Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a camera module, and a controller. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include receiving one or more images for each of a plurality of capture sequences, detecting a pervasive obfuscation condition at the camera module based on the received one or more images, and directing a responsive action on the refrigerator appliance in response to detecting the pervasive obfuscation condition.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a sterilization light assembly, and a controller. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion. The controller may be in operable communication with the indoor fan and the sterilization light assembly. The controller may be configured to initiate a sterilizing operation. The sterilizing operation may include directing activation of the indoor fan to motivate air through the indoor portion, detecting activation of the indoor fan to motivate air through the indoor portion, and directing activation of the sterilization light assembly to transmit an ultraviolet light emission within the indoor portion based on detected activation of the indoor fan.

Abstract: A dryer appliance may include a cabinet, a drum, a heater assembly, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The heater assembly may be in upstream fluid communication with a drying chamber. The temperature sensor may be in upstream fluid communication with the drying chamber. The controller may be in operable communication with the heater assembly and the temperature sensor. The controller may be configured to initiate a test cycle. The test cycle may include activating the heater assembly, detecting a first temperature upstream of the drum at a first moment following activating the heater assembly, detecting a second temperature upstream of the drum at a second moment following the first moment, determining a temperature delta as a difference between the second temperature and the first temperature, comparing the temperature delta to a delta threshold, and initiating an alert message based on comparing the temperature delta to the delta threshold.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket that is rotatably mounted within a wash tub and that defines a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A camera assembly is used to monitor articles for washing within the wash basket. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain a reference image and one or more test images, which utilize image recognition to assess turn-over of the articles for washing during a given wash cycle. When turn-over performance is inadequate, a controller may adjust one or more operating parameters of the wash cycle to improve performance. Turn-over performance of the wash cycle is determined to be adequate once the image recognition process fails to find adequate correlation between the reference image and the test image a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a sterilization light assembly, and a controller. The controller may be configured to initiate a sterilizing operation. The sterilizing operation may include receiving a first command signal and directing activation of the sterilization light assembly at a first active intensity level for transmission of ultraviolet light emissions within the indoor portion in response to receiving the first command signal. The sterilizing operation may further include receiving a second command signal following the first command signal and directing activation of the sterilization light assembly at a second active intensity level for transmission of ultraviolet light emissions within the indoor portion in response to receiving the second command signal. The second active intensity level may be different from the first active intensity level.

Abstract: An oven appliance may include a cabinet, a door, and a restrictor plate. The cabinet may include a top panel and a bottom panel. The cabinet may define a cooking chamber between the top panel and the bottom panel. The door may be mounted on the cabinet to selectively restrict access to the cooking chamber in a closed position. The door may extend along the vertical direction in the closed position between a top lip and a bottom lip. The restrictor plate may be mounted to the door at the bottom lip. The restrictor plate may extend downward and be spaced apart from the cabinet along the transverse direction.

Abstract: An oven appliance or rack assembly may include a rack frame and a non-permeable cook plate. The rack frame may extend along a transverse direction between a front end and a rear end. The rack frame may define a permeable support surface. The non-permeable cook plate may be selectively disposed on the rack frame. The non-permeable cook plate may include a rear nose rotatably attached to the rack frame at the front end.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. A first rack assembly is slidably positioned within the wash chamber. A first spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the first rack assembly. A second rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the first rack assembly. A second spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the second rack assembly. A third rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly. A third spray assembly is positioned over the third rack assembly and configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The third rack assembly includes a wire framework defining the perimeter of the third rack assembly. A wire insert is configured to removably couple to the wire framework. The wire insert includes a wire floor portion.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a refrigerator a cabinet having slotted rail. The cabinet defines a food storage chamber. Also, a door is coupled to the cabinet and is configured to open and close the food storage chamber. Additionally, a shelf is mounted inside the food storage chamber, and a rack is positioned central in the food storage chamber proximate the shelf. The rack includes a back support, a slider coupled to the back support, and a knob coupling the rack to the slider.

Abstract: A method of operating a household appliance includes installing a multi-source mechanical component in the household appliance. The method also includes storing an identity of the multi-source mechanical component in a local memory of the household appliance. The method further includes connecting the household appliance to a remote computing device. The method also includes storing the identity of the multi-source mechanical component in the remote computing device.

Abstract: A household appliance includes a cabinet, a door, and a handle. The cabinet includes a plurality of panels and defines an internal chamber therein. The door includes a front panel and an interior panel, the front panel and the interior panel defining a door cavity between the front panel and the interior panel. The front panel may include a handle cavity edge. The front panel can define a handle cavity at the handle cavity edge. The handle cavity edge may include a plurality of flanges angled into the door cavity. The handle may be disposed in the handle cavity and may include an outer surface and an inner surface. The handle further may include a plurality of snaps located on a periphery of the inner surface. The snaps may be lodged against corresponding flanges and may attach the handle to the front panel of the door.

Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating the same are provided. Such methods may include, and/or appliances may be configured for, receiving a command to commence an operating cycle of the washing machine appliance and filling the wash tub with wash liquid from a fluid circulation system configured for providing fluid to the wash tub via an inlet of the fluid circulation system in response to the command. Methods may further include and/or appliances may be configured for, obtaining one or more images of the inlet of the fluid circulation system during the fill step using a camera mounted within the cabinet. The camera is positioned and oriented with the inlet within a field of vision of the camera. Based on the one or more images, a determination is made whether a water pressure provided to the fluid circulation system is above a predetermined minimum water pressure.

Abstract: A household appliance includes a cabinet defining a chamber, a door assembly mounted to the cabinet to selectively restrict access to the chamber, the door assembly includes a front panel defining a handle cavity. The door assembly also includes a pocket handle received in the handle cavity, the pocket handle having a flange with a plurality of tab passages. A plurality of bend tabs are positioned around the handle cavity and received in a first position through the plurality of tab passages. The bend tabs are deformable into a second position where they engage the flange to secure the pocket handle to the front panel.

Abstract: A water heater includes a case, and a water line disposed within the case. The water line extends between an inlet and an outlet, and a heat exchanger is disposed in the case on the water line. A burner is disposed in the case, and a controller is also disposed in the case. A flue is coupled to the case. The flue defines an exhaust outlet contiguous with external air. The flue includes a temperature sensor, a fan, and a plate disposed within the flue. The plate is configured to rotate within the flue between an open position and a closed position. Also included in the case is a heating element coupled to the water line between the inlet and the outlet of the water line. The controller is in signal communication with the temperature sensor and the fan, and the controller is in operative communication with the heating element.

Abstract: A method of operating a cooking appliance includes receiving an input from a user interface of the cooking appliance. The input includes a set temperature. In response to the received input, a heating element of the cooking appliance is activated. The method also includes detecting an opening and a closing of a door of the cooking appliance. The method further includes automatically initiating a timer when the closing of the door is detected.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, a valve, a spout, a dispenser, a motor, and a controller. The basket may be rotatably mounted and define a chamber for receipt of articles for washing. The valve may be disposed upstream from the tub. The spout may be directed at the tub downstream from the valve. The dispenser may be upstream from the tub for dispensing detergent into the tub. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket. The controller may be configured for controlling the washing machine appliance. The controller may be configured to initiate an oversuds-sensitive operation. The oversuds-sensitive operation may include detecting one or more resultant conditions from one or more previous wash cycles of the washing machine appliance, determining an adjusted operating parameter based on the detected resultant conditions, and directing detergent dispensing according to the adjusted operating parameter.

Abstract: A single-package air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor air conduit, and an internal shield. The indoor fan may be held within a fan cowl defining a cowl outlet. The indoor air conduit may be mounted to the fan cowl and extend upward from the cowl outlet to an indoor outlet defined through the housing to guide air from the indoor fan. The indoor air conduit and the fan cowl may separate at least a portion of the indoor portion from the outdoor portion. The internal shield may be disposed within the outdoor portion rearward from the indoor air conduit and the fan cowl. The internal shield may extend between an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower edge may be disposed between the downward bottom end and the cowl outlet relative to a vertical direction.

Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating the same are provided. Such methods may include, and/or appliances may be configured for, performing a wash operation on laundry articles received in the wash chamber of the wash basket. After the wash operation, it may be determined that the load of articles is still wet, e.g., that a remaining moisture content of the laundry articles is above a threshold. Based on and in response to determining that the load is still wet, a spin cycle is performed before a beginning of a subsequent wash operation.

Abstract: An oven appliance may include a cabinet, a plurality of chamber walls, a cooking plate, a debris trap, and a bottom heating element. The plurality of chamber walls may be mounted within the cabinet. The plurality of chamber walls may define an oven chamber. The plurality of chamber walls may include a back wall, a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall. The cooking plate may define a cooking surface in the oven chamber between the bottom wall and the top wall. The debris trap may be disposed against the cooking plate. The debris trap may define a recessed trough horizontally spaced apart from the cooking surface and disposed therebelow. The bottom heating element may be mounted above the bottom wall to heat the cooking surface within the oven chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating cooking appliance includes receiving, by a controller of the cooking appliance, an input indicating a time of a cooking operation. The method also includes activating a motor to rotate a turntable within a cooking cavity defined in a casing of the cooking appliance throughout the time of the cooking operation and activating a microwave module to deliver microwave energy into the cooking cavity during at least a portion of the rotation of the turntable. The method further includes varying at least one of a speed of the rotation of the turntable and a duty cycle of the microwave module during the cooking operation.