The Case of the Scaled Shower: A Host's Near Disaster and a Lesson Learned
Around a year ago, just three months into hosting on Airbnb, I got a reservation that brought both excitement and nerves: another host was coming to stay!
About a year ago, I was an Airbnb host just three months in when I received a reservation that sparked both excitement and anxiety: another host was coming to stay at Issa Suites! Suddenly, my cozy condo felt a bit inadequate. With eight weeks to prepare, I was determined to transform it from “drab” to “fab.” New range hood? Installed. Stylish cooktop? Check. Elegant shower enclosure? You bet! Little did I know that this very shower would soon become a significant source of stress.
Up until then, I had mostly hosted short stays, so when an inquiry for a 10-day booking came in, I was thrilled. The fact that it came from another Airbnb host made it even better—or so I thought. On one hand, I was excited to welcome someone who understood the ups and downs of hosting. On the other hand, I felt the pressure mounting.
Hosts have high expectations, a keen eye for detail, and aren’t shy about leaving critical reviews.
The night of their arrival, I nervously waited for any feedback, checking my phone for any sign of a message. Nothing came.
The next morning, however, I finally received a message:: "The place is lovely :)"
I breathed a sigh of relief.
But my joy was short-lived. A follow-up message popped up: "I'm having a little trouble with the shower..."
My stomach dropped.
"There's very little water coming out of the showerhead," he noted, including a picture of the pitiful trickle.
My heart sank. What could possibly be wrong?
I quickly responded, trying to stay calm. “There’s a small gray knob you can tweak to increase the water flow. If that doesn’t work, I can easily arrange for a pail for you to use. It’s possible that a lot of folks are showering right now, maxing out the water pump’s capacity.”
He replied that he had already tried adjusting the knob, but the water pressure was still low. A pail would work for him.
“Be there in 30 minutes if that’s okay. Sorry for the hassle,” I typed, already feeling stress creeping back in. “I’ll ask the condo admin why this is happening and see if they can provide an answer. Thank you for your patience.”
“No bother, thank you! ☺️” he responded. (Bless his understanding soul!)
I asked our housekeeper to bring over a pail and bucket—sometimes the old-fashioned solutions work best. Meanwhile, I reached out to the condo admin, who confirmed there were no reported water issues and suggested checking the unit itself.
A sinking feeling settled in my gut. Could it be the showerhead? I messaged my partner, who was at work at the time, explaining the situation. Since he used to clean the bathroom when we lived there, his response was quick: “Looks like we need to check the showerhead and dislodge the hard water deposits to restore the flow.” I asked him to help me fix it, and he said he could come around 4 PM.
I immediately messaged the guest, and he replied, “He can come anytime; we’re here now.”
We rushed over, a sense of dread hanging over me. And there it was—the culprit! The shower head was clogged with limescale, a common issue in Cebu due to the hard water. My partner quickly dislodged the deposits, and the water flowed freely once more. Crisis averted!
I mentally added "check showerhead for limescale" to my cleaning checklist.
While we were there, I noticed they had hung a lot of clothes on the key hooks. It wasn't a problem, but it sparked an idea. Later, I messaged the guest: "I noticed you might need a laundry basket, so I've asked our housekeeper to bring one over."
He was incredibly grateful. "Thank you! I was just thinking about asking for one."
The rest of their stay was thankfully uneventful.
On their last day, they thanked me for a wonderful stay and even left a Brazilian coin for my little collection. My heart swelled with gratitude.
Three days later, a glowing review appeared on my listing.
The case of the scaled shower was resolved, teaching me the importance of regular maintenance and anticipating guest needs. This experience highlighted the benefits of longer stays—not just as a chance to catch my breath, but as an opportunity to build deeper connections and grow as a host.
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