Dishwasher with humidifier cycle of operation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating a dishwasher as a humidifier. The method includes, in response to an input indicating a humidifying cycle of operation, implementing the humidifying cycle of operation. The humidifying cycle of operation can include generating moisture-laden air within a treating chamber of the dishwasher and emitting the generated moisture-laden air to an exterior surrounding the dishwasher. The dishwasher implementing the humidifying cycle of operation or the dish treating cycle of operation, where the humidifying cycle and the dish treating cycle are not simultaneously implemented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a dishwasher as a humidifier, the method comprising:
 in response to an input indicating a humidifying cycle of operation, implementing the humidifying cycle of operation by generating moisture-laden air within a treating chamber of the dishwasher, and emitting the generated moisture-laden air to an exterior surrounding the dishwasher, without the simultaneous implementation of a dish treating cycle of operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the humidifying cycle of operation comprises a user selection on a user interface of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user selection is made between at least one of the humidifying cycle of operation and the dish treating cycle of operation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the humidifying cycle of operation comprises a wirelessly transmitted signal received by the dishwasher. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the wirelessly transmitted signal is generated from a humidity sensor remote from the dishwasher. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the humidifying cycle of operation is an output from a humidity sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating moisture-laden air comprises heating liquid within the dishwasher. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the heating liquid within the dishwasher comprises at least one of flowing liquid through an inline heater within the dishwasher or heating liquid within a sump of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the emitting the generated moisture-laden air comprising venting the generated moisture-laden air from the treating chamber of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the venting the generated moisture-laden air from the treating chamber comprises operating an exhaust fan in the dishwasher. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the exhaust fan emits the generated moisture-laden air through a closure to the treating chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the venting the generated moisture-laden air from the treating chamber comprises opening a closure to the treating chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein liquid is not recirculated in the treating chamber during the implementing of the humidifying cycle of operation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein treating chemistry is not dispensed into the treating chamber during the implementing of the humidifying cycle of operation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implementing of the humidifying cycle of operation is terminated after a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implementing of the humidifying cycle of operation is terminated in response to a humidity signal received by the dishwasher. 
     
     
         17 . A dishwasher for treating dishes according to a dish treating cycle of operation, the dishwasher comprising:
 a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber;   a door assembly for selectively closing the treating chamber;   a water supply system fluidly coupling a household water supply to the treating chamber;   a ventilation system for exhausting moisture-laden air from the treating chamber;   a controller located within the dishwasher housing, wherein the controller includes information related to a humidifying cycle of operation and the dish treating cycle of operation; and   a receiver located within the housing and in communication with the controller, wherein the receiver receives a humidity signal indicative of a humidity level of an environment exterior of the dishwasher;   wherein the controller selectively operates the humidifying cycle of operating of the dishwasher in response to the humidity signal received by the receiver and communicated to the controller.   
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher of  claim 17 , wherein the receiver is a wireless receiver and receives the humidity signal from a humidity sensor remote of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher of  claim 17 , further comprising an inline heater upstream of the treating chamber or a submersible heater to heat liquid to generate the moisture-laden air within the treating chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher of  claim 19 , wherein the ventilation system further comprises a conduit fluidly coupling the treating chamber and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.