Do-it-yourself heated towel rail water repair

When a person purchases a heated towel rail, it may not always be of high quality. On the outside, they are all attractive and, at first glance, good. But there are manufacturers who sell defective towels. As a result, unpleasant situations happen.

Some time after installation in the bathroom, the towel starts to leak. When the water starts, a high pressure is created, which finds a weak point, a thin wall of the towel, and squeezes out a small hole in this place through which water oozes.

You can eliminate any leak with a clamp, but for this you first need to turn off the water supply to the towel.

Usually, air accumulates in the hot water system before starting the water. Accordingly, it enters the water supply systems of multi-storey buildings.

Air in the system appears as a result of centralized repair of highways, replacement of valves, pipeline ruptures at home and other troubleshooting of the pipeline system.

Heated towel rails, as a rule, are connected to hot water supply. The reason for a cold towel, if there is hot water in the taps, is an airlock in the system or in the heated towel rail. To solve this problem, you need to bleed air from it.

To bleed air on the heated towel rail, a special device is installed - the Mayevsky crane. It has the form of a threaded nut, on which a rotary mechanism with a latch in the form of a square bolt with a slot for a straight screwdriver is screwed on top.

The swivel mechanism is made of plastic. It has an opening that serves to direct the air bleed flow. It is necessary to bleed the air until water without air begins to flow steadily.

If after that the heated towel rail remains cold. Then you need to ask the neighbors from the upper floors to do the same at home.

If a brass heated towel rail is installed in the bathroom, and it cracks or a small hole appears, you need to replace it with a new one. Of course, there is a way to fix it by soldering.

Plain soldering with tin is not suitable for repairing brass pipes, since a wide seam remains behind the tin, and besides, it is not strong.

To solder the pipes of a brass heated towel rail, you need to prepare:

• Gas burner;
• Graphite crucible;
• Boric acid;
• Borax and asbestos base;
• Silver and copper.

It is necessary to prepare the brass pipe solder. It is manufactured using a gas burner and a graphite crucible. It contains one proportion of copper and two particles of silver and is thoroughly mixed before they are fused.

Then the crucible must be lowered into chilled water, and ready-made solder is taken out of it for repairing brass pipes. The resulting consistency is cut into strips and the powdery mass is planed using files of different roughness.

Making flux for soldering: 20 gr. borax powder, 20 gr. boric acid, 250 ml. water. You need to mix.

1. The towel must be placed on an asbestos base and lubricated with the flux that was originally made;
2. Sprinkle the fabricated solder chips over the damaged area. Then we gradually heat it up with a gas burner;
3. The soldering temperature should not exceed 700 ° C, you need to carefully monitor the temperature of the burner (brass must not be overheated, especially thin brass).

Stainless steel is a material that is made by an alloy of iron, chromium, molybdenum, nickel.There are notions of food and non food stainless steel. Food grade stainless steel is used for the manufacture of cutlery and tableware.

Non food grade stainless steel is used for the manufacture of various products, including heated towel rails.

Heated towel rails made of stainless steel are the most common and are in great demand among customers. Next to this, they are very reliable and give off heat well.

There are situations when such a towel needs repair. It doesn't happen often. The situation when a stainless steel heated towel rail is leaking can occur due to defects in production. The damage can be repaired by soldering.

A heated towel rail in the bathroom performs two functions at once: it heats the room and dries the bath towels laid out on it (hence its name). In fact, it is a serpentine curved radiator pipe connected to a riser of a heating or hot water supply system. It often happens that, due to thermal expansion during operation, under the influence of increased pressure and corrosion, a heated towel rail is leaking. What to do in this case? How to fix a leak? Everything in order.

This plumbing fixture is also called a coil. Today in specialized stores you can buy coils of any configuration, size, and various materials. Available in stainless steel, copper, chrome-plated brass, aluminum and enamelled steel. The thickness and quality of the metal is also different. Copper is considered the best, but stainless steel coils also have a long service life.

Depending on the device and principle of operation, heated towel rails are of the following types.

