Leaving Dubai for the summer is a ritual for many expats. As the temperature climbs and the humidity sets in, it is the perfect time to head back home or explore cooler climates. However, preparing your home for an extended absence in the middle of a Dubai summer requires more than just locking the front door.
When you leave your property empty during the hottest months of the year, it is vulnerable to heat build-up, humidity, musty smells, drain odours, appliance issues, and unnecessary energy consumption. Returning to a house that smells like sewage or facing an enormous DEWA bill is not the welcome home you want.
At We Will Fix It, our trained technicians have been helping Dubai residents maintain their homes since 2008. To help you avoid common post-holiday disasters, we’ve put together the ultimate Dubai summer travel checklist for your home.
Key Takeaways
- Set your AC to a steady 27°C and use the ‘Auto’ function to prevent humidity and mould build-up while keeping DEWA bills manageable.
- Run water through all sinks, showers and floor drains before you leave to fill the P-traps and block sewer gases.
- Close curtains and blinds to minimise heat transfer, but leave internal doors open to allow air circulation.
- Empty, clean, and unplug your fridge and other non-essential appliances to save energy and prevent unpleasant odours.
AC and Climate Control
The most common question we hear from customers preparing to travel is: Should I leave my AC on while travelling?
The answer is yes, but it needs to be set correctly. Turning your air conditioning off completely during a Dubai summer is a recipe for disaster. Without climate control, the indoor temperature will skyrocket, and humidity will become trapped inside your sealed apartment or villa. This creates the perfect breeding ground for mould, mildew, and musty smells, which can ruin furniture, clothing, and paintwork.
Instead of turning the system off, set your thermostat to 26 or 27 degrees Celsius. If your thermostat has an ‘Auto’ setting, use it. This allows the system to manage the temperature efficiently without running constantly.
If you live in a multi-storey villa, consider leaving just the upstairs AC unit running. Cool air naturally falls, which will help regulate the temperature throughout the property while minimising energy consumption. This is one of the most effective ways to manage your home’s climate without facing a massive DEWA bill when you return.
Plumbing and Drain Preparation
Have you ever returned from a holiday to find your bathroom smells like sewage? This is an incredibly common issue in Dubai, and it is almost always caused by a dry P-trap.
Every sink, shower, bathtub, and floor drain in your home has a U-shaped pipe beneath it called a P-trap. This trap holds a small amount of water that acts as a physical barrier, preventing sewer gases from rising into your living space.
In the Dubai climate, the combination of continuous air conditioning, low indoor humidity, and unused taps means this water can evaporate in just a couple of weeks. When the trap runs dry, the barrier is gone, and sewer gases flow freely into your home.
How do I prevent drain smells?
The solution is simple. Right before you leave for the airport, run water through every single drain in your property for at least 30 seconds. Do not forget the floor drains in the bathrooms, kitchen, and utility rooms, as these are often the first to dry out.
If you are travelling for more than a month, you can slow down evaporation by pouring a tablespoon of cooking oil down each drain after running the water. The oil floats on top of the water in the trap, creating a seal that lasts much longer.
You might be wondering, “Should curtains be closed while I’m away”? The answer is yes! Closing your curtains and blinds is essential. Direct sunlight pouring through your windows will drastically increase the temperature inside your home, forcing your AC to work much harder to maintain that 26–27°C setting.
Blackout curtains, in particular, are excellent at blocking heat transfer. However, while you should seal the exterior of your home from the sun, you should encourage airflow inside. Leave all internal doors—including wardrobe doors—slightly open. This allows the conditioned air to circulate freely, preventing stagnant, humid pockets from forming in closed rooms or cupboards.
Before you close the curtains, ensure every window and balcony door is securely locked. Even a slightly unlatched window can let in significant amounts of hot air, dust, and humidity, completely undermining your AC settings.
Kitchen and Appliance Checks
Your kitchen requires special attention before a long trip. Food left behind, even in the fridge, can spoil and leave lingering odours that are incredibly difficult to remove.
The Fridge and Freezer
If you are travelling for an extended period, the best practice is to completely empty your fridge and freezer. Once empty, give the interior a thorough wipe down with a mild cleaning solution.
