WASHING APPLIANCE WITH IMPROVED CONTROL OF CIRCULATION PUMP AND INLET VALVE

A washing appliance (100) is provided, comprising a tub (110) configured to house items to be washed; an inlet valve (120) configured to be operated in an open condition for causing washing fluid to be loaded into the tub (110) and in a closed condition for preventing washing fluid to be fed to the appliance (100); a circulation pump (130) configured to circulate the washing fluid in the tub (110) during a washing cycle; a control unit (105) configured to determine an operative state of the circulation pump (130) between a saturation state indicative that sufficient washing fluid is present in the tub (110) to prevent air from being drawn out by the circulation pump (130), and a starvation state indicative that insufficient washing fluid is present in the tub (110) to prevent air from being drawn out by the circulation pump (130). The control unit (105) is further configured to receive an indication of a target speed for the circulation pump (130) based on a user-selected washing cycle and/or on a phase of said user-selected washing cycle; control the current speed of the circulation pump (130) based on said target speed, said inlet valve condition, said operative state of the circulation pump; operate the inlet valve (120) based on: said target speed, said current speed of the circulation pump, and said operative state of the circulation pump.