1. Hot water: the most common appliances of this type, but their operation depends on the availability of hot water in the heating or water supply systems. This limits the location of the coil and makes it difficult to transport. The advantage of such devices is the relatively low cost and simplicity of the device. They fail less often than others.
2. Electric: these heated towel rails differ from conventional electric heaters only in appearance and do not depend on heating and water supply systems. Installation of such a device is possible anywhere with an electrical outlet.
3. Combined: the most expensive and versatile devices. In summer, their operation is ensured by a built-in electric heater, and in winter they use water heated by the central heating system.

The form of heated towel rails is: M-shaped, U-shaped, serpentine, in the form of a ladder and combined (for example, in the form of a lattice). When choosing, it is worth considering whether a heated towel rail is made from a seamless or from a seam pipe. The first option is more reliable: its leak is likely only at the points of connection to the riser. Suture options are cheaper and therefore more common. But leakage is possible anywhere in the device.

A nuisance can occur with both an old device and a new, recently installed one. There are several reasons and they do not depend on the type of devices.

• Violation of the tightness of the connection of the device with the riser pipe due to wear of the gasket (or inept installation) or metal corrosion. It manifests itself by constant digging and traces of drips with rust.

• Leakage due to water hammer: most often occurs at the seam site of coils made of seam pipes. This is the most dangerous type of damage: it can occur instantly and is accompanied by copious flows of water.
• Mechanical damage unnoticed earlier, caused by accident during repair. The reason may be a hammer that has fallen from above or a perforator drill that has jumped off to the side.
• Manufacturing defects: cheap thin-walled heated towel rails made in China are “sinned” by this.In the event that a “sink” is hidden in the “body” of the pipe (a place not filled with metal), with an increased pressure of the coolant or as a result of corrosion, such a defect will manifest itself in the form of a leak.

The way to eliminate the leak depends on the cause of its occurrence. Let's consider them in accordance with the above information.

1. In some cases, a leak at the connection point can be eliminated with a wrench of a suitable size: it is necessary to tighten the clamping nut tightly. To avoid damaging the nickel coating of the nut, wrap it with a rag.
2. If it is established that the cause of the leak is the failure of the gasket, it is necessary to seek help from the housing maintenance company. It is required to shut off the coolant supply, drain the water from the riser and then replace the gasket. The system is then carefully filled to prevent water hammer.
3. If a leak is found in the section of the coil due to the appearance of a crack in the seam pipe or a fistula due to a "sink", the damaged section can be attempted to be welded or sealed. To do this, it is also necessary to shut off the coolant supply. Another way to stop the leak is with a suitably sized “clamp” with a rubber gasket. It can be purchased ready-made or made by yourself.
4. If a leak occurs due to metal corrosion, then the device is worn out and must be replaced. Repair by welding will not be possible, and the use of a "clamp" can only be a temporary solution to the problem.

You need to know that a manufacturer's and seller's warranty must be provided for a new heated towel rail. If after installation a fatal defect was found, such a device must be replaced.

In order to avoid problems associated with improper installation, experienced specialists of enterprises with certificates confirming their competence should be invited to perform the work.

An electric heated towel rail is a convenient and practical household appliance. It provides a comfortable microclimate in the bathroom, prevents the appearance of fungus and allows towels to dry quickly.

This equipment is reliable and has a very long service life. But sometimes force majeure circumstances happen, and the owners have to think about repairing an electric heated towel rail, which has ceased to perform its functions.

The cause of a breakdown or incorrect functioning of a heated towel rail is often a chain of nodes connecting the device to the power grid.

The search for the problem begins with an examination of the outlet. Remove the plug and inspect the inlets carefully.

In the absence of visual damage, the assembly is examined using an indicator screwdriver. If there is no current, the outlet is replaced with a working one, but when there is current, proceed to check the thermostat. It is carefully rotated and listened to the sound. A faint click that is heard indicates that the contacts are triggered and means that the device is working properly.

Further, the fault is searched for in the power line. With increased loads on the network, it becomes hot and the device automatically turns off. In such a situation, the equipment is again connected to the power supply and carefully monitored. Repeated knocking out of the automatic plug clearly indicates that there is a short circuit in the connection system, which must be detected and eliminated.

Diagnostics of the system for a short circuit is carried out using a multimeter. It is set to hold the DC resistance level.

The cord for connecting the heated towel rail to the network is removed from the socket, and then the resistance of the heating element and the wire is measured. Indicators of heating elements should tend to zero and be slightly less than 1 Ohm. The resistance of the wire should approach infinity, since the circuit connecting the neutral and phase conductors is open.

