One renter who moved into a historic apartment building in July says they have already filed multiple maintenance requests over a kitchen faucet that keeps leaking, and they are still keeping a bucket under the sink just in case.
After maintenance made three unsuccessful trips, the tenant turned to Reddit's r/AskAPlumber community for advice on what might be going on.
Here's what to know
The renter told Reddit that the leak has resurfaced several times since they moved in, even though maintenance repeatedly said the faucet had been repaired or claimed it was "not leaking" despite the evidence they provided.
(Click here if the embedded video does not appear.)
The original poster then wrote, "Please help! I want to be able to give them an idea of what's happening so they don't try to gaslight me into thinking it's not leaking again."
Commenters largely agreed that the issue sounded more serious than a simple adjustment.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
As one explained, "Either the cartridge is leaking or [it's a] failed faucet. Cheapest/fastest/easiest solution [is to] replace the faucet. They're like $30 on Amazon. I'd let the owners know that maintenance has been there 3x and problem still present, tell them you want a new faucet before this damages the cabinet and other locations."
Several replies pointed to the same fix, urging the tenant to replace the faucet instead of trying to repair it again. One commenter wrote, "Probably just need a new faucet, but it could be a split or hole in the hand wand hose. It would continue to leak after the faucet is turned off, then slowly stop after the hose drains."
Others were even more direct. "After 3 visits I'd be replacing the faucet…" one commenter said, while another added, "3 visits cost more than [a] new faucet."
More background
A leak like this may sound minor, but a recurring drip under a sink can quickly become expensive. Beyond wasting water, it can damage cabinets, flooring, and walls, and lingering moisture can create conditions for mold.
For renters dealing with a recurring leak, documentation can be crucial. Photos, videos, copies of maintenance requests, and records of any visible damage can help establish that the problem is ongoing rather than new.
Another commenter said the tenant should bring management video of the leak and point to the repeated repair attempts, then "walk them to the conclusion that it makes more sense at this point to replace rather than repair."
Where can I learn more?
This kind of drawn-out water issue comes up in plenty of rental disputes. Tenants often end up stuck with the fallout, whether that means sky-high water bills or plumbing problems that start to look unsafe.
• One renter watched an astronomical water bill pile up after a leak went unpatched.
• Another tenant got a monstrous water bill while a landlord ignored the leak.
• In another rental, the truth behind a water bill centered on wasteful irrigation.
For renters trying to document a leak that keeps coming back, these stories offer a clearer sense of how others handled the bills, blame, and safety concerns that followed.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
