A:
The WA5471, like other high efficiency (HE) top load washers, is not designed to submerge clothes in water, but rather to circulate the clothes through the water and the water back over the clothes. This is made possible by the stainless steel pulsator which creates a "blossoming" action as it tumbles the clothes, and Samsung's recirculating pump which takes the water from the bottom of the drum and circulates it back over the top of the clothes during each portion of the cycle.
Samsung's HE top loaders use weight sensors to help determine how much water to add to the wash, and the amount of water ranges from about 16-19 gallons per cycle. To ensure your WA5471 is using the right amount of water, check the inlet hose screens on the back of the washer for blockage, and make sure the hoses are not bent or kinked, the water valves are turned on all the way, and your home's water pressure is at the recommended 20-116 psi. If the pressure or water level are not sufficient, your washer is designed to display an "nF" or no fill error code on the display to alert you to check the above factors.
Regarding the water temperature, while there is an internal heater for boosting the temperature during the Sanitize cycle, the washer relies on your home's hot water supply during other cycles. Some customers find it helpful to run a hot water faucet near the washer immediately prior to starting a wash cycle to ensure the water in the pipe supplying the washer is already hot when it starts to fill the drum. For more information on water temperatures, please refer to page 33 of the user manual which can be downloaded as a pdf file from Samsung's website for easy reference.
Thank you,
Ms. Samsung