I think there's some confusion here... If a washer has dumbed-down temps, a heater won't make those temperatures any higher. What a heater may do, is offer the option of a sanitary or extra-hot temperature, great for cleaning but not safe for all items. And it may help by heating the water if the machine wants to do a hot wash, but fills with cool water because of a long hot water lag (long pipe run between domestic water heater and washing machine). Another thing: In most cases, dumbed-down temperatures are not forced on the manufacturers. They choose them in order to qualify for direct-to-manufacturer tax credits, as much as $250/unit. You could say that the manufacturers are selling out their customers to get the tax credits. The exception is traditional deep-fill agitator top-loaders. They use so much water that they may actually bump up against the mandatory Federal regulations. Even there, it's interesting to realize that, prior to 2011, there were no mandatory restrictions on water usage. There were energy restrictions, which may have mandated cooler wash temperatures on deep-fill machines (because all that water takes a lot of energy to heat). But there were no restrictions on unheated water, therefore no limits on how much rinse water could be used.

suburbanmd, if you can't see the application of the Springer comment after reading the silly volleys in just the first few posts there's no hope of explaining it to you. So take offense, stamp your feet and go off on a tyrade if you like. Historically, for some reason you've attempted to take offense to anything and everything I say, which doesn't bother me in the least - I usually just ignore it. You have some burr up your butt about me and all I can suggest is try some lotion. Believe it or not, the sun doesn't rise and set on you, at least in my world. Your ego notwithstanding, not everything said in this forum is directed at you, nor is it intended to insult you, compliment you or otherwise revolve around you. Not everything is about suburbanmd, believe it or not. As for your question, it's hard to answer specifically since I can't think of examples offhand but I would imagine there's times you can get a tax credit for something you're required to do. Most tax credits are not given automatically. You usually have to file for them. For instance one tax credit is given to people with children but you have to file and claim it to get it. Obviously that's not a requirement by law, but about all I can come up with off the top of my head. And yes I realize this probably won't meet with your approval and you may well go off again. But such is life in the real world so fire away. I can handle it.

None of the large (27" or 70cm wide) washers sold in the U.S. can reach near-boiling temperatures, because they are all designed to run on low-powered 120v/15A power. There are some smaller 24"/60cm wide machines that can reach near-boiling temps, most notably Asko's 240v washers, but a few other lesser-known brands can too. Fagor sells an 8kg, 240v machine that can reach 195°F. AEG (affiliated with Electrolux) used to have some, not sure if they still do. Miele did too, but very recently dropped them. Danby sold a small, inexpensive ($400) washer that could hit 200°F even though it ran on 120V power, but they don't make them anymore.

"Did I misread this, or did everyone else? OP said the laundry water drains into the pit, ie the sump? Shouldn't it be going into the city sewer?" A common installation if the main sewer line is higher than the basement. It is also routinely used for houses on septic, since the lines are never deep enough to have drains in a basement unless the house is on a hill with the septic tank and field below the house. When septic houses are converted to municipal sewer the lines are rarely lowered, so the pit and ejector system remain. The ejector pump in the pit is usually a pretty powerful one, and the slightest obstruction in the line after the pit line joins the house sewer line can cause backup.