Unplug the appliance and leave the doors propped open. If you close the doors on an unplugged fridge, any residual moisture will quickly turn into mould and create a terrible smell. Leaving the doors open allows the interior to stay dry and fresh.
Other Appliances
Unplug all non-essential appliances, including televisions, microwaves, kettles, toasters, and washing machines. Even when turned off, many appliances draw a small amount of ‘phantom’ power. Unplugging them not only saves energy but also protects them from potential power surges while you are away.
Ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are completely empty, and leave their doors slightly ajar to prevent musty smells from developing inside the drums.
The Final Sweep Before You Leave
Before you head to the airport, do a final walk-round of your property. This is your home checklist before you travel:
- Check all taps: Ensure no taps are dripping. A small drip can waste a massive amount of water over a month and potentially cause water damage.
- Empty all bins: Remove all rubbish from the house, including bathroom and bedroom bins.
- Clear the kitchen: Ensure no perishable food is left on the counters or in the cupboards.
- Turn off the water heater: Unless you need it running for a specific reason, switch off your water heater at the wall to save energy and reduce the risk of leaks.
- Lock up: Double-check all external doors and windows.
What to Check When You Return
When you finally walk back through your front door, there are a few quick checks you should perform to ensure everything is in order.
- Check for smells: If you notice a sewage smell, immediately run water down all your drains and flush the toilets to refill the P-traps. The smell should dissipate quickly.
- Inspect the AC: Check that your AC is still running and that the property feels reasonably cool. Look for any signs of water leaks or condensation around the indoor units.
- Look for water damage: Quickly inspect the ceilings and walls under bathrooms and around the kitchen for any signs of leaks that may have occurred while you were away.
- Check the fridge: If you left your fridge running, ensure it is still cold and that no food has spoiled due to a power cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read on for answers to the questions we hear most often from Dubai residents preparing to travel over the summer.
1. What should I check before leaving Dubai for summer?
Before leaving Dubai for the summer, set your AC to 26–27°C, run water down every drain in the property to fill the P-traps, close all curtains and blinds, empty and unplug your fridge with the doors left open, unplug non-essential appliances, and make sure every window and external door is securely locked. A quick walk-round of the property before you head to the airport can save you a great deal of trouble when you return.
2. Should I leave my AC on while travelling?
Yes. Turning your AC off completely during a Dubai summer is not advisable. Without climate control, the temperature inside a sealed property will climb rapidly, and humidity will build up, creating the conditions for mould and musty smells. Set the thermostat to 26–27°C, or use the ‘Auto’ function if your system has one. In a multi-storey villa, running just the upstairs unit is usually sufficient, as cool air naturally falls through the property.
3. Should curtains be closed while I’m away?
Yes, closing your curtains and blinds before you leave is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do. Direct sunlight through uncovered windows significantly increases the indoor temperature, which forces your AC to work harder than necessary. Blackout curtains are particularly effective. At the same time, leave all internal doors slightly open so that cooled air can circulate freely throughout the property rather than becoming trapped in individual rooms.
4. How do I prevent drain smells?
The most reliable way to prevent drain smells is to run water through every sink, shower, bathtub, and floor drain in the property for at least 30 seconds just before you leave. This refills the P-trap — the U-shaped pipe beneath each drain — which acts as a water seal against sewer gases. For trips lasting longer than a month, pour a small amount of cooking oil down each drain after running the water. The oil sits on top of the water in the trap and significantly slows evaporation.
5. What should I check when I return?
When you get home, start with a quick check for any unusual smells. If you notice a sewage odour, run water down all the drains and flush the toilets straight away to refill the P-traps — the smell should clear within minutes. Check that the AC is still running and that the property feels reasonably cool. Have a look at the ceilings and walls near bathrooms and the kitchen for any signs of water leaks that may have developed while you were away. If you left the fridge running, make sure it is still cold and that nothing has spoiled.
Professional Peace of Mind
Preparing your home for summer travel does not have to be stressful. By following this simple home checklist before you travel, you can enjoy your holiday knowing your property is protected from the harsh Dubai summer.
For ultimate peace of mind, consider an annual maintenance contract with We Will Fix It. Our comprehensive packages include regular AC servicing and plumbing checks, ensuring your home’s essential systems are always in top condition, whether you are at home or away.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you maintain your property.
