The short answer
Establish which machine you have first. On a vented dryer the water is not from the dryer; look at the washer, the duct and the plumbing. On a condensing machine, check the tank seating, the condenser seal and the drain hose before anything else.
Where the water appears
- A pool under a vented dryer — It came from somewhere else in the room.
- Water under a condensing machine — The tank, the sump or the drain hose.
- Drips from the duct or the wall fitting — Condensation in a cold or uninsulated run.
- Water only after the washer runs — The washer is the source.
- Damp at the condenser access flap — The seal or the unit itself.
- Not this fault: a full-tank warning with no puddle — Read the drainage page.
Ranked by what is found
- The washer beside it, not the dryer — First on vented machines by a wide margin.
- Condensate tank overflowing or not seated — First on condensing machines.
- Condenser seal or access flap leaking — Third.
- Drain hose loose or split on a plumbed machine — Fourth.
- Condensation forming in a cold duct run — Fifth, and it drips at the joints.
- Sump or pump leaking inside the cabinet — Last, and internal.
Find the source in this order
- Establish whether the machine has a water tank at all — It halves the possibilities.
- Dry the floor and run one cycle with the washer idle — It attributes the water.
- Look at the tank seat and the condenser flap — Both are visible from outside.
- Follow any drain hose along its run — Loose ends and splits show up quickly.
Owner checks
- Dry the floor completely and put paper down — It shows where the next drip lands.
Tools: paper towelAbout 10 min
- Run the dryer alone with the washer switched off — It separates the two machines.
About 60 min
- Remove, empty and reseat the condensate tank — An unseated tank overflows quietly.
About 10 min
- Check the condenser access flap closes and seals — A flap left ajar drips down the front.
Tools: torchAbout 10 min
- Inspect the duct joints for drips in cold weather — Condensation in a cold run mimics a machine leak.
Tools: torchAbout 15 min
- Stop before opening the cabinet for the sump or pump — Water and mains wiring share that space.
Water and electricity together
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Do not stand in a wet area to operate or unplug the machine; switch off at the breaker instead. Dry the floor before moving the appliance, and stop using a machine that is leaking onto a mains connection.
When to call
Call when the tank, the flap and the hose are all sound and the machine still leaves water underneath, because the sump and the pump are inside the cabinet. Call an electrician instead if water has reached the outlet or the cord. If the water turns out to be the washer, that machine has its own leak page.
Related pages
What this page covers
Generalized across dryer families under this badge, covering vented and condensing machines; where a family-specific or model-specific page exists it is the narrower answer. Not here: tank capacities, pump identifiers, hose specifications and duct insulation standards.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
