During the normal wash cycle the water never gets above the drum, i.e. there's no standing water in it. Is this normal?

Samsung washing machines are high efficiency (HE) and use significantly less water than previous generations. The washing machine senses the weight of your load to determine how much water to deliver. Recalibrating the weight detection ensures that the right amount of water is being used. Using settings like Extra Rinse, Aqua Jet or Deep Fill will add more water to the cycle. The higher the soil level, the more water will be used to help get the clothes clean. Thank you for choosing Samsung for your laundry needs! ^Lena