Failure mode determination means

A method for determining a false reporting of a suitable liquid level detection in a system comprising a container configured to hold a liquid to a first liquid level in the container, a heater disposed within the container, the heater configured to heat at least a portion of the liquid, a temperature sensor disposed at about 3-12 inches above the heater within the container, the temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of its surroundings in a space within the container and the temperature sensor configured to be disposed within thermal communication of the heater through at least one of the space and the liquid, said method comprising:

• (a) effecting the heater for a duration;
• (b) determining the rate at which the temperature rises;
• and
• (c) comparing the temperature rise rate to a liquid temperature rise rate threshold, wherein if the temperature rise rate is greater than said liquid temperature rise rate threshold, the temperature sensor is determined to not have been submerged in the liquid and the false reporting of a suitable liquid level detection in the system is deemed to have occurred.