How Long Does a Dryer Take to Drain After a Power Outage?

There is no set time for a dryer to drain after a power outage. Most dryers hold no water at all. A condenser or heat pump dryer keeps its water in a tank, so empty the tank and restart the cycle. A washer-dryer combo may need to drain first, and its door can stay locked until it does.

Does a dryer drain water at all?

It depends on the type of dryer. A vented dryer blows hot, wet air outside through a duct. It has no tank, no drain hose and no drain pump. If you see water around one, the cause is usually something else, like a leaking washer or a bad vent.

Ventless dryers work another way. A condenser dryer or a heat pump dryer turns the moisture in your clothes back into water. GE says its ventless condenser dryers pump that water "into the house standpipe or into a closed system reservoir that can be emptied."

So when people ask about "draining a dryer," they usually mean one of three things:

• A condenser or heat pump dryer with a water tank you empty by hand.
• A condenser or heat pump dryer with a drain hose that sends the water to a sink or standpipe.
• A washer-dryer combo, which is one machine that washes and dries and holds real wash water.

Not sure which you own? Look for a pull-out tank on the front, a small drain hose on the back, or a vent duct. A duct means vented.

What happens to a dryer after a power outage?

For a condenser or heat pump dryer, the cycle simply stops. The water already in the tank stays in the tank. Nothing "drains" on its own.

When the power returns, the dryer may ask you to empty the tank or may not restart the cycle by itself. Samsung says that when the tank is full, its heat pump dryer shows an "Empty the tank" message and stops mid-cycle. You empty the tank, then press and hold Start/Pause. The message clears and drying resumes.

Bosch says an E03 message "suggests that the condensate tank is full." A full tank can happen after an outage if the load was close to done when the power cut off. The tank was already near the top.

We could not find a maker that gives a time for how long a dryer takes to drain after a power cut. So here is what to watch for instead:

• Does the tank warning clear after you empty and reseat the tank?
• Does the dryer finish the cycle and the clothes come out dry?
• Is there water on the floor or in the base?

If the answers are yes, yes and no, you are fine.

How long does a washer-dryer combo take to drain after a power outage?

A combo is different because it holds wash water. If the power cuts out mid-wash, the drum can still be full.

LG's support page for front load washers says the door stays locked for three reasons: a high water level, water that is too hot, or a brief power outage. LG says "If a brief power outage were to occur, the door will remain locked until the next time it is powered on." It adds that "If the power outage lasts longer than three to five minutes, the door will unlock automatically."

For a high water level, LG says to run a drain-only cycle. Once the water has drained, pause or stop the cycle and the door will unlock. LG also says hot water can keep the door locked, and that it can take up to 20 minutes for the drum to cool. These are LG washer instructions. Your combo may work a little differently, so check your manual.

How do I drain a washer-dryer combo by hand?

LG says you can drain a washer by unplugging the drain hose behind the access panel on the front of the washer. Here is the safe way to do it:

1. Unplug the machine.
2. Put towels and a shallow pan on the floor. The water is heavier than you expect.
3. Open the small panel at the bottom front.
4. Pull out the small drain hose and let the water run into the pan.
5. Close the hose and put the panel back.

Do not pull on a locked door. LG warns that pulling hard on a locked door "may damage the internal parts."

How do I drain a condenser or heat pump dryer?

Start with the tank, because it is the most common fix.

1. Pull the tank out slowly and keep it level. Bosch says the water may be warm, and the tank has no screw cap.
2. Pour the water into a sink.
3. Seat the tank all the way back in. A tank that is not fully in place can make the dryer act like it is full.

Samsung says to empty the tank after each use to prevent leaks. It also says the tank is very heavy, so lift it with both hands.

If your dryer uses a drain hose instead, check the hose. Samsung says its drain pump can only push water up to a drain point lower than 90 cm (about 35 inches) from the bottom of the dryer. A hose that is kinked, crushed or too high can leave the water stuck inside.

LG gives one more tip for its compact condenser dryers. If water is left after a cycle, LG says to run Air Dry for 3 minutes, then unclip the drain tube under the appliance and drain it. LG also says the leftover water can freeze in the hose in cold weather. That matters in a cold Chicago garage or basement.

