7 min read
Most appliance failures we attend were preventable, and the prevention was rarely complicated. Here is a maintenance routine that suits UAE conditions specifically — heavy dust, high heat and coastal humidity.
Monthly
Rinse AC filters. Wipe the washing machine door seal and leave the door ajar between washes. Check behind the fridge for dust build-up on the coil. Clean the dishwasher filter at the base of the tub.
Every three to six months
Professional AC service including coil cleaning and drain flushing. Clear the washing machine pump filter. Vacuum the refrigerator condenser coil. Check dryer venting and lint paths. Inspect hoses on any water-fed appliance for bulges or weeping joints.
Annually
Check door gaskets on the fridge and oven by closing them on a sheet of paper — if it slides out easily, the seal has gone. Have gas appliances inspected. Check the electrical supply and plugs for heat discolouration.
Coastal properties
Add a twice-yearly rinse and corrosion inspection of AC condenser fins and fasteners, and keep washing machines and dryers in humid areas ventilated at the rear.
The habit that matters most
Act on small changes. Slightly weaker cooling, a slightly longer cycle, a slightly louder spin — these are the cheap stage of a fault. Once an appliance stops entirely, the options and the cost are both worse.