What this usually is
A vented dryer that leaks is almost always a condensation problem in the duct, whereas a condenser machine that leaks is telling you about its tank, its pump or its filters. Establishing which type you have is the first step, not an afterthought. On a Aviva dryer the order below is what makes this page worth reading — the causes are ranked for this kind of machine, not listed alphabetically.
What this looks like from the front
- Water under the machine after a cycle — On a condenser dryer this is the tank or its seals. On a vented one it is condensate from the duct.
- The condensate tank overflows or never fills — Either the tank is not being emptied or the pump that fills it has failed — opposite symptoms with the same cause line.
- Drips from the duct connection at the back — Warm moist air hitting a cold duct run condenses inside and runs back to the lowest point.
- Water marks along the duct run — A long, cold or sagging duct collects condensate at every low point.
- NEAR MISS — a damp smell with no visible water — That is usually the lint path holding moisture, not a leak.
Causes, most likely first
- Condensate in the vent duct — First on a vented machine: moist exhaust air condenses in an uninsulated duct run, especially in cold weather, and the water runs back to the lowest point in the run — usually the machine connection.
- Condensate tank not emptied, or its seal failed — First on a condenser machine, and it is much more often the seal or the seating than the tank itself. The tank drips as it is carried, and the machine drips when it is not seated.
- Blocked condenser filter or heat exchanger — Second on a condenser or heat-pump machine. A clogged exchanger cannot drain, so it backs up and overflows into the cabinet.
- Duct routing that traps water — Third: a duct with a sag between the machine and the wall makes a reservoir that eventually fills and spills back.
Where to start, and why there
- Establish which type of dryer you have — Vented, condenser or heat-pump. It decides the entire diagnosis, and the answer is on the rating plate or in the presence of a water tank.
- Check whether water appears during the cycle or afterwards — During points at the duct or the exchanger; afterwards points at the tank or the drain.
- Look for a sag in the duct run — Lift the duct and listen for water moving. A trapped pool is audible and conclusive.
The checks worth doing
- Empty the condensate tank and check its seat — On a condenser machine, empty it after every cycle and look at the gasket where it seats before pushing it home.
About 10 min
- Clean the condenser filters and the heat exchanger — Pull the lower filter block out and rinse it thoroughly. A clogged exchanger is the most common cause of an overflow.
Tools: soft brushAbout 30 min
- Re-route the duct so it slopes away from the machine — Remove sags and low points so condensate runs outward rather than back.
About 25 min
- Shorten or insulate a long cold duct run — Less cold surface means less condensation. In cold weather this is the difference between a dry floor and a wet one.
Tools: duct insulationAbout 45 min
- STOP before opening the cabinet to reach the pump or the sump — On a condenser dryer the pump is mains-wired inside the cabinet.
Safety first
Safety
Switch the circuit off and unplug where you can reach the plug. This appliance combines heat, a large motor and flammable lint, which is why the safety step here is physical as well as electrical: clear the vent path, check the outdoor flap opens, and never restart a machine that smells scorched.
When to call a technician
Call when a condenser machine keeps flooding after the filters and the exchanger have been cleaned and the tank seats properly, because that leaves the pump, the level sensor or a blocked internal drain. On a vented machine, call if water appears with no duct condensation to explain it — that is unusual and worth a proper look rather than a guess.
Other faults on this appliance
Scope of this page
What you are reading is family-agnostic. It applies to Aviva dryer units in general and does not claim to describe any single model: service-manual specifics — resistance values, part numbers, harness routing — are exactly what varies between families and are exactly what is left out. If a model-specific page for your unit is linked below, go there first; this page is the fallback when one does not exist yet.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
