September 5th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

If you are looking into heating options for your bathroom and are unsure if you even need a heater or what a bathroom heater would need to safely operate in your bathroom then look no further. In this blog, we will take a look at some of the most important features you need to consider before selecting your heater, the heating options available and if you do in fact need to add a heater in your bathroom at all.

Do I Need to Heat My Bathroom?

So, let’s take a look first and foremost as to whether you need to heat your bathroom in this first place. Well, the short answer is, no. You do not have to have a heater in your bathroom however different factors and climates will affect how much impact not having a source of heat in your bathroom will cause. There are also other advantages that come with having a source of heat in your bathroom.

Let’s start by looking at those who will benefit the most from having a bathroom heater for example homes in colder and more damp climates, such as our own here in the UK should strongly consider having a heater installed in the bathroom not only because this will help to keep warm in the cooler weather after all no-one wants to get out of a nice warm bath or shower and immediately feel cold! It also has a more practical use in that having a source of heat will also help to protect against dampness and prevent mould and mildew from growing.

What Heaters are Best Suited for Bathrooms?

So what heaters can you use in your bathroom? The possibilities are endless, you can install any kind of heater in your bathroom from overdoor fan heaters, panel heaters or even heated towel rails. The kind of heater you want to install depends entirely on your own preference. There are a few things that are important to consider when purchasing your heater but we will look at that in more detail further on in this blog, let’s first take a look at the most popular kinds of heaters and the benefits that they offer.

Fan Heaters

Fan heaters are a popular choice for bathrooms for a couple of reasons, they provide heat very quickly and cool down quickly too so that means you can ensure that they are only powered on and producing heat for exactly as long as you need it.

Fan heaters also have the bonus of being more compact and can be installed over doors making them ideal for smaller bathrooms or for those who do not want to lose too much space in their bathroom.  

MYLEK Electric Bathroom Heater - 2KW

Price: £59.99

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Panel Heaters

Panel heaters are another great option for bathrooms, this is again because they often have very slim and compact designs so that they can be installed in even the most space-restricted bathrooms without losing too much space.

Panel heaters also have the added benefit of being very eco-friendly so they will keep you warm while also keeping your energy usage low so you do not need to worry about running the risk of high energy bills. More often than not these can also be programmed so you can set your heater up when installed and it will turn on and off exactly when you need it to on its own, making a great option for busy homes with families that have set bathroom times.

MYLEK LED Bathroom Safe Electric Panel Heater with Timer and Thermostat 500W

Price: £79.99

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Heated Towel Rails

A more recent but increasingly popular choice for bathrooms is replacing traditional heaters with heated towel rails. This is a great choice for bathrooms as they can be made to fit in small areas and these usually come in a wide range of sizes too so it is easy to find a towel rail that suits your needs. Towel rails also provide the same additional benefit of warming the room, unlike panel heaters and fan heaters these can also be used to warm and dry towels for added comfort and convenience.

MYLEK Electric Ladder Heated Towel Rail 500W - ERP Compliant

Price: £139.99

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What Does A Heater Need for Safe Bathroom Installation?

So, as you can see there is a wide range of heaters you can choose for your bathroom to suit your needs and tastes. However, when choosing your heater, it is incredibly important to ensure that your heater of choice holds an adequate IP rating.

What is an IP rating?

If you are not familiar IP rating certification, also known as Ingress Protection Rating, is a certification given to electrical products that inform consumers how resistant to water and debris a product is. The IP rating on a product will usually appear as something like this IP24 – the first number indicates solids/debris resistance while the second digit indicates water resistance. So, in this example, the product is protected against solids up to 12mm, and water resistant against splashing water from all directions for up to 10 minutes. In some cases when one of the ratings is not applicable this will appear IPX4, so this shows that the product is water resistant but is not protected against solids.

This means when choosing the heater for your bathroom an area that predominantly has water and will more than likely be subjected to splashes of water is it important that the IP rating meets the required minimum which in most cases would be IPX4.

Bathroom Zones

Another important aspect to consider is where you wish to install your heater within your bathroom as this will dictate what kind of IP rating you require. When it comes to installing electricals in your bathroom there are different ‘zones’ that reflect how close they are to water sources. For example, zone 1 would be located directly inside a shower or next to the bathtub – these areas would usually require an IPX6 rating. So, you should have a full understanding of where your heater is going to be placed before you choose your heater so you can ensure you pick the correct IP rating.

If you feel at all unsure about whether your heater is suitable for where you want to install it then it is always best to seek advice from a professional and they will be able to better advise you.

How to install A Heater in The Bathroom

When it comes to installing your heater, it is highly recommended that you have this done by a professional who will be able to confirm that everything is safe for use in the desired area and they will also be able to safely hardwire the unit in which is also required for safe use in a bathroom.

We hope that this article has helped you understand how to heat your bathroom and the benefits of doing so. There are many more options available on today’s market for effectively and efficiently heating your bathroom, however, there are some important things to keep in mind and we hope that this blog was able to shed some light on the factors you need to consider.