Top 10 Maintenance Requests and What They Really Mean - Behind every door, there’s a story… and a to-do list.

Let’s Decode the Top 10 Most Common Maintenance Requests

If you’ve ever worked in property management, you know maintenance requests are their own language. Tenants send a message, and behind that message is usually a much bigger story. Sometimes it’s simple. Sometimes it’s chaos. Sometimes—bless their hearts—it’s user error.

1. “My Fridge Is Making a Weird Noise.”

What it really means:
The fridge is doing exactly what a fridge does… or there’s a rogue ice cube trying to escape.

What tenants should check:

• Is anything blocking the fan?

• Is the fridge overstuffed?

• Did frost build up behind the freezer panel?

Manager note:
Request a quick video. If it sounds like a dying whale, send tech. If it sounds normal… well, you just gave a Fridge Noise 101 class.

2. “There’s No Hot Water.”

What it really means:
Everyone took showers at the same time, or the tank said “Nope, not today.”

Tenant troubleshooting:

• Check if hot water is gone in all faucets.

• Check if building has temporary outage.

Manager tip:
If it’s only one unit, schedule plumbing. If it’s the whole building… start praying politely to the boiler.

3. “My Sink Is Backed Up.”

What it really means:
Someone upstairs is washing the entire pasta arsenal down the drain, or your tenant attempted a DIY YouTube plumbing adventure.

Quick checks:

• Ask neighbors not to run water temporarily.

• Verify if both sides of the sink are backing up.

• Plunge gently (yes, gently).

Manager response:
If multiple units are affected → main stack issue.
If it’s just one → bring the snake and hope for the best.

4. “The Toilet Is Running.”

What it really means:
The flapper’s had enough, the chain is tangled, or someone’s toddler had an unauthorized fishing expedition.

Tenant fixes:

• Jiggle handle (the universal classic).

• Check chain.

• Look for stuck flapper.

Manager fix:
This is a quick repair—10 minutes if you’re lucky, 30 minutes if you brought the wrong gasket.

5. “My Heat Isn’t Working.”

What it really means:
Tenant forgot to switch the thermostat from Cool to Heat… or the system is truly down.

Before tech arrives, ask tenant to:

• Check thermostat is ON and heat is selected.

• Make sure furnace room door isn’t blocked.

• Ask if they changed the filter (cue the silence).

Manager note:
Heating calls spike every October like clockwork. Add “filter lecture” to your annual script.

6. “A Light Doesn’t Work.”

What it really means:
Lightbulb is burnt out 87% of the time. The other 13%? Mystery wiring, spooky vibes, or tenants who didn’t know bulbs need replacing (yes, it happens).

Tenant steps:

• Replace bulb.

• Try another bulb to confirm.

• Check if a breaker tripped.

Manager fix:
If bulb + breaker didn’t solve it, send tech to check the wiring.

7. “The Smoke Detector Keeps Beeping.”

What it really means:
Low battery. Deeply offended smoke detector. Or tenant cooked toast aggressively.

Tenant fixes:

• Replace the battery (if allowed by building policy).

• Ensure detector isn’t covered or blocked.

Manager fix:
If it’s hardwired and chirping → time to replace the unit.

8. “My Door Won’t Close Properly.”

What it really means:
Humidity, warping, loose hinges, or someone slammed it harder than their last breakup.

Tenant checks:

• Look for anything stuck in the frame.

• Check if latch aligns.

Manager fix:
Adjustment, sanding, tightening screws—simple but satisfying repair.

9. “There’s Water on My Floor.”

What it really means:
Either a real leak…
OR condensation, spilled water, pet bowl tsunami, or a tenant who swears the water came from “nowhere.”

Tenant questions:

• When did they notice it?

• Any drips overhead?

• Nearby appliances?

• Has the cat been suspiciously quiet?

Manager response:
Investigate quickly. Water waits for no one.

10. “Something Smells Weird.”

What it really means:
Could be garbage, drain, dead plant, old leftovers, or the fridge staging a protest.

Tenant steps:

• Check garbage + fridge.

• Pour hot water down drains.

• Clean dishwasher filter (if applicable).

Manager fix:
If smell is chemical, electrical, or sewer-like → urgent investigation.

Final Thoughts

Maintenance is part science, part guessing game, and part communication. When tenants know what to check first, and managers know what the message actually means, buildings run smoother, repairs go faster, and everyone sleeps better.

Well… except smoke detectors. They never sleep.