Replace a heated towel rail on a solid brick or block wall

Drain, remove and refit a heated towel rail safely, checking pipework and electrics before you drill.

AB-01Check what you're replacingLook at your old towel rail. Note whether it runs off your central heating pipes only, or if it also has an electric element (dual fuel) with a plug or wired connection. Measure the distance between the wall brackets so you can match or adapt the new fixing points. Check the new towel rail's box for its weight and bracket spacing before you start.

RULES

KNOW THE RULES

If your towel rail is dual fuel with a wired electrical connection (not just a plug), any new wiring work in a bathroom must meet Part P and the bathroom zone rules in BS 7671. If in doubt, get a qualified electrician to handle that part.

AB-02Turn off water and electricsFind your stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns before you start. Turn off the two radiator valves on the towel rail (or the system stopcock if there are no local valves). If the rail is dual fuel with an electrical connection, turn off the circuit at the consumer unit and check it's dead before touching any wiring.

AB-03Drain the old towel railLay old towels or a dust sheet under the rail. Loosen the bleed valve at the top with a bleed key, then open one of the bottom valve connections slightly with an adjustable spanner to let the water drain into a bucket. Keep swapping buckets until the rail runs dry.

1 each · Bleed key

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Old towels or dust sheet

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-04Disconnect and lift off the old railUndo both valve connections fully and lift the towel rail off its wall brackets. Have a helper support the weight, it's heavier than it looks once full of water residue. Loosely tape or plug the open pipe ends so nothing drips or lets debris in while you work.

AB-05Remove the old bracketsUnscrew the old wall brackets from the brick or block. If the new towel rail uses different fixing points, fill the old holes with a small amount of ready-mixed filler and let it dry before you mark up new positions.

1 small tub · Ready-mixed filler

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-06Mark and drill new fixing holesHold the new brackets against the wall and check they're level with a spirit level, then mark the hole centres with a pencil. Before drilling, run a cable and pipe detector over the marks, but still treat the wall as if something is there until you've proved otherwise: detectors miss deep cables, pipes in conduit, and anything outside the usual safe zones. Because you're drilling near plumbing, make sure your stopcock is off and you know how to shut it if you nick a pipe. Drill with an 8mm masonry bit to a depth of about 45mm for standard plastic wall plugs.

1 each · 8mm masonry drill bit

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 pack of 10 · 8mm wall plugs

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-07Fit the new bracketsPush the wall plugs into the drilled holes and screw the brackets home with 5mm x 50mm screws. Check each bracket is firm with no wobble and still level once tightened.

1 pack of 10 · 5mm x 50mm screws

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-08Hang the new towel railLift the new towel rail onto the fitted brackets with a helper, and check it seats fully and sits level. Don't connect the plumbing yet, get the rail hanging securely first.

AB-09Reconnect the plumbingWrap PTFE tape clockwise around each threaded connection three or four times. Reconnect the valve fittings by hand first, then nip them up with an adjustable spanner, don't overtighten or you risk cracking the fitting. If you're fitting new valves rather than reusing the old ones, fit them to the rail first, then connect to the pipework.

1 roll · PTFE tape

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

2 each · Radiator valves (if replacing)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-10Refill, bleed and check for leaksOpen both valves slowly and let the system refill. Hold your bleed key ready and bleed the towel rail as soon as you hear water reach the top, closing the valve as soon as water (not air) comes out steadily. Check every joint by hand and with tissue paper for damp patches over the next 10 minutes.

AB-11Test and tidy upIf dual fuel, switch the electrical circuit back on at the consumer unit and test the element on its own. Run your heating and confirm the towel rail heats up evenly along its whole length. Dry up any spilt water, dispose of the old towel rail at your local recycling centre, and give the wall a final wipe down.

Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Save this as a project

Back to all guides