If other numbers are displayed on the device display, the damaged liner must be replaced.This takes a minimum of time and effort, provided that it is mounted openly. When a hidden method of laying is used, to eliminate the problem for a while, it is required to remove fragments of the external wall decoration, carry out the necessary repair work and only then return the decor elements back.

According to the rules for the safe operation of a heated towel rail, the installation of an outlet directly in the bathroom is carried out only if it is connected to the system through an RCD machine. In a network that complies with all PUE standards, a circuit breaker, an RCD device and a wiring leading to the outlet are installed.

To locate the fault area, first check the position of all circuit breakers.

• The disconnected main circuit breaker when the RCD is on means a short circuit in the system.
• The switched on main machine with the RCD disconnected signals a decrease in the level of insulation resistance on the heating element of the device.
• If, when the heated towel rail is disconnected from the outlet, both disconnected machines are easily turned on and do not knock out, the problems should be looked for in the device itself. When one of them turns off the protective system immediately after turning it on, the problem lies in the liner.
• If, when the heated towel rail is plugged in, the machines turn on, but one of them knocks out, the fault is in the towel dryer.

A unit that does not work with two machines turned on clearly indicates that the heating element may partially burn out or has already completely burned out and needs to be replaced.

Electric heated towel rails are classified into two types. Some are called solid-filled and graphite is used as a heating agent. The second - liquid - run on a special mineral oil, water or antifreeze.

When a solid-filled or liquid heated towel rail stops functioning, the area of ​​failure is first indicated. If the wiring and external power grid are checked and in good order, then the problem is most likely in the equipment itself.

A detailed search begins with determining whether the heated towel rail heats up weaker or does not heat at all. To do this, the device is turned on in standard mode, and after 5-7 minutes, the heating level in the area of ​​the main heating element is checked.

When in this place the unit becomes simply warm, but not fiery, they try to increase the temperature by further adjusting the thermostat.

When the heated towel rail warms up as much as possible only in the area of ​​the heating element, and then remains barely warm or even cold, there is a possibility that it is simply clogged and needs high-quality cleaning. Do it yourself at home.

The device is disconnected from the network, removed from the wall and turned over so that the heating liquid does not flow out. Using a wrench, unscrew the main valve and clean the inlet with a wire. Then the unit is assembled, checked for leaks, returned to its usual place and connected to the power supply. Normal operation of the device in standard mode means that the repair was successful.

If the heating element does not heat up at all, the source of the problem is sought in the electrical part of the unit.

When it is already known for sure that the problem of an inoperative heated towel rail is not in the electrical network, but in the device itself, you urgently need to find the place of the malfunction. Devices operating on the basis of a heating cable, in most cases, cannot be repaired or require a complete replacement of the main element. Almost all heating elements can be repaired without any problems and, after servicing, work normally in standard mode.

To diagnose the heating element, you need to get to the contacts connecting it to the power supply system. To do this, first remove the casing covering the contact part.This process is different for each model and is usually described in the user manual that comes with your heated towel rail.

The wires connecting the heating element with the general system are soldered or fastened with special contacts. They are carefully detached. Then, with the help of a multimeter, they ring out separately, first the wire, and then the heating element itself. The measurement scale is set to "Ω" and the maximum value is indicated. Measurement is made between three passing wires and the indicator is recorded. It should be as high as possible. Data approaching 0 indicates a short circuit in the system.

If there is some kind of regulating equipment between the outlet and the heating element, it is turned off before measurement and tested separately. Ignoring this item leads to receiving incorrect data.

Inspection of the heating element begins with checking the circuit between the power contacts. Then the presence and level of resistance between the power contacts and the case is determined. If there is no circuit between the power contacts, then either the heating element itself or the thermostat has broken. A small value of the resistance indicator between the power contacts and the heating element case indicates its damage or breakdown. In such a situation, the element is removed and replaced with a new one.

The configuration of most models of electric towel warmers provides for the replacement of a failed heating element with a new one. The procedure is not too complicated, and you can do it yourself at home using a screwdriver, pliers and a set of wrenches.

