water heater boil over

Hey THANK YOU guys That could really be it!!!! Will find out today. THANK YOU again.

About 4 hours later blow off valve had water running out and water was boiling - steam out of water heater

I did not have one of the bypass valves turned correctly. Turned off water heater. Turned valve and got water from spigot that would scald you.

These statements tells me partially filled water heater....low water level vs overfilled/lack of air pocket situation

Loss of air pocket will cause T&P to 'weep' NOT blow-off/open with steam.

Now that you have valving properly set up WH should function OK.
Depending on how low level was electric element may have been affected---if so it will not heat anymore.


For clarification:
Atwood t-stats----------ECO (Hi temp) 180*F.....Normal 140*F
Suburban t-stats--------Hi Temp 170*F.......Normal 130*F

Atwood has an 'adjustable' t-stat to replace normal 110*F-150*F
Suburban has/had optional pre-sets for normal 120*F & 140*F but can be hard to find

Mine does it every time I start the water heater. I ignore it because I know it is the air bubble loss.

X2 on the air bubble..start over....Dennis

Good discussion here about the air bubble in the hot water heater from GOOGLE SEARCH...

AIR BUBBLE in Water Heater

Roy Ken

For an over heat as described TWO thermostats would have to fail. The normal 140 degree switch and the over temp safety at 170 degrees which should have shut the everything down. You might have a patricianly filled tank.

There is an air expansion pocket at the top of the hot water heater - when you lose that you safety relief valve will leak. Drain your hot water tank and refill.