Sound monitoring to detect water fill issues in a washing machine appliance

A washing machine appliance comprising:

• a cabinet;
• a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber;
• a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving a load of clothes;
• a water supply for providing wash fluid into the wash tub;
• a microphone positioned within the cabinet;
• and
• a controller in operative communication with the water supply and the microphone, the controller being configured to:
• monitor a sound signal generated during operation of the washing machine appliance using the microphone;
• analyze the sound signal to identify a sound signature associated with an adverse operating condition;
• and
• implement a responsive action to correct the adverse operating condition in response to identifying the sound signature, wherein the adverse operating condition is decreased water pressure during a peak water usage time, and wherein the implementing the responsive action comprises:
• determining that an operating cycle is selected during the peak water usage time;
• and
• providing a user notification to avoid performing an operating cycle during the peak water usage time or increasing a target water fill level during the peak water usage time.

A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, a water supply for providing wash fluid into the wash tub, and a microphone positioned within the cabinet, the method comprising:

• monitoring a sound signal generated during operation of the washing machine appliance using the microphone;
• analyzing the sound signal to identify a sound signature associated with an adverse operating condition;
• and
• implementing a responsive action to correct the adverse operating condition in response to identifying the sound signature, wherein the adverse operating condition is persistent low water pressure, and wherein implementing the responsive action comprises permanently adjusting a target water fill level for the washing machine appliance.