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 — 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 — A clogged exchanger cannot drain, so it backs up and overflows into the cabinet.
- Duct routing that traps water — 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.
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.
