The invention concerns devices for water storage, heating and delivery. A storage water heater of the invention provides an amount of unmixed recently heated water from an internal small volume during a draw along with water from a main volume. When water is drawn from the storage water heater, an amount of recently heated water substantially unmixed with the remaining volume of the tank is drawn along with heated water from the remaining volume. Substantial performance increases in the hot water that may be delivered over a period, such as an hour, may be achieved compared to an otherwise identical storage water heater that lacks the invention.