Redundant to say the least! A habit for most.

Some things are just hard to understand. And life goes on!

Michael -- I know --- English can be a funny language.

As Marco Giancola said, it IS redundant.  It should be "hot water tank" or "water heater", but saying hot water heater has become common.  Life is full of redundancies... such as these 50 redundant phrases.   Are YOU guilty?  

Yeah, why don't we say cold water heater? Good obervation Michael. It's like saying "short sale" when it's anything but short. 

so you know you aren't heating the water to luke warm? 

We refer to them as Hot Water Tanks not heaters.

It's next to the water cooler? 

So true, and never thought about it. Yet another question of the universe. 

I always did too, and know make an effort to leave out the HOT part!  

Water heater here but now call some instant hot water heater!

The hot water in the heater would cool down over time if it is was not reheated to keep it at a constant hot temperature.  Also, as the water is used, colder water flows in bringing the hot water temperature down so the now cooler hot water needs to be heated back up to the set temperature.

Old habits are hard to break.

It's called water heater by most in our area.

now there's a question for the ages!

I call it water heater. 

I call it a water heater I have never heard anyone call it a hot water heater.

Only inquiring minds want to know ....LOL

I really have no idea Michael Thornton 

Good morning Michael. I would imagine, because once the hot water is used, new water has to be heated once again.

That's a good question and an oxy moron.

I call it a hot water tank because that's why my parents call it.

Sounds like a good arguement to me!

Michael - That's funny, but you hear it all the time. Like there is a cold water heater, and you need to clarify the difference, right.

Hi, Michael...that is a pet peeve of mine. It's a water heater. It makes the water hot. 

Because we had a power failure and the hot water now needs warmed up again?

I have to bite my tongue every time I hear "hot water heater"...it's a water heater! 

I guess it is a bit redundant.  I bet a long time ago it was such a luxury and distinguished it from warm water.

Well that's a funny question. No idea. LOL

A lot of redundancies in life, and this is one that is going to last.

I ask realtaives all the time this question...I get

You know what I mean

     It's a habit.  Never thought about this and no one has asked.  I'm guilty! 

Michael,
You inspector types are so technical. But as always you are right.

It is a heater to provide hot water. Gramatically incorrect. Funny how these words evolve.

LOL!  Great question Michael!  I also wonder why people say stuff like "The NSA Agency" when the last letter of the accronym is Agency.

Hmmm!

it doesn't stay at the same top temperature because it's constantly being used....needs to be heated periodically.... 

Michael Thornton I just have to add -- no problem in Latin America.  In Spanish it is "calentador de agua".  The exact translation would be "water heater".

Hope you are having a great weekend.

The same reason one parks on the driveway and drives on the parkway.

OK, then why is a Thruway named so, when you have to stop and get a fee ticket, or why is a Freeway usually a toll road. It is just custom and the people we deal with expect and accept it.

Michael Thornton Let me ponder over this and I will get back to you.

Because my grandma did, my mother did and they also cut off the end of the ham so it would fit in the pan rather than get a bigger pan. Some things we just don't question and we just go with the flow.

Nihonbashi Bridge=Nohon Bridge(translation) Bridge

Some newer homes water heater is cold unless you invoke it( tankless type).

Michael,

It is one of those things in the English language.  A