Before starting repair work, you need to find out what type of heating element is used in the heated towel rail model. The most common are "wet" heating elements, in which the heating element is in contact with the liquid heat carrier.

Before repairing such units, they are removed from the wall, turned over, the inlet valve is unscrewed and the working fluid (water, oil, distillate solution) is drained. Then the threaded connections fastening the element to the body are unscrewed, the faulty heating element is replaced with an operable one, a heat-carrying liquid is poured, the outlet openings are closed and the installation is checked for leaks.

In "dry" versions, where the heating element and the coolant are separated from each other, the faulty heating element is simply unscrewed from the body and a new one is put in its place.

At the end of the work, the entire heating element is called with a multimeter, and only when positive results are obtained in all areas, the equipment is installed back on the wall and the equipment is connected to the power supply system.

Consider an example of improving the budgetary model of electric drying installed by a budget-conscious developer. According to the home craftsman who implemented this option, most of these appliances in the new home were out of order. Let us analyze not only the idea, but also the mistakes he made in order to avoid stepping on the "rake" already tested by the owner.

Found the cause of common breakdowns. When hanging wet things on the device, for which it is actually intended to dry, a cheap Chinese product simply burns out due to excess temperature and melting of the wiring. To exclude such negative situations, it was decided to install a thermostat.

The cause of the unit's malfunction is a violation of the integrity of the container with the coolant and, as a result, the leakage of the working fluid. The culprits of this problem are usually O-rings that have worn out during intensive use or simply have expired their time resource.

It is easiest to find a breakdown. A puddle with leaked liquid of an oily yellow or dark shade forms on the bathroom floor directly under the heated towel rail and clearly indicates a malfunction.

To eliminate the breakdown, the heated towel rail is disconnected from the electrical supply system, removed from the wall, unscrewed the valve at the inlet, drained the working fluid and carefully disassembled in the place of depressurization using an adjustable wrench or a special tool provided by the model design. The damaged O-ring is removed and a new one, which comes with the device, is installed in its place.

If all branded O-rings have already been used, the product is purchased from a specialized store. For a heated towel rail, inexpensive gaskets made of solid and semi-solid rubber are suitable. They remain operational at temperatures from -40 to + 80 ° C, and some more modern species do not lose their physical characteristics even at temperatures from -20 to + 90 ° C.

The only drawback of rubber gaskets is fragility. During operation, they quickly lose their elastic structure, delaminate or crack. When installing them in a heated towel rail, it should be borne in mind that they will have to be changed quite often.

Paronite gaskets and gaskets are more practical and can easily withstand system pressures up to 64 bar. Unlike rubber versions, they calmly tolerate high thermal loads (up to + 200 ° C), show resistance to sudden temperature changes and are not afraid of the strong pressure characteristic of heating systems.

However, paronite contains chrysolite-asbestos, which is considered harmful to human health. It contains some types of carcinogens that can provoke malignant and benign formations. In the countries of the Eurozone, asbestos is prohibited, so professionals do not recommend using paronite gaskets for household appliances.

Silicone gaskets are non-toxic and perform well, but the price is quite high. In addition, in hermetically sealed systems at temperatures above + 150 ° C, the material softens, exhibits porosity, loses its hardness and loses its original strength.

Fluorinated polymer parts are more expensive, but have unrivaled physical, anti-friction and electrical properties. Fluoroplast demonstrates complete harmlessness to humans and instantly extinguishes during spontaneous combustion.

Gaskets and seals made of this progressive material practically do not age, withstand record high loads, work efficiently in aggressive conditions, perfectly tolerate operating temperatures up to + 150 ° C and pressures up to 160 bar.

After replacing the gasket, the drained working fluid is poured into the unit. If its volume is not enough, the required amount is topped up from a spare container. If desired, the heat-conducting composition is completely changed to a new one. To prevent the system from breaking, be sure to leave an air "cushion" of 3 to 5 centimeters.

At the end of the service, the unit is reassembled, the inlet valve is tightened, checked for leaks, hung in its usual place and connected to the electrical network. A heated towel rail operating normally means that the repair was successful.

