Overflow compensation device for a water heater using a variable volume bellows

A water heater, comprising:

• a water storage container having a bottom wall and a top wall;
• heating means for heating water in said water storage container;
• a cold water inlet conduit extending into said water storage container, said inlet conduit having at least one opening disposed near said bottom wall of said water storage container;
• a warm water outlet conduit in fluid communication with said water storage container and having an opening near said top wall;
• overflow preventing means for preventing the outflow of water from said water storage container via said warm water outlet conduit when cold water is being heated, said overflow preventing means including a connecting conduit having an open end connected adjacent said bottom wall in communication with said water storage container, a bellows having a controllable variable interior volume connected to and in communication with the other end of said connecting conduit, and automatic means for controlling said controllable variable interior volume of said bellows during expansion of the volume of the water in said water storage container due to heating to remove water from said water storage container;
• said automatic means for controlling said controllable variable interior volume of said bellows having an actuator portion which is coupled to said bellows and being responsive to a predetermined condition in said water storage container to cause expansion of said bellows to cause said bellows to remove water from said water storage container via said connecting conduit in an amount sufficient to prevent overflow of water from said water storage container through said outlet conduit.