Water collecting under barely-used dryer

[mclasser]

We bought a used Kenmore dryer from an appliance store a few months back and have only ran it 5 times since then. Since running it the other day, a small pool of water has collected underneath it. The water didn't collect when we ran the dryer but afterwards. I read this is likely due to a clogged dryer vent but it usually takes several years for this to happen. The vent was clean when we attached it. I haven't checked it out again but will be.

Could something else be the culprit?

 

[WobblyElvis]

Could the wind be blowing rain into the vent from outside?

 

[larryinnewyork]

Could the wind be blowing rain into the vent from outside?

Good idea. Check that you have a Flapper Door on side of house.
Make sure it's sealing correctly / no lint build up.

I can clean my vent pipe easily and do so once a year.
This also helps prevent fires.
When the Dryer is running, I also go outside and reach in the flapper door and feel for lint buildup / Any lint will easily blow out.

Take the front off the Dryer and clean all the lint out.
The squirrel cage fan loads up with lint.

Cleaning the Dryer should be done at least once a year.

 

[hansj3]

See if any animals have clogged the pipe, if it has not been used that much its a possibility

 

[Donald]

I know there are dryer fires, but they seem unlikely. The burning piece of lint (from the electric coils) needs to go into the dryer, past the clothes and out the vent and fall on some other lint to start a fire.

 

[Doog]

blow out the vent line with your leaf blower

 

[JHZR2]

I don't quite get how the water could be due to the dryer under operation, unless the vent line is really long and lets the vent gas get cold and condense. If that's the case and any remnant lint doesn't absorb it, I guess liquid could drip back.

That said, it seems to me that blow-in is more probable.

 

[opus1]

I'd go with blow-in as well, or maybe a small leak from the washer that's winding up under the dryer?

The only time I ever had water coming back in was in my townhouse. The vent went up trough the roof, and the pipe was not insulated in the attic so in really cold weather there would be some condensation coming in.

 

[JamesBond]

Is there a washing machine/drain/water heater etc. next to the dryer? Could they be leaking or backing up? Is your basement leaking? Is your roof leaking?

My guess is that an ice cube got kicked under there and melted but until there is more info no one really knows.