towel warmer

Mike

Hi guys. I'm installing a towel warmer on a primary/secondary system. Separate loop. But because of boiler control issues, I'm being told to repipe it to the domestic hot water piping. Is this allowable? I'm thinking of stagnant water if the loop isn't used often. Also, this is well water. Should I be consirned?
Thanks Mike

Mike T., Swampeast MO

I've been through this same sort of problem in my own home and I now regret using a hydronic towel warmer as opposed to an oil-filled electric.

Towel warmers are generally approved for use in potable systems, but there are still problems.

If you simply connect a towel warmer in series to a shower or similar it will not produce the desired warm, fluffy towels unless you've spent a truly ridiculous time in the shower or have a tub suitable for a party!

You really only have three viable options:

1) Create a dedicated, tiny but complete (including expansion and safeties) hydronic system JUST for the purpose of the towel warmer. Very small electric water heaters have been used for the purpose but from what I hear from a good Myson dealer in the US, they are short-lived and trouble-prone. They quit recommending and supplying materials for such purpose just a few years after they began...

2) Supply from the boiler using a relatively enormous buffer tank--think of it as a second indirect.

3) Install in the DHW system ONLY if DHW recirculation is used. If your customers want nice warm fluffy towels for a morning shower then this means keeping the recirculation running when it could normally be turned off or using 24-7-365 gravity recirculation. Even then there is still the possibility of Legionella unless you can guarantee 140°F or so average temp inside the towel warmer for at least a brief period each day.

After the bad things, here are the good things based on operation of mine (a chrome Myson B-29) connected to a gravity DHW recirculation loop.

1) When loaded with towels (as it should REMAIN--use then replace--daily if you're paranoid about your own clean body) and when PERMANENTLY shiny metal, they give off very little heat to the room.

2) With 24-7-365 circulation the towel warmer itself does not have to be feel more than "nice and warm" to produce wonderful towels for a daily shower with towel re-hung after use. With constant circulation through the warmer, the chances of "bugs" should be significantly reduced regardless of temperature, but I'm FAR from the expert on that matter. Stop the circulation for any period of time however and I'd be quite concerned.

ALH_4

toasty towels

I agree with Mike. Towel warmers are just not a large enough load to justify waking up the average home heating boiler, particularly during the summer months. An electric version on a timer seems to be the best option in my opinion.

-Andrew