Left empty H2O Heater on while empty

rowekmr wrote:
As the title says I dewinterized the TT and forgot (rushed) left the hot water heater on thinking it will take time to warm the water. Water still wasn't hot after 30 min so left it on gas mode then wasn't able to get back for a few days.

I figured I still had the bypass on when it was still cold so I turned the heater off and waited awhile to fill it with water but didn't turn it back on yet. Do you think I cause any damage? It was one electric heat for awhile then gas heat for a few days. Do they have safety cut off just for this reason?

So what is 'awhile'?

Suburban uses a steel GLASS-LINED tank....introducing cold water into a HOT tank can cause the glass-lining to crack/fracture

Atwood uses an aluminum tank.....introducing cold water into a HOT tank can cause metal fatigue

Electric element has to be submerged in water otherwise it will burn out......yours would be suspect

Propane will heat long enough to cause both normal temp t-stat and HIGH temp t-stat to OPEN and shutdown the propane
It should NOT have refired due to Hi temp T-stat tripping.


If a 'few days' went by then WH Tank should have been cold and adding water would not been an issue


Brand/Model of WH??????