcloths, bathrobes, or clothes.
Heated towel rails are also available to hang bath towels and dry them at the same time:
they are made up of a heating body and bars for hanging the towels;
they also serve as supplementary heating or even as primary heating by warming the ambient air in the room;
electric models can be of liquid inertia (heat transfer fluid) or dry inertia (soapstone, ceramic, or lava stone);
water-based versions are connected to the boiler just like the radiators distributed throughout the house;
mixed models combine the technologies of water and electric towel dryers thanks to a resistor that heats the water.
Some criteria should be considered when choosing a heated towel rail:
for an electric model, the power should be 130 W/m²;
NF labeled devices are guaranteed for quality;
the home heating system is an important criterion to determine the suitable device;
some models are programmable and offer the delayed start option allowing to benefit from off-peak rates;
others incorporate a timer to reduce the electricity bill.
Thus, the choice of a towel rack depends on the available space to install it (wall-mounted or freestanding). A heated towel rail is interesting for heating the room at the same time as the bathroom linen.