00VILLA GUIDE
Leaving a villa empty over the summer
Many Dubai Hills families travel for several weeks in July and August, leaving a villa to face the hottest part of the year alone. The risks are predictable: humidity and mould in a sealed house, a stuck float valve or a leak running for weeks, a pool with no one checking it, and a garden either drowning or dying. A little planning before you leave avoids coming home to a repair list.
01PART
Air conditioning: do not switch it all off
A completely closed and unconditioned villa gets very hot and humid inside, which harms timber, furniture, finishes and electronics and encourages mould. Many owners leave some units running at a moderate setting to keep the air moving and humidity down. Clean filters before you go and check that condensate drains run freely, since a blocked drain overflowing for weeks can do real damage.
02PART
Water: decide what stays on
Leaving the water supply fully on with nobody home means any leak runs unnoticed. Leaving it off can stop the pool, irrigation and AC drains working as planned. The usual approach is to isolate supplies to the house interior while keeping what must run, but that depends on how your villa is plumbed.
- Read the water meter with everything off before you leave — it should not move.
- Check the tank float valve and overflow.
- Know where the isolation valves are and label them.
- Arrange for someone to run taps on return to flush stagnant water.
03PART
Pool and garden
A pool left alone in summer turns quickly. Either arrange regular visits or set the filtration and dosing up so it can run, with someone to check. Irrigation programmes should be set for peak summer, tested, and the controller backup battery checked in case of a power cut.
04PART
Electrics and security
Switch off appliances that do not need power. Leave circuits for the fridge, AC, pool, irrigation and gate on. A breaker that has been tripping occasionally should be investigated before you leave, not after.
05PART
Coming back
When you return, run all taps for a few minutes, check ceilings and walls for stains, look in wardrobes for mould, and check that doors and joinery still close properly — timber moves in humid heat.
06QUESTIONS
- Can someone check the villa while I am away?
- We can arrange visits for specific systems such as the pool. Tell us what you need and we will say what we can cover.
- What temperature should I leave the AC on?
- A moderate setting that keeps humidity down without running constantly — we can suggest one for your system.