Digital showers, worth it? Which one?

[ghost83]

Having our bathroom finally done in 12 weeks and I’m wanting a digital shower, I’ve seem the aqualisa quartz edition but the guy didn’t recommend it he said personally he thought grohe it mira was just as good for a lot less money

So who’s got a digital shower and what would you have or got and why

[Andrew_S]

I have an aqualisa visage for the overhead ceiling mounted shower head, a mira single for the washbasin and a mira double for the bath filler and deck mounted handset in each bathroom.

I like the mira units better, but they weren’t available when I fitted the aqualisa several years ago.

[bernhund]

They are a dream to fit and from a repair point of view, easy to access. i.e no damage to tiles etc. I fit bathrooms for a living and I would guess 80% of my customers go for an Aqualisa Quartz/Zuri/etc. Second most popular is the Mira Platinum. Grohe etc just a few.
Occasionally a Quartz will 'freeze' (as in computer) and stop working. The solution usually is to switch it off at the plug and back on.

[MrHappy]

I've just bought the Aqualisa Quartz (ceiling fed, gravity pumped) on my plumbers recommendation. Paid £439 at Screwfix.

[Simpo Two]

MrHappy said:

I've just bought the Aqualisa Quartz (ceiling fed, gravity pumped) on my plumbers recommendation. Paid £439 at Screwfix.

I have one of these, perhaps an older model as I fitted it in 2005, but it's a brilliant design, easy to fit (pump goes in roof above shower and pumps the water down inside the riser rail). It looks nice, feels nice and solid to use and works well. I think modern versions have the hose clad in PVC so it won't go manky like mine does.

[Murph7355]

Mira Platinum.

Not overly impressed with our Aqualisa. But the two MP's we have are superb.

[Rosscow]

Do you need a pump?

If you have a high pressure system anyway and don’t need a pump, I wouldn’t bother.

[Harry Biscuit]

Murph7355 said:

Mira Platinum.

Not overly impressed with our Aqualisa. But the two MP's we have are superb.

Stock rotation can be an issue & the one I bought last year had a faulty controller. But their warranty service was really good (on site).

The Grohe unit we had was great but expensive & no spares available.

Check what the minimum head requirement is as the Grohe requires more than the Mira.

[anomaly]

We have a Kohler DTV and it's great. First used it in a hotel and loved it so installed one when we created our new ensuite. Simple to use, accurate and reliable.

[FlossyThePig]

We had our shower room revamped just before Christmas with an Aqualisa Quartz, ceiling mounted fixed head, adjustable head, digital diverter and wired remote control. I do like the remote control feature.

[Wombat3]

Got 2 Aqualisa Quartz showers, non pumped (Combi boiler). They seem to work well, had no problems with them in 3 years.

Not a fan of fixed head showers. A shower head on the end of a hose makes it a darn site easier to clean the shower!

[ghost83]

It will be pumped as we have a gravity fed system,

My thoughts are to have the rail with shower head and then have a fixed one either out the ceiling or wall,

I love the look of the quartz edition

[ghost83]

he Took all measurements and a basic brief of what we want so is going to draw it up and then talk to us about fit etc etc

I did say I wanted split face tiles but he reckoned with it been a small bathroom we will have an issue with condensation sat on them and dust

[TooMany2cvs]

Genuine question - what does a digital shower do that a normal one doesn't?
(We have mains pressure hot water, so don't need a pump)

[ghost83]

Probably nothing but it’s modern and looks cleaner in my opinion

[Rosscow]

TooMany2cvs said:

Genuine question - what does a digital shower do that a normal one doesn't?
(We have mains pressure hot water, so don't need a pump)

Not a lot, really. Unless you particularly want a remote control on/off.

You're adding things that can go wrong (electrical components) and obviously you can't use them should you have a power cut.

[acme]

I'm intrigued in this too, as about to have an ensuite built & bathroom re-fitted with a new separate shower.

So far the builder has suggested not to have an electronic one, and they do appear to be a lot more expensive.

One of my concerns on the whole of my renovation project is not to add in complicated elements for the sake of it, longevity is important and I'm trying to get it right now - for example I'll be having splash panels and not tiles.

One thing I do think is important to consider if you're having a fixed head ceiling/wall waterfall shower head is turning it on before you get in to warm it & not getting wet! Hopefully be going for a separate wall controller, but these remote types have this advantage too.

[Trif]

ghost83 said:

Probably nothing but it’s modern and looks cleaner in my opinion

I love just pressing a button and by the time I've undressed I can enter the shower knowing it is the perfect temperature and pressure. I really miss it when staying away.

I have a Mira Dual Platinum and has been great for the past 3 years.

[Andrew_S]

Trif said:

ghost83 said:

Probably nothing but it’s modern and looks cleaner in my opinion

I love just pressing a button and by the time I've undressed I can enter the shower knowing it is the perfect temperature and pressure. I really miss it when staying away.

I have a Mira Dual Platinum and has been great for the past 3 years.

Me too, I have gone tapless in the bathrooms for a minimalistic look.

[ghost83]

Andrew_S said:

Me too, I have gone tapless in the bathrooms for a minimalistic look.

Tapless how does that work then