Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as activating the drain pump for an activation period and receiving a pump-status signal during the activation period. Dishwashing appliances and methods may further include features or steps for detecting a pressure (P1) upstream from the drain pump during the activation period, determining a condition at the filter based on the pump-status signal and P1, and directing the drain pump based on the determined condition.

A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller calibrates the pressure sensor by monitoring a sump pressure and determining when the wash fluid has reached the transition fill level. A measured transition pressure is taken at this point and compared to a target transition pressure that is known based on the sump geometry. A slope correction factor is calculated based on the measured transition pressure and the target transition pressure to obtain improved pressure readings and wash fluid level measurements.

A system for ascertaining fresh water consumption by an, in particular, commercial dishwasher (1) or a component thereof. The system includes a container (12, 22) for temporarily storing liquids, wherein the container (12, 22) has a liquid inlet (25), which can be flow-connected to a fresh water source if required, and a liquid outlet (23), which can be flow-connected to a freshwater consuming means, in particular a freshwater consuming means of the dishwasher (1), if required. The system further includes at least one pressure sensor (B3, B4) for detecting an, in particular, hydrostatic pressure in the container (12, 22), and an evaluation device which is designed to ascertain a fresh water volume flow into the container (12, 22) depending on at least one output value of the at least one pressure sensor (B3, B4).

A method for cleaning items to be cleaned is disclosed. A cleaning device is used that has at least one cleaning chamber and at least one applicator for applying at least one cleaning fluid to the items to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber. A desired hygiene value is prespecified. The method further includes time-resolved recording of at least two influencing variables which influence hygienization of the items to be cleaned. Hygiene share values are determined from the influencing variables using a prespecified relationship between each influencing variable and the respective hygiene value share of said influencing variable. An expected actual hygiene value at the end of the cleaning from the hygiene value shares is ascertained and compared with the desired hygiene value. At least one of the influencing variables is changed based on the comparison. An inventive cleaning device is also disclosed.

Systems and methods are described, which relate to the control of additive dispensers to provide defined amounts of one or more additive compounds to water to produce customized water. A given additive dispenser may include multiple inputs and/or outputs. Predefined water profiles may be stored in memory. A given water profile may define the amounts of additives to be delivered by the additive dispensers to achieve desired water characteristics. A controller may determine actual water characteristics of input water based on corresponding sensor data, and may compare the actual water characteristics to desired water characteristics in order to determine the amount of additive or additives that should be delivered to the input water to achieve the desired water characteristics. The additive dispensers may be network-enabled and may include transceivers configured to receive instructions related to production of customized water from a user device.

A method for obtaining information about a load of articles to be cleaned in a dishwasher is provided. The method may include stopping a pump from pumping liquid through a spraying system of the dishwasher at a point of time; recording a pressure signal in a sump of the dishwasher from the point of time the pump was stopped; measuring a time period, said time period being measured from the point of time the pump stopped until the pressure signal is essentially stable; and comparing the time period with reference values for obtaining information about the load in the dishwasher. A corresponding dishwasher, computer program, and computer program product may be provided.

A dishwasher may include a washing chamber including a sump. The dishwasher may further include a water inlet tank configured to accommodate water for use in a wash cycle in the washing chamber, a water inlet conduit configured to supply water to the water inlet tank, and a drain pump including an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is fluidly connected to the sump. The dishwasher may include a drain conduit fluidly connected to the outlet of the drain pump and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the drain conduit and the water inlet conduit.

Provided herein are an appliance and method for washing and rinsing goods. The appliance may include a circulation pump, a sensing arrangement arranged to measure an indication of circulation pump pressure or process water flow rate through the circulation pump, and a controller arranged to control operating speed of the circulation pump. The controller may be further arranged to detect that the indicated circulation pump pressure or process water flow rate through the circulation pump is insufficient, and gradually reduce operating speed of the circulation pump until the circulation pump pressure or the process water flow rate through the circulation pump is at a sufficient operational level.

A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that collects wash fluid and defines a mounting port for receiving a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes an adapter that defines a plurality of sensor ports for receiving different sensors, such as a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a turbidity sensor. The adapter is translucent to facilitate turbidity sensing without introducing leak points. In addition, the adapter defines an internal chamber for receiving the wash fluid and an air chamber defined above the internal chamber to prevent direct contact between the wash fluid and the pressure sensor.

A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller opens a water supply valve to provide a flow of water into the sump and monitors the sump pressure using the pressure sensor. The controller determines when the water has reached the transition fill level corresponding to a known transition fill volume. The controller determines a fill flow rate based on the amount of time needed to reach the transition fill volume and uses the fill flow rate to determine a remaining fill time needed to reach a target volume.