The Sesia Products
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does "reversible" installation mean for the Reina Sesia?
The Reina Sesia is designed with a symmetrical mounting system. This allows you to flip the radiator 180 degrees during installation so that the open ends of the horizontal bars point either to the left or the right. This solves the common problem of accessibility; you can orient the open side towards the room or away from a shower screen, making it significantly easier to slide towels onto the rail without obstruction.
Why are the pipe centers only 100mm apart?
Unlike standard ladder rails where valves are located at the bottom outer corners (e.g., 450mm apart), the Reina Sesia features central connection points located at the bottom of the vertical uprights. Because these uprights are grouped on one side to create the offset design, the inlets are only 100mm apart. You must ensure your pipework is roughed in to this narrow measurement, which is significantly narrower than the radiator's total width of 500mm.
Can the Reina Sesia be converted to Dual Fuel?
Yes, the Reina Sesia is fully compatible with dual fuel installations. To do this, you will need a T-piece and an electric heating element. Because the pipe centers are tight (100mm), fitting a T-piece and valve side-by-side can be spatially challenging. It is often technically cleaner to use a dedicated "Dual Fuel Valve" or "H-Block" valve if compatible, or ensure you have sufficient vertical clearance below the rail to accommodate the T-piece arrangement.
Does the Chrome finish affect the heating performance?
Yes, the Chrome finish acts as a slight insulator compared to painted finishes. While the mild steel core conducts heat efficiently, the chrome plating radiates less heat than white or anthracite models. However, the Reina Sesia is engineered with flat horizontal bars which offer a larger surface area than round tubes, helping to compensate for this and delivering a respectable output (up to 2130 BTUs for the 1500mm model), which is generally sufficient for warming towels and heating small-to-medium bathrooms.
What type of valves do I need for the Reina Sesia?
The Sesia has standard 1/2" BSP bottom connections spaced 100mm apart. If your pipes come from the floor, you need Straight Valves. If your pipes come from the wall, you need Angled or Corner Valves. Given the offset design, using Corner Valves is often the best aesthetic choice for wall-fed pipes as they keep the valve heads tucked neatly underneath the rail without protruding into the room.
Is the Reina Sesia suitable for heavy towels?
Yes, the unit is manufactured from high-quality mild steel and designed to support the weight of wet towels. However, because the design is cantilevered (supported on one side), the torque load on the wall brackets is higher than on a standard 4-point ladder rail. You must ensure the wall brackets are fixed into solid masonry or structural timber studs. Do not rely solely on plasterboard fixings, as the weight of the filled radiator plus wet towels could pull them loose over time.
How does the wall projection affect installation behind doors?
The Reina Sesia has a wall projection of between 85mm and 100mm (depending on bracket adjustment). This is a relatively slim profile, making it a good "problem solver" for narrow spaces such as behind a bathroom door. However, you must account for the additional depth of the towels themselves. The open-ended design allows towels to sit flat rather than bunched, which helps keep the total depth to a minimum.
Can I use the Reina Sesia as an electric-only towel rail?
Yes, if you do not have central heating pipes, the Sesia can be filled with a thermal liquid (usually a glycol/water mix) and fitted with an electric heating element. You must leave a 10% expansion gap when filling. Due to the 100mm connection distance, you would typically install the element in one side and a blanking plug in the other. Ensure the element wattage matches the manufacturer's recommendation for the specific height (typically 150W, 300W, or 400W depending on the size).
How do I bleed air from the Reina Sesia?
Air will naturally rise to the highest point of the radiator. The Reina Sesia is supplied with an air vent (bleed valve) which is typically fitted at the top of the vertical collector bar. When commissioning, turn the pump off and open the bleed valve with a radiator key until water flows steadily. Because the horizontal bars are flat, you should ensure the radiator is mounted perfectly level or slightly higher at the vent side to ensure no air pockets get trapped in the horizontal tubes.
What is the benefit of the flat bar design over round tubes?
The flat bar design of the Sesia offers a greater contact surface area with your towels compared to traditional round tubes. This technical advantage results in faster heat transfer to the fabric, meaning your towels warm up and dry quicker. Additionally, the flat profile provides a modern, architectural aesthetic that reflects light differently, enhancing the visual impact of the chrome finish.