When something goes wrong at home, “It is broken” may not give a plumber, electrician or landlord enough information. You can make your message clearer by naming the item, describing what happens and saying when the problem started. This guide gives you the English words and sentence patterns to do that without needing to diagnose the fault yourself.
To explain a home repair problem, use this pattern: item and location + observable problem + timing + request. For example: “The pipe under the kitchen sink is leaking. It started this morning. Could you arrange for someone to inspect it?”
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Words for Common Home Repair Problems
Start with what you can see, hear or notice. “There is water under the washing machine” is useful even if you do not know which part has failed. For the names of machines, see our home appliances vocabulary guide.
| Word or phrase | Meaning in this context | Example |
|---|---|---|
| leak / leaking | Liquid escaping where it should not | There is a leak under the sink. |
| drip / dripping | Liquid falling in separate drops | The bathroom tap keeps dripping. |
| blocked / clogged | Obstructed so water cannot flow normally | The shower drain seems blocked. |
| blockage | Something preventing flow through a passage | There may be a blockage in the pipe. |
| loose | Not securely attached or held in place | The cupboard handle is loose. |
| cracked | Having a visible split or line of damage | One of the floor tiles is cracked. |
| damp | Slightly wet | There is a damp patch on the wall. |
| stuck | Unable to move as expected | The bedroom window is stuck. |
| flickering | Changing brightness or going on and off rapidly | The hallway light is flickering. |
| not working | Not functioning as expected | The heating is not working. |
Leaking and dripping can describe the same problem from different angles. A pipe can leak, and the escaping water can drip onto the floor. Cambridge Dictionary explains leak as a verb and a noun; you can say both “The pipe is leaking” and “There is a leak.”
Useful British and American terms
You may hear tap in British English and faucet in American English. An electrical connection point is often called a socket in British English and an outlet in American English. The plug is the part on the appliance’s cable that goes into it.
A power cut, commonly called a power outage in American English, is an interruption to the electricity supply. One appliance failing does not necessarily mean there is a power cut. If you are unsure, describe the observation: “None of the lights in the flat are working.”
Describe the Location, Timing and Frequency
A clear repair report answers three questions: where is it, what is happening and when does it happen? Use the name of the room and a simple location phrase. “The handle on the kitchen cupboard beside the fridge is loose” identifies the problem more precisely than “A handle is loose.”
Say where the problem is
Useful phrases include under the sink, above the window, behind the washing machine and next to the front door. If you do not know the name of a part, describe it: “The metal part that connects the door to the frame is loose.” That part is a hinge, but the description still communicates your meaning.
Say when it started and how often it happens
| Information | Sentence pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | It started + time. | It started yesterday evening. |
| Continuing situation | It has been + -ing + since/for. | It has been leaking since Monday. |
| Repeated problem | It keeps + -ing. | The washing machine keeps stopping. |
| Occasional problem | It happens from time to time. | The noise happens from time to time. |
| Specific condition | It happens when + clause. | The noise happens when the heating comes on. |
Intermittent means that something happens at intervals rather than continuously: “The fault is intermittent.” In everyday conversation, “It works sometimes, but not always” may be easier. Add a practical effect when relevant: “The window will not close, so the room is cold.”
Keep an observation separate from a guess. “There is a damp patch on the ceiling” describes something visible; “The roof is leaking” suggests a cause. You can express uncertainty with “It looks like…”, “There may be…” or “I am not sure where the water is coming from.”
Repair, Replace and Maintenance: What Is the Difference?
To repair something is to make a damaged or faulty item work properly again. Fix often has the same meaning in everyday speech: “Can someone fix the door?” To replace something is to put another item in its place, as in “The handle needs replacing.”
Maintenance is the work involved in keeping something in good condition, as explained in Cambridge’s maintenance entry. It can include regular checks and repairs. A repair usually refers to dealing with a particular fault or damage.
You might hear “tighten a loose fitting,” “unblock a drain” or “seal a gap.” These phrases name possible jobs; they do not tell you which job a particular problem requires. If the cause is unknown, ask someone to inspect or check the item first.
A plumber works with water pipes and related systems, while an electrician works with electrical systems. An appliance technician deals with appliances, and a maintenance team may coordinate different kinds of work. You can ask, “Who should I contact about this problem?” when you are unsure.
