Method for supplying heated water from a water heater appliance to a washing machine appliance

1. A method for supplying heated water from a water heater appliance to a washing machine appliance, comprising:

operating the water heater appliance such that the water heater appliance heats water to a set point temperature of the water heater appliance;

initiating a wash cycle of the washing machine appliance during said step of operating, the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance requiring heated water having a temperature that is equal to or greater than a specific temperature, the specific temperature being greater than one hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit in order to sanitize articles within the washing machine appliance;

determining a volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance and whether the set point temperature of the water heater appliance is equal to or greater than the specific temperature, the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance being at the specific temperature;

directing heated water from the water heater appliance into the washing machine appliance if the water heater appliance contains the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance and the set point temperature of the water heater appliance is equal to or greater than the specific temperature at said step of determining;

rechecking the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance after said step of directing;

delaying the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance if the water heater appliance does not contain the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance at said step of rechecking;

calculating a heat loss of water within the washing machine appliance during said step of delaying;

terminating said step of delaying when the water heater appliance contains the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance and the set point temperature of the water heater appliance is equal to or greater than the specific temperature; and

supplying heated water from the water heater appliance into the washing machine based on the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance and the calculated heat loss in response to terminating said step of delaying.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

establishing, during said step of delaying, whether the water heater appliance contains the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance; and

continuing to delay the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance if the water heater appliance does not contain the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance at said step of establishing,

wherein said step of supplying occurs if the water heater appliance contains the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance at said step of establishing.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

ascertaining an elapsed time since said step of delaying; and

terminating the delay if the elapsed time exceeds a maximum delay.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the maximum delay is greater than fifteen minutes and less than three hours.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising notifying a user of the washing machine appliance that the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance is delayed at said step of delaying.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said step of notifying comprises sending a text message, electronic mail message or an instant message to the user of the washing machine appliance.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing the set point temperature of the water heater appliance if the set point temperature of the water heater appliance is not equal to or greater than the specific temperature at said step of determining.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein heated water from the water heater appliance is not directed into the washing machine appliance during said step of delaying.

9. A method for supplying heated water from a water heater appliance to a washing machine appliance, comprising:

operating the water heater appliance such that the water heater appliance heats water to a set point temperature of the water heater appliance;

initiating a wash cycle of the washing machine appliance during said step of operating, the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance requiring heated water having a temperature that is equal to or greater than a specific temperature, the specific temperature being greater than one hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit in order to sanitize articles within the washing machine appliance;

determining a volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance and whether a set point temperature of the water heater appliance is equal to or greater than the specific temperature, the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance being at the specific temperature;

directing heated water from the water heater appliance into the washing machine appliance if the water heater appliance contains the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance and the set point temperature of the water heater appliance is equal to or greater than the specific temperature at said step of determining;

rechecking the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance after said step of directing;

delaying the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance if the water heater appliance does not contain the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance at said step of rechecking;

calculating a heat loss of water within the washing machine appliance during said step of delaying;

establishing, during said step of delaying, whether the water heater appliance contains a total volume of heated water that includes the volume of heated water required for the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance and an additional volume of heated water based on said step of calculating;

terminating said step of delaying when the water heater appliance contains the total volume of heated water and the set point temperature of the water heater appliance is equal to or greater than the specific temperature;

supplying heated water from the water heater appliance to the washing machine appliance if the water heater appliance contains the total volume of heated water required at said step of establishing; and

continuing to delay the wash cycle of the washing machine appliance if the water heater appliance does not contain the total volume of heated water at said step of establishing.