Laundry treating appliance with method to detect the type and size of a load

A laundry treating appliance for treating a laundry load according to a cycle of operation, comprising:

• a tub defining a liquid chamber;
• a drum rotatably mounted within the liquid chamber and defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry for treatment;
• a liquid supply directly providing liquid to at least one of the treating chamber and liquid chamber;
• a liquid level sensor providing an output signal indicative of the liquid level in the liquid chamber;
• and
• a controller receiving the output signal and coupled to and controlling the liquid supply according to a liquid supply program where the liquid supply supplies liquid into the treating chamber to a first level within the liquid chamber that is below the treating chamber to define a first liquid supply, determines a first time indicative of the time for the liquid to reach the first level, determines whether the laundry load is at least one of a small load and an absorbent load based on the first time, supplies liquid into the treating chamber to a second level within the liquid chamber at least reaching the treating chamber to define a second liquid supply, determines a second time indicative of the time for the liquid to reach the second level, and determines whether the laundry load is at least one of a medium load and a maximum load based on the second time.