Does a hard reset make a dryer drain?

A reset does not pump water out. It clears a stuck control and starts the cycle over.

A simple reset goes like this:

1. Empty the tank.
2. Unplug the dryer for a few minutes, or switch off its breaker.
3. Plug it back in and start a short cycle.

No maker we read gave an exact wait time for a dryer reset, so we will not make one up. Write down any error code before you cut the power. Some models clear it when power goes off.

Does replacing the filter change how a dryer drains?

A clogged filter does not drain the dryer. It does slow drying and can fill the tank faster. Condenser and heat pump dryers have more than one filter, and people mix them up:

• The lint filter catches lint from clothes. GE says to empty it before or after every use.
• The condenser is the part that turns warm, wet air into water. GE says to clean the sensor bars and condenser once a month. LG says to clean its condenser 3 or 4 times a year, or any time the Clean Condenser light blinks. Both say to rinse the condenser with tap water.
• The pump filter sits near the drain pump on some models and catches lint before it reaches the pump. Where yours is, and how to open it, is in your manual.

An LG dryer that flashes "Check Filter" can be more than a dirty filter. We wrote up one job, an LG dryer flashing check filter that would not run right in La Cañada Flintridge.

How long does it take to descale a dryer after replacing the filter?

We found no maker that gives a descaling time for a dryer. Samsung does give one cleaning step for the tank. It says to fill the tank with lukewarm water and neutral detergent, leave it for 30 minutes, rinse it, and dry it fully. That is a clean-out for the tank, not a full descale.

Why does my dryer make a grinding noise when it drains?

A grinding sound during the drain step usually comes from the drain pump. The pump is a small motor that pushes water out of the base of the dryer. It can grind when lint, a coin or a bit of fabric gets into it. A worn pump can grind too.

Here is how to tell if the pump is the cause:

• The noise starts when water moves, and stops when the pumping stops.
• The tank fills slowly or the dryer says "tank full" with an empty tank.
• You hear the pump hum but no water moves.

If the grinding goes on the whole time the drum turns, the cause is likely elsewhere. Worn drum rollers, a belt or an idler pulley (a small wheel that keeps the belt tight) can all grind. Our post on a dryer making a loud noise explains how to tell those apart.

Pumps are not only a dryer problem. We have replaced them on washers too, like this LG washer drain pump replacement in Pilsen, Chicago.

Which error codes mean a drain problem?

Codes change by brand and model, so use your manual. These are the ones a maker's own page told us about:

• Bosch E03: Bosch says this "suggests that the condensate tank is full." Empty the tank and put it back in firmly.
• Samsung "Empty the tank": The dryer stops mid-cycle until you empty the tank and press and hold Start/Pause.
• LG "Clean Filter" or "Empty Water": LG says to clean the filter or empty the water container before drying again. If "Empty Water" shows after a cycle, check the drain hose for leaks.

A code that comes back after you empty the tank is not a tank problem. That is the time to stop and call.

Is it safe to open a dryer after a power outage?

Water and mains power do not mix. Keep these rules:

• Unplug the dryer before you open any panel. Do not just turn it off at the control.
• Mop up water before you plug it back in.
• Do not open a panel on a wet floor.
• Never force a locked combo door.
• Do not run a dryer with a damaged condenser. LG says not to operate the dryer with one.
• If you smell burning or see scorched fabric, stop and unplug it. Check the vent too. Our post on a clogged dryer vent lists the signs.

When should I call a technician?

Call if any of these happen:

• The full-tank warning stays on after you empty and reseat the tank.
• Water pools in the base or on the floor.
• You hear the pump run but no water moves, or it grinds.
• The combo door stays locked with the water gone.
• The same error code returns after a reset.
• Clothes stay damp even though the vent and filters are clean. Our guide on why a dryer takes too long to dry covers the checks.

Our trained technicians fix dryers and washers. See our dryer repair and washer repair pages for what we handle. We can tell you what part failed and show you the price before any work starts.

Ready for help? Book online or call us. Phones are answered 6am to 9pm, seven days a week. Same-day visits are often possible. The service call is $79 for a residential unit and $119 for a residential stacked or double unit. It is free if you proceed with the repair. Every repair comes with a 30-day repair warranty.