Water heater appliances and methods for mitigating false fault detection

A method of operating a water heater appliance, the method comprising:

• receiving a setpoint request comprising a requested temperature value,
• detecting a first tank temperature value at a temperature sensor attached to a casing of the water heater appliance;
• generating a first modified temperature value less than the first tank temperature value;
• determining the requested temperature value is less than the first modified temperature value;
• setting a target setpoint to the first modified temperature value in response to determining the requested temperature value is less than the first modified temperature value;
• and
• directing a heating system according to the target setpoint.

A method of operating a water heater appliance, the method comprising:

• receiving a setpoint request comprising a requested temperature value,
• detecting a first tank temperature value at a temperature sensor attached to a casing of the water heater appliance;
• generating a first modified temperature value less than the first tank temperature value;
• determining the requested temperature value is less than the first modified temperature value;
• setting a target setpoint to the first modified temperature value in response to determining the requested temperature value is less than the first modified temperature value;
• directing a heating system according to the target setpoint;
• holding the target setpoint at the first modified temperature value for a predetermined time period following setting the target setpoint to the first modified temperature value;
• detecting a second tank temperature value at the temperature sensor following the predetermined time period;
• generating a second modified temperature value less than the second tank temperature value;
• and
• setting the target setpoint based on the second modified temperature value,
• wherein generating the first modified temperature value comprises reducing the first tank temperature value by a predetermined offset, and
• wherein generating the second modified temperature value comprises reducing the second tank temperature value by the predetermined offset.