Safe floor first
Water at an in-room condenser dryer usually comes from its own collection system - a tank carried across the room and spilled, a seal that no longer holds, or a condensate path that has blocked. In a resident apartment the spill is a fall hazard first, so make the floor safe before diagnosing anything.
What you are seeing
- Water on the floor in front of or under the machine.
- A trail of water from the machine to the sink.
- Water inside the machine around the condenser housing.
- Damp under a stacked pair in the closet.
- Water only when the tank is nearly full.
- Not this fault: A wet load at the end of a cycle is a drying fault, not a leak.
- Not this fault: Water from the washer above in a stacked pair belongs to that machine.
Most likely causes, in Direct Supply order
- Tank spilled while being carried to empty it — Why ranked: First on this machine. It is the most common source of water in the room and it is not an appliance fault at all.
- Tank not refitted fully, so water escapes during the cycle — Why ranked: Second: a tank pushed in but not seated leaks slowly and only while the machine runs.
- Condenser housing seal or drawer not closed properly — Why ranked: Third. Where the condenser is removable, refitting it wrongly gives water inside the cabinet.
- Condensate drain hose loose or kinked on a plumbed machine — Why ranked: Fourth. In a tight closet the hose is easily disturbed when the machine is moved.
- Internal condensate path blocked so water backs up — Why ranked: Last, and it produces water at the base with a dry tank.
What to check, in order
- Ask whether the water appeared when the tank was last emptied. — Because: A spill is the leading cause and it is answered by a question rather than a test.
- Pull the tank out and refit it firmly, then run a cycle and watch. — Because: A tank not seated leaks only under running conditions.
- Check the condenser drawer is closed and latched if the machine has one. — Because: A condenser refitted wrongly puts water inside the cabinet on every cycle.
- Look for water inside the cabinet at the base with a dry tank. — Because: That combination points at an internal blockage rather than the tank path.
Checks you can do safely
- Dry the floor and mark the area until it has been dealt with. — N: 1 — Tools: Mop, sign — Time: quick
- Remove and refit the water tank, pressing it fully home. — N: 2 — Tools: None — Time: quick
- Check the condenser drawer is closed and latched. — N: 3 — Tools: None — Time: quick
- Run a short cycle with paper towel under the machine and check where it wets. — N: 4 — Tools: Paper towel — Time: one cycle
- Report a machine that leaks at its base through the facility route. — N: 5 — Tools: None — Time: quick
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Water on a floor in a resident apartment is a fall hazard - dry it and mark it before doing anything else, and plan the route before carrying a full tank. Never work at a machine standing in water. Do not leave a wet floor unmarked in an occupied apartment. Report a leak rather than mopping it up each week.
When this becomes a service call
Water appears at the base with the tank correctly fitted. The condenser drawer will not close or latch. A drain hose is damaged or cannot be reached. Flooring under or around the machine has been wet long enough to be damaged.
What this page does not cover
This page covers the in-room compact and ventless dryers supplied under the Direct Supply name into resident apartments. It does not cover the vented contract dryers in shared laundry rooms, where water at a dryer means a neighbouring machine, and it names no model-specific tank or seal. Where a family- or model-specific page exists it supersedes this one.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
