Dishwashing appliance clogged drain line prevention

A method of operating a dishwashing appliance, the dishwashing appliance comprising a tub defining a wash chamber therein for receipt of articles for washing, a heating element, a sump positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber, a drain pump in communication with the sump, and a temperature sensor, the method comprising:

• measuring a temperature of a liquid in the sump with the temperature sensor;
• comparing the measured temperature of the liquid to a minimum drain temperature threshold, wherein comparing the measured temperature of the liquid to the minimum drain temperature threshold comprises determining the measured temperature is less than the minimum drain temperature threshold;
• heating the liquid by activating the heating element in response to determining the measured temperature is less than the minimum drain temperature threshold;
• and
• draining the liquid from the sump after the measured temperature is equal to or greater than the minimum drain temperature threshold, wherein draining the liquid from the sump after the measured temperature is equal to or greater than the minimum drain temperature threshold is performed immediately after heating the liquid,
• wherein the method is a stand-alone operation independent of a wash cycle of the dishwashing appliance.