Water heater with low hot water indication

Abstract

A water heater appliance includes a tank, a cold water inlet conduit extending into the tank, and a heating element within the tank. The water heater appliance also includes a hot water conduit extending from the tank to a mixing valve, and a mixed water conduit downstream of the mixing valve. A method of operating the water heater appliance includes activating the heating element to heat a volume of water and providing water from the volume of heated water through the mixed water conduit. The method also includes measuring a temperature gradient within the tank of the water heater appliance and estimating a time remaining for providing water from the volume of heated water based on the measured temperature gradient. The method further includes signaling the time remaining in response to reaching a threshold amount of time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a water heater appliance, the water heater appliance comprising a tank, a cold water inlet conduit extending into the tank, a heating element within the tank, a hot water conduit extending from the tank to a mixing valve, and a mixed water conduit downstream of the mixing valve, the method comprising:
 activating the heating element to heat a volume of water;   providing water from the volume of heated water through the mixed water conduit;   measuring a temperature gradient within the tank of the water heater appliance;   estimating a time remaining for providing water from the volume of heated water based on the measured temperature gradient; and   signaling the time remaining in response to reaching a threshold amount of time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein signaling the remaining time comprises pulsing a specified volume of water from the cold water inlet conduit through the mixed water conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the specified volume of water from the cold water inlet conduit mixes with the volume of heated water, thereby cooling a temperature of the heated water by a specified amount. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the specified amount of temperature comprises between one and twenty degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein, when pulsing the specified volume of water from the cold water inlet conduit through the mixed water conduit, the method comprises performing a number of pulses in response to the threshold amount of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold value of the time remaining comprises between thirty minutes and five minutes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein signaling the remaining time comprises playing an audible tone from an audio actuator disposed in the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the heating element is heating the volume of water, the water is heated to a tank temperature, and wherein the heated water is provided through the mixed water conduit at an output temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein estimating the time remaining is based on an average hot water temperature of the water within the chamber of the tank, the method further comprising comparing the average hot water temperature of the water within the chamber of the tank to the output temperature. 
     
     
         10 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
 a tank;   a cold water inlet conduit extending into the tank;   a heating element within the tank;   a hot water conduit extending from the tank to a mixing valve;   a mixed water conduit downstream of the mixing valve; and   a controller in signal communication with the heating element, the controller configured to:
 activate the heating element to heat a volume of water; 
 provide water from the volume of heated water through the mixed water conduit; 
 measure a temperature gradient within the tank of the water heater appliance; 
 estimate a time remaining for providing water from the volume of heated water based on the measured temperature gradient; and 
 signal the time remaining in response to reaching a threshold amount of time. 
   
     
     
         11 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein signaling the remaining time comprises the controller configured to pulse a specified volume of water from the cold water inlet conduit through the mixed water conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the specified volume of water from the cold water inlet conduit mixes with the volume of heated water, the controller further configured to cool a temperature of the heated water by a specified amount. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the specified amount of temperature comprises between one and twenty degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater appliance of  claim 12 , wherein, when pulsing the specified volume of water from the cold water inlet conduit through the mixed water conduit, the controller further configured to perform a number of pulses in response to the threshold amount of time. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the threshold value of the time remaining comprises between thirty minutes and five minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein signaling the remaining time comprises the controller configured to play an audible tone from an audio actuator disposed in the tank. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein, when the heating element is heating the volume of water, the water is heated to a tank temperature, and wherein the heated water is provided through the mixed water conduit at an output temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater appliance of  claim 17 , wherein, estimating the time remaining is based on average hot water temperature of the water within the chamber of the tank, the controller further configured to compare the average hot water temperature of the water within the chamber of the tank to the output temperature.