We are replacing both bathrooms this year, including adding a separate shower enclosure to the main bathroom. Our plumber is recommending digital showers. Any experience, or brands to avoid?

Sounds like just something else to go wrong – like wireless toasters and kettles – whats the point?

We’ve had a AquLisa Axis Digital for 10+ years.

All the gubbins is in the loft, Single pipe / riser comes down into the bathroom. Very tidy design.

Only gone wrong once – very cheap / nasty pot used for the temp control dial. Cheap and easy fix.

Got a remote start button too – that is worth having.

Sounds like a good way to make a shower installation more expensive to me. Also more things to go wrong.

I have a wireless kettle – on my Aga!

I’m sure there are specialist websites for this kinda thing.. 🙋‍♀️🌨🌨🌨☔️

We looked ate getting one for the loft en-suite.

Wasn’t really practical (we haven’t got a loft anymore) or cheap.

Wev’e got an Aqualisa Qurtz in the en-suite, it’s very powerful!

5 year warranty which was nice when it started dripping after 2 years (we have very hard water & some scale had accumulated in the valve assembly) Guy came out & fixed it, no bother.

My parents have one in their en suite – meh!  I really dont know what it offers over a normal shower (ok, the control panel is tiny), but for the cost I really dont think it is worth it.  Every time my Mum comes here she mutters about she wishes she’d just got a normal shower like ours.

What’s ‘digital’ about them?

Are these electric showers than are heating the water or just mixers/thermostats that supply water from a hot water tank or combi boiler?  Like anything I’m sure there are good and bad and a good non digital will be better than a poor digital.

They are a mixer that digitally controls temp and flow balance. The controls also don’t need to be inside the shower, as they are a digital control, either wired or wireless.

The Mira one I’m contemplating controls both the shower and bath filler to your selected temperature. You can also set the bath level required.

Do I need it? Of course not. I do like the idea of accessing the controls outside the shower, setting the required temperature and it tells you when it’s ready. The bath filler removes the need for taps, which in my bathroom helps a lot. I can place the remote button in a place accessible from the bath too. There is an option to connect via an app too, so remote filling the bath, or starting the shower as you get out of bed!

Wish we’d have gone for a digital shower, would have saved knocking a massive hole in the wall for the shower mixer valve and would have meant the pipework was easier. Bath filler off the same controller definitely recommended whether digital or not.

The price differential isn’t huge either. It’s easier to fit too, so that balances costs.

Mum and dad have one and it’s great. The original lasted around 8 years when it developed a problem in the control box. Company they got it from offered a reduced cost replacement and actually replaced everything. The only difference on the new one is that they have reduced the pressure on the boost setting so it no longer skins you alive if you use it! Only real advantage over a standard thermostatic shower is that it’s a lot neater and very simple to fit if there is loft space above.

Parents have one. Main benefit seems to be if you have different people using it who like different temperatures – you press a button and it starts up to that temperature (flashing light goes steady once it’s ready to use). More compact than the regular bar type too.

Do they work with combi systems ok? I.e non pumped??

Yes, main ones are Combi, you can also get pump specific ones.

Can’t speak about digital but it’s lovely having controls that don’t require you to turn them on then quickly leap out of the way of the deluge of freezing water, especially if it’s an overhead rain shower thing.

Got a remote start button too – that is worth having.

When is the time when you need to remote start your own shower but you are no where near it to do it yourself?

Having spent money swapping to an unvented hot water system that removed pipework from our loft I wouldn’t be fitting a shower that put the pipework back up there.

That said, we fitted digital bath and shower controls to a house we flipped last year and they looked nice. But I wouldn’t myself, more stuff to go wrong.

When is the time when you need to remote start your own shower but you are no where near it to do it yourself?

Well you can switch it on from downstairs & by the time you get upstairs & get your kit off it’ll be ready. Must save vital seconds. 🙂

we have a couple. Bit of a sceptic before we got them, but they are very good!

The heating up and turning off before you get is excellent.

An app to run a bath? Now there’s a solution to a non existent problem.

There was no shower when I moved into this place so got an in-bath one fitted. Pump is in the loft with digi remote thing on the bathroom wall. It’s great tbh. Anyone who has stayed round has always commented on how easy to use it is and how good it is to have instant heat. Press the button, open the curtain, step in to hot water.

Still have an old-skool boiler (not combi) with the tank in the loft, not sure if that makes any difference.

Only issue is when the batteries die in the remote. Sometimes it can switch itself off while you’re showering. Only happened 2 or 3 times in 3 years though.

When is the time when you need to remote start your own shower but you are no where near it to do it yourself?

You misunderstand, it’s not a wireless remote. Just on the wall by the door so you can turn it on have it warming up without reaching over / getting wet 🙂

Marketing guff I saw for one said you get “beautifully blended water at the correct temperature every time.”

How awful it is to have an unblended shower that might require a turn of the dial to adjust the temperature, a bit.

I have the normal Aqualisa Quartz and thought the digital was an indulgence, but I would say that it is bloody powerful and not controllable for that power – I’ve switched it to ‘Eco’ mode to reduce it but it is still more flow and power than I would like.

just something to look for in a new shower…

page! My old shower has “digital” temperature control: scalding hot or freezing cold 😃

Now there’s a solution to a non existent problem

Ah, wait until you get to bogs that can weigh you so they know exactly where to point to water jet to clean your arse.  The future is so here now

and 🙂 @GrahamS