Detecting and preventing rust of one or more washing machine appliances

Abstract

A method of operating a washing machine appliance is provided. The method includes receiving a cycle-initiation request to start a new wash cycle. The method also includes receiving, in response to receiving the cycle-initiation request, a water-condition signal from a water sensor associated with the washing machine appliance. The method further includes determining a rust-potential state based on the received water-condition signal. The method also includes initiating a rust notification at a user interface in response to determining the rust-potential state. The method further includes receiving a user-response signal following the rust notification. The method still further includes directing the washing machine appliance based on the received user-response signal and the determined rust-potential state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a washing machine appliance comprising:
 receiving a cycle-initiation request to start a new wash cycle;   receiving, in response to receiving the cycle-initiation request, a water-condition signal from a water sensor associated with the washing machine appliance;   determining a rust-potential state based on the received water-condition signal;   initiating a rust notification at a user interface in response to determining the rust-potential state;   receiving a user-response signal following the rust notification; and   directing the washing machine appliance based on the received user-response signal and the determined rust-potential state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-condition signal comprises a water conductivity value. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the rust-potential state comprises comparing the water conductivity value to a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user-response signal comprises a confirmation signal indicating confirmation of the rust-potential state. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user-response signal comprises a contradiction signal indicating absence of the rust-potential state. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein directing the washing machine appliance based on the received user-response signal and the determined rust-potential state comprises deactivating the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein deactivating the washing machine appliance comprises halting a water supply to the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water sensor is positioned within a wash tub of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         9 . A washing machine appliance operating in a commercial laundromat, the washing machine appliance comprising:
 a wash tub positioned within a cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defining a wash chamber;   a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket; and   a controller operably coupled to the motor assembly, the controller configured to direct an appliance operation comprising:
 receiving a cycle-initiation request to start a new wash cycle; 
 receiving, in response to receiving the cycle-initiation request, a water-condition signal from a water sensor associated with the washing machine appliance; 
 determining a rust-potential state based on the received water-condition signal; 
 initiating a rust notification at a user interface in response to determining the rust-potential state; 
 receiving a user-response signal following the rust notification; and 
 directing the washing machine appliance based on the received user-response signal and the determined rust-potential state. 
   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the water-condition signal comprises a water conductivity value. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein determining the rust-potential state comprises comparing the water conductivity value to a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the user-response signal comprises a confirmation signal indicating confirmation of the rust-potential state. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the user-response signal comprises a contradiction signal indicating absence of the rust-potential state. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 9 , wherein directing the washing machine appliance based on the received user-response signal and the determined rust-potential state comprises deactivating the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein deactivating the washing machine appliance comprises halting a water supply to the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the water sensor is positioned within the wash tub of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a plurality of washing machine appliances comprising:
 receiving a first cycle-initiation request to start a new wash cycle at a first washing machine appliance of the plurality of washing machine appliances;   receiving, in response to receiving the first cycle-initiation request, a first water-condition signal from a first water sensor associated with the first washing machine appliance;   determining a rust-potential state based on the received first water-condition signal;   initiating a rust notification at a first user interface associated with the first washing machine appliance in response to determining the rust-potential state;   receiving a user-response signal following the rust notification; and   directing the plurality of washing machine appliances based on the received user-response signal and the determined rust-potential state.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first water-condition signal comprises a water conductivity value. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein determining the rust-potential state comprises comparing the water conductivity value to a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the user-response signal comprises a confirmation signal indicating confirmation of the rust-potential state.