How to Fix a Leak

How many Filipinos does it take?

We had the unfortunate experience of a leaking air conditioner which damaged the wall. In this humidity, the mold risk is even more pronounced.

The unit on the right was the culprit. Here’s how we got it fixed.

Step 1: A/C cleaners came to service the units and fix the leak.

Step 2: Request building services to repair the wall.

Step 3: Wait a few days. Two workers then arrive carrying nothing but a can of paint.

Step 4: Stop the workers from painting over the mold. Insist that the drywall be cut out and repaired.

Step 5: Boss man comes to survey the wall. Everyone stares silently for a while.

Step 6: All workers leave. No action taken.

Step 7: Wait a couple of days. Boss man will arrive with another boss man. They will also look at the wall, then leave.

Step 8: Outside contractors arrive and cut a hole in the drywall.

Step 9: They cut a second hole.

Step 10: They cut a third hole. All to check, apparently, if the unit is still leaking.

Step 11: Another crew from A/C services arrives to check, clean, and repair the unit. Which was already checked, cleaned, and repaired back in Step 1.

Step 12: Send the second A/C services crew away as there are now fully 11 people in the apartment besides us.

Step 12a: H loses her mind.

Step 13: More people arrive and stare at the wall.

Step 14: The apartment is coated in a layer of drywall dust. More workers arrive to roll up the useless plastic sheeting.

Note the floor behind the man and how…not clean it is. That’s partly because this is what a Filipino broom looks like. This is not an anomaly. They are ALL like this. They are used indoors or out. You cannot find a Western-style broom here.

Step 15: The three holes are taped over with white paper.

Step 16: After some days, another crew arrives to repair the three holes cut into the drywall.

You may have noticed that each crew is supervised by Boss Man, who is always looking at his phone. All day.

Step 17: The holes are filled with cut out pieces of drywall.

Step 18: The crew begins to PAINT THE BASEBOARD.

Step 18a: J loses his mind.

Step 19: J explains that they can’t JUST PAINT OVER THE WALL BECAUSE THE MOLD WILL MAKE US SICK. (Note that we have now returned to Step 4, except this time we have three holes in the drywall.)

Step 20: The crew sits on the floor to await instruction.

Step 21: The crew leaves for lunch.

Step 22: The crew returns and cuts out the drywall at the baseboard.

Step 23: The wall is repaired.

A couple weeks after the wall was repaired, H was startled one morning when men on scaffolding suddenly appeared outside the window. In a text exchange with J she told him about the men outside the window. J asked if they were washing the windows. H’s reply was “No, I think they are checking to see if the leak has been fixed…..”