Abstract: An electronic controller used with a washing appliance, such as a dishwasher, operatively connected to a hot water delivery system having a hot water heater, hot water delivery piping, and a circulation pump that when activated circulates water in the delivery piping back to the hot water heater. The washing appliance structured to perform a cleaning process that includes a pre-wash cycle and a wash cycle that utilizes hot water received from the hot water delivery piping. The pre-wash cycle having a water fill step, a water spray step, and a water drain step. The electronic controller on sensing the completion of the water fill step, or, alternatively, the water spray step, sends a first signal to the circulation pump causing the pump to become activated, and upon sensing the completion of the water spray step, or, alternatively, the water drain step, sends a second signal to the circulation pump causing the deactivation of the pump.