Water heater with passive automatic hot water circulation through a home or building

A continuous hot water supply system connectable to a water supply line and to a flow circuit having a hot water supply line, and a hot water return line connected to the hot water supply line, comprising:

• a water heating assembly coupled to the water supply line, wherein at least a portion of the water supply line extends from the water heating assembly;
• a reservoir remote from the water heating assembly and positioned to receive heated water from the water heating assembly, the reservoir having a first inlet and a first outlet, the first outlet being connectable to the hot water supply line;
• and
• a circulation device in fluid communication with the reservoir, the circulation device having a second inlet connectable to the water supply line to receive water therefrom, the circulation device having a second outlet in fluid connection with at least one of the water heating assembly and the reservoir, the circulation device having at least one return inlet connectable to the hot water return line and configured to allow a substantially continuous flow of return hot water therethrough driven by convection forces without the benefit of a recirculation pump, and a valve connected to the return inlet and being moveable between open and closed positions, the valve in the open position allowing recirculated hot water to flow into the chamber from the return line, and the valve in the closed position blocking water from flowing from the chamber through the return line.