Method of sensing load imbalances in a washing machine appliance

A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:

• a wash tub positioned within a cabinet;
• a drain pump fluidly coupled to the wash tub;
• a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub;
• a motor mechanically coupled to the wash basket;
• a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the wash tub;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the drain pump, the motor, and the pressure sensor, the controller being configured to:
• operate the motor to agitate a laundry load in the wash basket with a total volume of wash fluid in the wash tub;
• operate the drain pump to drain a portion of the total volume of the wash fluid from the wash tub until a remaining portion of the wash fluid remains in the wash tub;
• operate the motor to rotate the wash basket at a sensing speed;
• obtain a pressure signal from the pressure sensor;
• analyze the pressure signal to identify an out of balance condition;
• and
• implement a responsive action in response to identifying the out of balance condition.