A water heater appliance includes an electronic mixing valve configured for adjusting a ratio of cold water from a cold water inlet conduit to hot water from a hot water outlet conduit at a mixed water outlet of the electronic mixing valve. A cold water bypass conduit extends between the cold water inlet conduit and the mixed water outlet conduit. A cold water bypass valve is on the cold water bypass conduit. A controller is configured to close the cold water bypass valve when a temperature measurement from a mixed water temperature sensor is less than a threshold temperature.