We have a state select hot water heater that is 2 year old. The water started getting boiling hot. I went to Lowe's and bought a new thermostat that was universal. I installed it and all we had was ice cold water. I put the other one backon and the water gets boiling and trips breaker. What is wrong.

Nationozzmoto - ON the universal thermostat dit match your old one exactaly, the same number of wire connections and was it rewired back just like the old one ;; There are a lot of different thermostats ,and they all don't work as the one you try to replsace ;; I would take the old one and go back to the store and have them to match it ,the new one should;;; With the new one not working at all ,that means it is a bad one or it is not the right one for the tank you have or [ last of all -could be wired back wrong ;; There SHOULD BE A WIREING DIAGRAM ON THE TOP THERMOSTAT COVER ON THE INSIDE:: GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS ::F.B.E.