Dishwasher won't drain and leaves standing water — how do I fix it?
My dishwasher finishes its cycle but leaves a pool of dirty water at the bottom, and the dishes come out not properly clean. Newish apartment in Abu Dhabi, machine is about 2 year…
Jason S.
Homeowner@villa-life-js
Villa owner in Jumeirah. Bit of a DIY-er, but I know when to call someone.
Jumeirah, DubaiJoined 18 Sep 2025
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Jason’s activity — page 6 of 6
Answers by Jason
DiscussionAC Service
Summer AC prep checklist for UAE apartments (before the peak heat)
Before the worst of the heat lands, a little AC prep saves a mid-summer breakdown (and a chunk off the DEWA bill). Here is the community shortlist — add yours below. - Clean or re…
Water heater leaking from the bottom — repair or replace?
Found a puddle under the electric water heater in the store cupboard, and it seems to be coming from the bottom of the tank itself, not an obvious pipe. Unit is maybe 6 to 7 years…
Why is ice forming on my AC pipes and indoor unit?
Woke up to a block of ice building on the copper pipe going into my indoor AC unit, and it is barely cooling even though it ran all night. Split unit in a Marina apartment, about…
Sockets in one room suddenly dead — what should I check?
All the power sockets in one bedroom stopped working at the same time — lights still work, other rooms are fine. What should I check before calling an electrician?
No hot water from the electric heater — where do I start?
Woke up to no hot water at all. The electric heater (geyser) doesn't seem to be doing anything. Before I call someone out, what should I check myself?
Chiller AC running but barely cooling — what's wrong?
We're on district cooling and the AC runs constantly but the apartment stays warm — nothing like the cooling we had last year. Airflow seems okay, it's just not cold. What could c…
How much should an AC gas refill actually cost in Dubai?
A technician quoted me to "refill the gas" on my split AC because it wasn't cooling well. The figure felt made up on the spot. What's a fair price for an AC gas refill in Dubai, a…
My AC suddenly got loud — what do the different noises mean?
My split AC used to be quiet and now it's noticeably loud when it runs. I'm trying to work out whether it's something simple or a sign it's about to fail.
Balcony sliding door is stiff and hard to slide — how do I fix it?
The sliding door to my balcony has got really stiff — I have to yank it and it judders along the track. It used to glide. What causes this, and can it be fixed without replacing t…
Wooden door sticking and hard to close — how do I fix it?
One of my internal wooden doors has started sticking — it rubs the frame near the top and I have to push it to close. It was fine before. How do I fix a sticking door without wrec…
Why is my AC running but not cooling the apartment? (Dubai Marina)
My split AC in Dubai Marina runs constantly but the apartment just won't get cold — it's sitting around 28°C even with the unit set to 19°C. The outdoor unit is running and there'…
Wall cracks keep coming back after painting — how do I stop them for good?
Every time I repaint, the same hairline cracks come back within months — usually near door corners and along ceiling joints. Filling and painting clearly isn't enough. How do I ac…
DiscussionApartment & Office Renovation
How do you avoid getting overcharged or stuck mid-renovation?
Everyone has a horror story about a renovation that ballooned in price or a contractor who vanished mid-job. For those who've done it — how do you structure the quote and payments…
DiscussionPainting & Gypsum Work
How much did you pay to repaint a 2-bed apartment in Dubai?
Getting quotes to repaint a 2-bed apartment (move-out, so walls + ceilings, white). The range I'm getting is huge and I can't tell what's fair. If you've done it recently, what di…
DiscussionPlumbing Service
Reliable, reasonably-priced plumber recommendations (Dubai)?
Tired of no-shows and inflated quotes. How do you all find a plumber who turns up when they say and charges fairly? General tips welcome, not just names.
Jason's questions & discussions
DiscussionAC Service
Is AC duct cleaning worth it in Dubai — and what should it actually cost?
I've got a ducted (central) AC in my villa in Jumeirah and lately there's a faint musty smell when it first kicks in. A couple of companies have quoted me for "full duct cleaning"…
DiscussionAC Service
How often should villa AC be serviced in Dubai Hills Estate?
For those in the newer villa communities like Dubai Hills — how often are you actually servicing your AC, and what does a proper villa service include? These are big homes with se…
Why is my DEWA bill so high in summer, and how do I bring it down?
My DEWA bill roughly triples once summer lands — last July was genuinely eye-watering for a 3-bed villa in Jumeirah. I know AC is the culprit, but I would love to know what actual…
My MCB trips randomly with nothing obviously on — how do I find the cause?
One breaker trips at seemingly random times — sometimes at night with nothing obvious running. Resetting works until it trips again. How do I actually track down what's causing it?
How do I fix a toilet that keeps running after flushing?
My toilet keeps running and refilling for ages after I flush — sometimes it won't fully stop until I jiggle the handle. It's wasting water and the noise is annoying. Is this somet…
Realistic timeline and trade order for renovating a Dubai apartment?
Planning a full apartment renovation (kitchen, two bathrooms, flooring, paint). I keep getting vague timelines from contractors. What's a realistic schedule, and what order should…
Why do my floor tiles sound hollow when I walk on them?
Some of my floor tiles sound hollow when I walk on them, others sound solid. They're not cracked. Is a hollow-sounding tile a problem I need to fix, or is it normal?
Fog/condensation inside my double glazing — can it be fixed?
One of my double-glazed windows has misted up between the two panes of glass — I can't wipe it because it's inside the sealed unit. Can this be fixed, or does the whole window nee…
DiscussionApartment & Office Renovation
Do I need approval to renovate my apartment in Dubai? (fit-out NOC)
Planning to renovate a Dubai apartment — new kitchen, moving one non-structural partition, updated bathrooms. Do I actually need formal approval / a fit-out NOC for this, or is th…
DiscussionWater Chiller Service
Is an annual chiller maintenance contract worth it for a villa?
Villa with a chilled-water system and several FCUs. A couple of companies have pitched annual maintenance contracts. For those who've had one — worth it, or better to just call so…
Rain leaking through aluminium window frames — how to seal?
The few rainy days we get, water seeps in along the bottom of the aluminium window frames in one room. The glass itself is fine. Is this a re-sealing job or something structural?