In order for an electric heated towel rail to work efficiently and not malfunction, some simple rules should be followed during the installation and operation of the device:

1. The unit must not be located in the immediate vicinity of a place where water flows. To avoid problems, it is worth hanging the household appliance as far away from the bath or shower stall as possible.
2. When connecting the device to the power supply system, you must use a connection that can withstand intense current loads.
3. For correct and safe operation of the heated towel rail, you should install residual current devices.Differential automatic machine, circuit breaker and RCD will save equipment from burnout and ensure normal operation even with unauthorized power surges.
4. The presence of a grounding contact is the most important position when installing an electric heated towel rail. In the event of insulation breakdown, it will prevent electric shock to the user.

The connection socket should not be built-in, but external and must be waterproof. If possible, it is best to place it outside the bathroom by drilling through it in a suitable location on the wall.

Troubleshooting and subsequent repair of the heated towel rail can be done at home. This requires a multimeter, screwdriver, adjustable wrench and pliers.

Carrying out work, you need to follow basic safety rules and follow the advice contained in the instructions attached to the equipment. If you are in doubt, you should contact the center of the company warranty service or call a qualified specialist to your home. It will quickly detect the problem area and fix any problems that arise.

Such equipment can be found in any apartment, because a water heated towel rail is not only an attribute of convenience, but also the need for such a humid room. Their configuration can be different, while most of them are connected directly to the heating system. In more modern buildings, dryers are connected to the hot water supply. Private home owners also prefer this connection method.

Sooner or later, such equipment will require repair work. In most cases, water heated towel rails are installed in the bathroom and connected directly to the heating system. These are old buildings and apartment buildings. They are included in the general list of engineering communications. If a breakdown has occurred, then first you should notify the management company, which is responsible for such equipment and is responsible for timely repair work. To avoid conflict situations, you should leave a request, while the cost of the work performed should not play a special role.

Before starting to carry out self-repair, you should understand the principle of operation of this device. The device belongs to the category of multifunctional, which is installed in the bathroom. Often used to dry towels or linen. Much less often it is used as a separate decorative element or a heating device. Such devices can be of several types:

If we are talking about an electrical unit, or rather about a situation where the battery stops heating up, you should use the tester, having previously disconnected the device from the network while the breakdown is being eliminated. Often the cause is a violation of the connection of individual heating elements or contacts. But the repair of water heated towel rails is somewhat more complicated. First, you need to understand the principle of DHW operation. They can be of several types:

The former are used in homes where water consumption is permanent and in small rooms. In this case, hot water will come from the general network. When the pipe is closed, the temperature of the device will begin to decrease in proportion to the cooling of the water in the pipe. You will need to drain the cold water and allow the heated towel rail to get hot water. In the case of a circulating device, there is no such disadvantage. It is especially popular in high-rise buildings. Each entrance has its own circulation and supply risers, in which the coolant circulates continuously. In this case, the use of a water heated towel rail is extremely effective. Installation is carried out on a circulation riser, in which the water temperature is slightly lower than in the supply.

To begin with, you should pay attention to the fact that the connection of such a device can be done in several ways (via bypass and directly).

1. Incorrect connection was made.
2. Over time, the pipes are simply clogged with debris.

So how do you fix this problem? In this case, the equipment must be completely reinstalled. If that doesn't work, you should consider placing an additional pump.

1. If the installation was made on the back of the pipe, the device will be cold. This will require reinstallation on a straight pipe.
2. In the absence of circulation in the DHW. Here you will need the help of a specialist. This problem cannot be solved on your own.
3. If hot water is completely shut off, then the riser will be cold. To solve the problem, it is enough to open the riser and wait for a while.
4. If a parallel connection was used, it will be necessary to eliminate the airiness of the system (Mayakovsky crane). Its location is at the highest point of the device.
5. Even if the first connection did not lead to heating of the heated towel rail. A banal marriage is possible. To find out the reason, you will need to contact the service center. In this case, either the equipment will be replaced, or it will be repaired and then installed.

To begin with, it's worth talking about the benefits of using a water heated towel rail:

Moreover, such a device is capable of simultaneously performing several functions:

• be a decorative element;
• be used as a hanger or hook;
• be used as a battery;
• the surface of the battery can be used as a dryer for small clothes.

Those who have bought and use such a device for a long time already know firsthand about the benefits of its use, functionality and benefits that it brings. It cannot be attributed to luxurious interior items, but so much an ordinary device is quite functional in a small bathroom.