Dubai · AC guide
Most AC breakdowns in Dubai happen in the first heatwave, when units that coasted through winter are suddenly asked to run all day. An hour of checks in March or April saves a sweltering wait for a technician in July.
StringsSG · Updated
Checks you can do yourself
- 1
Wash every filter
Behind the return grille (ducted) or the front panel (split). Rinse, dry fully, refit.
- 2
Run each unit for 20 minutes on cool
Note any that are noisy, slow to cool, smell musty or drip.
- 3
Look at outdoor units
Clear stored items and sand; check the fan spins and the coil isn't bent or blocked.
- 4
Check the drain outlets
Make sure condensate drains are not blocked by dust or debris outside.
- 5
Test the thermostat
Set it a few degrees below room temperature and confirm the unit responds.
Book a technician if...
- Any unit smells, drips or blows weak air after filter cleaning.
- The outdoor unit hums but the fan does not spin.
- There is frost on any pipe.
- A unit has not had a coil wash in the last year.
- You are leaving for the summer and want the home cool and dry when you return.
Leaving Dubai for the summer?
A closed apartment in August can reach high temperatures and humidity, which encourages mould on furniture and in the AC. Many residents leave one unit running at a moderate setting such as 28°C, or use a smart thermostat to cool the home a day before returning. Ask a neighbour or the building to check for leaks if you will be away for weeks.
Book your pre-summer service
AC cleaning from AED 119.60; coil wash from AED 211.60.
