The Lowes website has a checkmark next to "Water Heater?" and the machine has "Extra Hot" as a temperature selection. What any of this means, though? Your guess is as good as mine. Remember Roc's research for MamaP's washer last year and how difficult it was to get answers from mfgrs.

At first look, this machine looks similar to the Electrolux/Kenmore compact, but I don't think it has the same guts.

Thanks Alex. Did you see my post on my leak? I finally got a sale persons attention and just left Lowes. I posted this while I was waiting. He said there was a heater, but like you say, who really knows. I did look at the reviews for the dryer and it was not good. They are heat pump so there might be a "learning curve" on using one.

I wonder how these compare to the Electrolux machine.

I did see your leak post. Major bummer (or hopefully just minor). I have absolutely 0 technical know-how when it comes to working on these machines. Hopefully somebody with more knowledge will post some ideas!

Parts diagram shows a heating element.

There's a heater. But no allergen. So nothing guaranteed.

Take a look at this Bosch which claims sanitize cycle up to 170F

http://www.bosch-home.com/us/productslist/washers-and-dryers/compact-washers/compact-washers/WAT28401UC?breadcrumb=washingmachines#/Tabs=section-technicalspecs/Togglebox=-1489128374/Togglebox=-1637863879/Togglebox=-836809633/Togglebox=-960854172/

Thanks both! Alex you can enjoy watching my saga, at least I hope it will be a saga, and not a bummer.

I like how the Bosch reads..nice hot temp and multiple perm press cycles. There's more wash and wear fabrics today than in the 70's yet perm press cycles are not on many machines. Thats the one cycle I miss.

I would never trust Whirlpool when it comes to water temps...they lie.

Thanks @rococo and mama. I'm not in the market for new, now that I have my leaking w1918 that I picked up last Saturday, lol.

Alex mentioned the water temp "extra hot". Does that mean anything to you @mama with your Whirlpool?

@rococo that Bosch does have a lot of cycles. I'll let my friend know of that one too. I need to tell her about the Electrolux model as well.

I like that Bosch. It's a 240v machine, too. I wonder if that's only so the washer can plug into the dryer, or if the heater is rated higher, too. Maybe someone who's good at sniffing out parts lists can find out for us.

I had that whirlpool but much older. I think I bought it in 2005. It's pump went in 2 years dumping all its water onto the floor. It was repaired and still being used by a family member. It was made in Italy and seems to be almost exactly the same as my current Malber. Yes it had a heater on "extra heavy duty"' setting. About 140 degrees if I remember correctly. I had the matching vented dryer. Hated it. The drum was too small and I could only dry half a load at a time. It was slow and noisy.

That is the new modelseries from wirlpool here in Europe. After reading the manual, it need a dedicated 15 or 20 amp outlet on its own cirket, if that means it has a heater who knows.

Enduring....as for does extra hot mean anything to me...I don't have an extra hot just hot. I have a sanitize and a allergen cycle. ..my manual states my sanitize will use hot water and this hot water insures it will kill 99.9% germs..however the hottest that cycle gets is 111F...my allergen cycle is a different story. .I get 154F and that's after the water drains so I suspect it its close to 158/160F. thing is all my cycles seem to work different than what Whirlpool says they should in regards to temps. So no I ddon't know what extra hot means but I wouldn't doubt Whirlpool put that on there to lure buyers...I don't trust WP can you tell lol.

Extra Hot typically means the water heater is engaged to maximum temperature such as Sanitary, and may not be selectable on all cycles.

Hot usually is "regular" hot per the ATC during fill. The heater may be active in some cases such as Heavy Duty with maximum soil level selected but not to "sanitary" temp.

Well I won't be recommending the small washer to my friend. Thank you all for your input. All very good to know.