Method for controlling a filling process of a water-bearing household appliance

A method for detecting a failure of a fill sensor that detects water flowing into a water-bearing household appliance, the method comprising:

• opening a locking arrangement to fill the water-bearing household appliance with water, the locking arrangement controlled by the water-bearing household appliance, the locking arrangement allowing the water to flow into the water-bearing household appliance when the locking arrangement is in an open position;
• monitoring the fill sensor, the fill sensor emitting a water-is-flowing signal when the water flows past the fill sensor when the fill sensor is operating properly;
• holding the locking arrangement open for a predetermined period of time in response to an absence of the water-is-flowing signal from the fill sensor while the monitoring of the fill sensor is continually performed;
• closing the locking arrangement after the locking arrangement is held open for the predetermined period of time and in the absence of the water-is-flowing signal;
• after closing the locking arrangement, activating a pump to convey the water that flowed into the water-bearing household appliance, the pump being activated after the locking arrangement is held open for the predetermined period of time;
• monitoring a performance characteristic of the pump, the performance characteristic of the pump corresponding to a load of a motor driving the pump;
• evaluating the performance characteristic of the pump while the pump is activated after the locking arrangement is held open for the predetermined period of time;
• and
• determining that the failure exists in the fill sensor if the performance characteristic of the pump indicates that the pump is pumping water.