When staying at an Airbnb, most guests expect reasonable accommodations: a shower, a bed, working lights, and no exposure to the outdoors. But one man found a rental that seemingly didn’t meet those expectations.
Zack Hall (@zackbhall) rented out an Airbnb, only to run into a particular issue: the property’s air conditioning unit apparently formed so much condensation that there was basically a “creek” inside the home’s vents.
Hall took to TikTok to post a video of the strange feature inside the home.
“This definitely ain’t supposed to be like this. … The water flowing like a creek was some good white noise for sleep though,” he wrote in his video’s caption. But what was more shocking was the Airbnb host’s reply.
Instead of fixing the issue, the host said that the water flow was “condensation.” According to her, it was a normal occurrence.
As of this writing, Hall’s post has more than 9.9 million views, with commenters expressing their concern for the man’s health and overall well-being after the stay.
The Bona Fide Creek
In Hall’s video, he walked inside the Airbnb toward the “creek” in question.
“So, we rented an Airbnb [in] Toledo,” Hall said while moving. He then pointed his camera down toward a vent near the floorboards, which had a stream of water flowing in it.
“I asked the host about all of this water in the A/C vents,” he added. “She said, ‘Oh, it’s fine to run it with all that condensation in there. It’s OK.’”
In a follow-up video, Hall discussed the rental at length.
“[We] made it to the Airbnb and immediately reached out to the lady renting it out and told her,” Hall said. “I actually tried to call her, but she would not answer my call, and she just said, ‘Yes, it’s condensed, but it’s okay to run the unit.’”
Hall said that despite being nice, he didn’t feel as though the host understood the gravity of the situation or why he was concerned with the flowing water in the unit. He ended up staying at the property for two nights and subsequently left the host a three-star review with notes on the vent issue. But how did the host respond?
“All the host did was write a good review on me and tell me that I was a great guest, so she did not acknowledge that I said anything about getting it fixed and checking for mold,” Hall said.
What Is Legionnaires’ Disease?
In the comments section of Hall’s initial video, viewers warned that the water flow could be dangerous. Namely, viewers discussed Legionnaires’ disease.
“Google legionnaires disease,” one viewer said.
Another said, “HAVE YOU HEARD OF LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE ?!?!”
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia, which is caused by the bacterium Legionella. It typically develops within two to 14 days after exposure. Individuals who contract Legionnaires’ disease may experience coughing, fever, headaches, muscle aches, and shortness of breath, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Typically, individuals can acquire Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling the bacteria. The most common spot where it grows? In water systems. Showerheads, sink faucets, hot tubs, and other human-made water systems can be hotspots for the illness, according to the CDC.
The CDC adds that dry home and car air-conditioning units don’t generally use water to cool the air, so they don’t pose a risk for Legionnaires’ disease. But, in Hall’s circumstance, the air conditioning unit is actively circulating water, potentially making it a risk.
For that reason, viewers told the content creator to get tested after staying at the property.
A commenter on Hall’s follow-up video said, “My mom’s boyfriend passed from legionnaires disease. please get yourself tested in 2-10 days!”
A Laundry List of Health Risks
Some viewers mentioned other potential health risks the property could bring for Hall. A chief concern for many commenters was that Hall and any other guests could be exposed to mold.
“Oh you know that place has … mold,” one viewer said.
For individuals with mold sensitivity, exposure can cause severe reactions. Additionally, mold “can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash” and is high-risk for immunocompromised individuals.
Considering the amount of concern over Hall’s health, viewers told the content creator to keep the video. They added that he may need it for insurance claims later on.
“[Please] keep a copy of this video for a[t] least a year. I know you have it saved on here, but keep a personal copy just to cover your [behind]. Owners try to file claims for up to 2 years and WILL blame guests,” a viewer said.
Subplot News reached out to Hall via TikTok direct message and Airbnb via email for comment. We will update this story if they respond.
Update Aug. 14, 2026: In a response to Subplot News, an Airbnb spokesperson stated, “While rare, we take concerns like this seriously and encourage guests to reach out to our 24/7 Community Support team to report them to us. Although this issue was not reported to Airbnb, we’ve proactively reached out to the guest to help support them and we are in contact with the host to address the concerns raised.”
@zackbhall This definitely ain’t supposed to be like this. 😬The water flowing like a creek was some good white noise for sleep though. 🤣 #airbnb ♬ original sound – Zack Hall
