Dryer - puddle of water inside

[Anonymous]

I’ve already googled and also had a repairman out to address this. Basically, when the dryer goes unused for a few days, a puddle of water forms in the bottom of the dryer barrel.

Both google and the repairman said it had to be a dryer vent clog, so he completely cleaned out the duct, both from the inside and outside. He found no clogs at all and said it actually looked very clean. He also said the outside flaps/vent cover were in good shape. In short, he was a flummoxed as I am.

We’ve continued to use the dryer with no issues - heating is good, etc.

Five days later, another puddle has formed. So my question is, has anyone else experienced this and do you know what the issue could be? TIA.

[Anonymous]

The only way to introduce water in the dryer is from your washer. Are you sure it’s spinning good to squeeze out water before you put it in the dryer?

[Anonymous]

Variables you didn't mention.
Is the dryer gas or electric?
Is the dryer stacked and below a washer? (Very weird if it is but have to ask.)
Is the dryer vent vertical and leads to the roof or attic vent?
Is the dryer vent horizontal and leads to an outside wall?
Are you drying clothes completely or stopping while still damp, and not letting dryer cool properly before stopping?
Does it do this if you leave the dryer door open after you finish drying for a few days?

If you answer all those, and try the last one as an experiement, you will have your answer.

[Anonymous]

The damp air from outside is condensing inside your dryer. The external vent should have a one-way vent door to prevent this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Variables you didn't mention.
Is the dryer gas or electric?
Is the dryer stacked and below a washer? (Very weird if it is but have to ask.)
Is the dryer vent vertical and leads to the roof or attic vent?
Is the dryer vent horizontal and leads to an outside wall?
Are you drying clothes completely or stopping while still damp, and not letting dryer cool properly before stopping?
Does it do this if you leave the dryer door open after you finish drying for a few days?

If you answer all those, and try the last one as an experiement, you will have your answer.

- electric
- not stacked. side-by-side.
- dryer is located in basement; vent is vertical and vented to outside wall right above.
- clothes are drying completely
- will try leaving the door open in between uses. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The damp air from outside is condensing inside your dryer. The external vent should have a one-way vent door to prevent this.

It does have a one-way vent door that the repairman checked and said it was fine. But I'll check it again. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Variables you didn't mention.
Is the dryer gas or electric?
Is the dryer stacked and below a washer? (Very weird if it is but have to ask.)
Is the dryer vent vertical and leads to the roof or attic vent?
Is the dryer vent horizontal and leads to an outside wall?
Are you drying clothes completely or stopping while still damp, and not letting dryer cool properly before stopping?
Does it do this if you leave the dryer door open after you finish drying for a few days?

If you answer all those, and try the last one as an experiement, you will have your answer.

- electric
- not stacked. side-by-side.
- dryer is located in basement; vent is vertical and vented to outside wall right above.
- clothes are drying completely
- will try leaving the door open in between uses. Thanks!

Sounds like bolded part is the issue. Rain/moisture intrusion.
Another previous user mentioned a one-way flap that should allow it to open when dryer is forcing air out, but closes when not in use. Check it. If it's exposed to the weather and not in an enclosed area, you might want to relocate the vent/exit or build up something around it, to protect it from the elements.
That much water doesn't sound like condensation from the clothes drying but from an external source.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The damp air from outside is condensing inside your dryer. The external vent should have a one-way vent door to prevent this.

It does have a one-way vent door that the repairman checked and said it was fine. But I'll check it again. Thank you!

We have a relatively new dryer and it gets water condensation in it, despite having a perfectly functional and clean outside vent and vent cap. If it rains hard enough, water is splashing up from our deck and getting in. It also gets damp from humidity. Vent doors are not a perfect t seal.

[Anonymous]

So did you solve the mystery OP?

[Anonymous]

Does the water intrusion correspond to rain outside? I agree it could be coming in through the dryer vent when it rains.

[Anonymous]

Another stupid question, but is it a dryer that has a water connection for a steam cycle? My dryer has a place to connect a water line and I told the installers to skip it because I never intend to use the steam cycle.

Another more likely possibility, is that it's simply condensation from being in a basement during the summer. Even with a flap, the extremely humid outside air is getting in and condensing because your basement is much cooler.

[Anonymous]

I had this happening because the dryer vent termination was above my a/c outdoor unit. The air blowing up from the ac pushed into the vent. It was hot/moist and then came into the cool dryer and condensed. If you have a flapper type of termination on the vent, you may still have air flow.