(1) How do you remove the Splendide for a cleaning/inspection??
(2) How does it heat/dry the clothes? Is there an element that heats up during the wash cycle?
(3) Jane tells me the drum in ours gets hot enough to burn skin during the drying cycle.
We have the model that vents outside. Some don't have a vent and use condensation to somehow get the water out. For what it's worth, the Splendide design does not make sense unless you live in Italy. You might have a small apartment in an old "listed" historic building where cutting holes for vents is not practical, possible or legal. If you do take it out and remove the cover you will see that the component parts are of high quality and well made. If you compare it to current Whirlpools, you might even say the Spendide construction is impressive.
I numbered your questions so make writing an answer a little easier.
1. I've done it a couple of times. Of course each coach is different. First, you have to get behind it to unplug it and disconnect the water hoses and vent hose. On mine there is a section of the shelf above it that lifts out. I can stand on a stool and lean in to do this. Then, holding it at the door opening I can slide it part way out. At this point, two strong (young) men with good backs can grab it and put it on the floor. By looping rope or straps under it for a place to hang on, two old men with marginal backs can get it to the floor.
2. There is an element that heats up in the dry cycle, not the wash cycle. We have an Aladdin with amp gauges and I can see it load up.
3. Yes, it gets hot. So does the big Samsung in the condo. BJ (my DW) does not let me use the machine because I will leave stuff in too long and it all shrinks. She has developed a familiarization with the machine such that she know when to remove things when they are almost dry and not hot yet. She also says the "Regular" cycle has a higher drying heat. "Perma press" and "Delicate" have lower drying heat. She adds that small, light loads also help. (She is sitting next to me reading the news on her laptop and helping me with this.)
When we are in the motorhome we depend on and like the Splendide. It runs almost every day with a small load or two. We never go to the outside laundries. I do keep an eye on the vent outside. Twice in eight years the airflow slowed down. That's why I took it out. I wanted to see where the clog is. Now I think I know enough that, with a round vent brush, I might be able to clean it from the outside vent. But, I can remove it if necessary.
