Though widely popular in other parts of the world, solar water heaters are less well known in the US. They can save you money and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.

If you, like me, have been thirsty enough to drink from a bottle of water you left in your car on a sunny day, you know just how well the sun can heat water. Let it sit for a few hours and you can enjoy some scalding hot water on a scalding hot day.

That’s the concept behind a solar water heater, a type of solar technology that, while widely adopted in parts of the world, has struggled for wider acceptance in the US If you’re looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint and save a bit of money, a solar water heater might make sense for you.

Below is everything you need to know before you stick one on your roof, including whether you should at all.

What are solar water heaters?

Solar water heaters are actually a bit more complex than a water bottle in a car. They vary in design, efficiency, capacity and price, but they all replace a good chunk of the gas or electricity used to heat water with clean, free sunlight.

Solar water heaters come in three basic designs, though all have a way to collect heat, a tank to store hot water, back up heating for when your system can’t keep up and some sort of circulation system.

Batch collector water heaters heat up water in tubs or pipes, usually painted black to collect more of the sun’s heat. To keep water from getting too hot, cold water can be mixed in periodically. These heaters are best suited for warmer climates.

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