A shower system’s command center is the control valve. It turns the water on and off, adjusts the shower temperature, and controls how much water goes to the showerhead and any side sprays. Its capacity determines how many spray options your system can include.

If you buy a control valve with scald-protection, it can even keep your shower at a comfortable temperature when someone flushes the toilet or turns on the washing machine (see more about anti-scald shower valves).

Today’s shower systems offer many ways to get wet. The most popular is still a fixed showerhead installed about 78 inches off the floor and angled to spray at shoulder height. A more versatile option is a hand shower on a slide bar, which can accommodate bathers of different heights.

An overhead “shampoo” shower mounted in the ceiling provides a waterfall effect, and can supplement a basic showerhead. Look for a showerhead that has holes in the center as well as around the perimeter for the best spray pattern. Some showerheads have a range of settings that will let you select the water flow you prefer, from fine spray to coarse, as well as different pulsation levels for a water massage.

Wall-mounted spray jets can be added to a conventional overhead system to create a whole-body shower. These “surround” designs have diverter valves that let you use just a few jets at once, and individual volume controls for each bank of two or three jets.

A multispray shower can use 50 gallons of water in eight to ten minutes, so your water bill is likely to go up and you may need a second (or larger) water heater to meet the demand for longer or consecutive showers. Be sure that the highest jets can be turned off separately so that they won’t spray short people in the face. You’ll also need a shutoff valve so you can take an ordinary shower if you want to.

If you’re planning a very elaborate showerinstallation, be aware that it can be tricky to coordinate multiple water sources. You may find it worthwhile to have your system professionally designed so you won’t be plagued by temperature and pressure fluctuations.

Many cities now require the use of low-flow showerheads in remodels; whether or not one is required, you may want to install this type to reduce your water bill. If you decide to buy a water-saving showerhead, don’t try to cut costs: Inexpensive models often deliver a paltry drizzle that cools off as it falls.