Reporting a Leaky Faucet
The tenant discovers a persistently dripping faucet in the bathroom and calls the landlord/property management to report the issue and request a repair.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
maintenance
This means the work done to repair or keep things in good condition in a building, like fixing a broken pipe. Use it when reporting problems to your landlord.
issue
A problem or difficulty, often used in formal or polite situations like customer service calls. It's a neutral way to say something is wrong without sounding too negative.
faucet
A device that controls the flow of water from a pipe, like a tap in the sink or bathroom. Common in American English; British English uses 'tap'.
dripping
When liquid falls in small drops, like water from a leaky faucet. It's the present participle form of 'drip', used to describe ongoing action.
persistent
Something that continues happening without stopping, often in a way that is annoying. Here, it describes the dripping that won't go away.
leaky
Having a leak, meaning water escapes through a hole or crack. Used as an adjective to describe faulty plumbing like a 'leaky faucet'.
availability
The times when you are free or available to meet or receive service. Ask about it when scheduling repairs or appointments.
confirmation
A message or email that verifies details, like appointment times. It's polite to request or provide this to avoid misunderstandings.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
I'm calling to report a maintenance issue.
This is a polite way to start a call about a problem. 'Report' means to inform officially, and 'issue' is a formal word for problem. Use it at the beginning of service calls to be clear and professional.
What seems to be the problem?
A common question in customer service to ask for details. 'Seems to be' softens the question, making it less direct. Useful for service providers or when helping someone describe an issue.
The faucet in my bathroom sink has been constantly dripping for the past day or two.
This describes a recent ongoing problem using present perfect continuous tense ('has been dripping') to show action started in the past and continues. 'Constantly' emphasizes it doesn't stop. Great for explaining issues with duration.
I'm worried about water waste.
Expresses concern about consequences, like saving resources. 'Worried about' shows anxiety. Use this to add reason to your request, making it more persuasive in maintenance calls.
We'll need to send someone over to take a look.
This promises action in response to a problem. 'Send someone over' means dispatch a person to visit, and 'take a look' is informal for inspect. Common in service replies to reassure the caller.
What's your availability usually like during weekdays?
Asks about free times politely. 'Usually like' inquires about typical schedule, and 'weekdays' means Monday to Friday. Use when arranging visits to show consideration for the person's time.
I'm usually home in the mornings before 11 AM, or any time after 3 PM.
Describes flexible availability using 'usually' for habits and time expressions like 'before 11 AM'. The 'or' connects options. Helpful for suggesting times in appointments without being too rigid.
Just to confirm, apartment 3B, a leaky bathroom faucet.
Repeats details for accuracy using 'just to confirm' to politely verify. It's a summary at the end of calls. Use this to ensure no mistakes in service requests.