Messages and Conversations About Repairs
A message to a landlord or maintenance team
Hello, I would like to report a problem with the kitchen sink. Water is dripping from the pipe underneath it, and the cupboard floor is wet. I first noticed it this morning. Could you arrange for someone to inspect it and let me know when they can visit? I can send a photo if that would help.
This message identifies the item, location, symptom and starting time before making a request. For the wider language of communicating with a landlord, see renting a home vocabulary. Here, the aim is to describe the fault clearly, without making assumptions about who must pay.
Arranging a visit
Resident: The bedroom window will not close properly.
Repair service: Is anything visibly damaged?
Resident: The handle feels loose, but I cannot see any broken parts.
Repair service: We can send someone on Thursday afternoon.
Resident: Could you give me an arrival window? I will need to be there to let them in.
An arrival window is a period during which someone is expected to arrive, such as 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. “Let someone in” means allow them to enter. You can also ask, “Will you need access to the cupboard under the sink?”
Asking about cost and following up
Useful questions include “Is there a call-out fee?”, “Could you give me an estimate?” and “Does that include parts and labour?” A call-out fee is a charge for a visit; an estimate is an approximate cost. Ask the service to explain what its price covers instead of assuming that every visit or part is included.
After a visit, distinguish a completed job from a continuing problem. You might say, “The handle is secure now, thank you,” or “The tap is still dripping after the repair. Could you arrange a follow-up visit?” The word still makes clear that the original problem continues.
Common Language Mistakes to Avoid
| Less accurate wording | Better wording | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| The handle is lose. | The handle is loose. | Loose describes something that is not secure; lose is a different verb. |
| The pipe is leak. | The pipe is leaking. | Use the -ing form after is for an action happening now. |
| It is broken since Monday. | It has been broken since Monday. | The present perfect connects a past starting point with now. |
| It has been leaking since two days. | It has been leaking for two days. | For introduces a duration; since introduces a starting point. |
| Can you repair it me? | Can you repair it for me? | Use for to introduce the person benefiting from the repair. |
“The washing machine is not working” is a complete and natural sentence. You do not need an advanced technical word to make a useful report. Add a specific detail if you have one: “It switches on, but the drum does not turn.”
Practice: Make Your Repair Report Clearer
Choose the best word for each gap, then compare your answers below. Think about both the meaning and the sentence structure.
- The cupboard handle moves when I touch it. It is ______. (loose / blocked)
- Water cannot flow down the shower drain. It seems ______. (cracked / blocked)
- The tap has been dripping ______ yesterday. (for / since)
- The engineer will ______ the damaged part with a new one. (replace / drip)
- The light keeps ______. (flickering / flicker)
Answers and explanations
1. Loose: the handle is not securely attached. 2. Blocked: something appears to be preventing normal flow. 3. Since: yesterday is a starting point. 4. Replace: a new part takes the place of the damaged one. 5. Flickering: keeps is followed by the -ing form here.
Write a short message
Improve this report: “The window is bad. Please help.” Use these details: bedroom window, does not close fully, started yesterday, request a visit.
The bedroom window will not close fully. I noticed the problem yesterday. Could you arrange for someone to check it and let me know when they can visit?
Now describe a different problem in three sentences. Name the item and location, explain what happens, and finish with a clear request. Check that you have reported what you know rather than invented a cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I say instead of “It is broken”?
Describe the actual behaviour: “It will not switch on,” “It is making a rattling noise” or “It does not close properly.” These phrases give the listener a clearer starting point. Use “I am not sure what is wrong” if you cannot explain the cause.
Is “There is a leakage” natural English?
Leakage is a real word, but “There is a leak” is usually the simpler choice for a particular household problem. You can also use the verb: “The radiator is leaking.” Add the location so the listener knows which item you mean.
How do I ask for a repair politely?
Try “Could you arrange for someone to check it?” or “Could you let me know when it can be repaired?” If you need a response by a particular time, say so clearly: “Could you confirm the appointment today?”
What if I do not know the English name of the part?
Describe its position, appearance and purpose. For example, “The small handle on the bathroom window is loose” communicates the problem without specialist terminology. A clear description is more useful than guessing an unfamiliar word.
