Solar water heating

A method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a coil of tubing, the coil having a plurality of turns of tubing around and radially spaced from an axis forming a helical shape with turns of tubing being axially displaced from adjacent turns of tubing;
• (b) disposing the coil in a location receiving sunlight with the coil axis oriented generally vertically;
• and
• (c) causing fluid to flow through the coil.

A method of making a solar collector for a solar water heating system comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a supply of flexible tubing and a frame;
• (b) securing a portion of the tubing to the frame;
• and
• (c) rotating the tubing supply and the frame relative to one another so as to dispose a portion of the tubing in successive turns around the frame to form a coil.

A solar water heating system comprising:

• (a) a decorative structure;
• and
• (b) a coil of tubing disposed within the decorative structure, the coil having a helical shape and being oriented with its axis disposed generally vertically,
• wherein the solar water heating system includes a base portion comprising a helical coil and a roof portion disposed above the base portion and comprising a spiral coil, the helical coil and the spiral coil being coupled so that water flowing through one coil will flow through the other coil.

A solar water heating system comprising:

• (a) a decorative structure;
• and
• (b) a coil of tubing disposed within the decorative structure, the coil having a helical shape and being oriented with its axis disposed generally vertically,
• wherein the structure is configured to permit sunlight to impinge on a radially outwardly disposed surface and a radially inwardly disposed surface of the coil.

(new) A method of making a solar collector for a solar water heating system comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a supply of flexible tubing and a frame;
• (b) securing a portion of the tubing to the frame;
• and
• (c) rotating the tubing supply and the frame relative to one another so as to dispose a portion of the tubing in successive turns around the frame to form a coil,
• wherein the frame includes a tubular portion, and the rotating step (c) disposes the tubing around the tubular portion to form a helical coil, further comprising the step of coupling the spiral coil to the helical coil so that fluid flowing through the helical coil also flows through the spiral coil.