Temperature estimation for a water heater system

A water heater system, comprising:

• a tank storing water;
• a first sensor operably coupled with an upper portion of the tank and that communicates a first signal;
• a second sensor operably coupled with a lower portion of the tank and that communicates a second signal;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• determine a first temperature of water in the upper portion of the tank based on the first signal;
• determine a second temperature of water in the lower portion of the tank based on the second signal;
• control functional weights for each of the first temperature and the second temperature;
• calculate a weighted average of the first temperature and the second temperature based on the functional weights;
• and
• determine a representative temperature of the water based on the weighted average.

A method for operating a water heater system that heats water, comprising:

• determining a first temperature of water in an upper portion of a tank of the water heater;
• determining a second temperature of water in a lower portion of the tank;
• determining functional weights for the first temperature and the second temperature based on a difference between a target temperature for the water and the second temperature;
• calculating a weighted average of the first temperature and the second temperature based on the functional weights;
• determining a representative temperature of the water based on the weighted average;
• and
• communicating an output in response to the representative temperature.