Leaving your home empty for a few days is one thing. Leaving it unattended for several weeks can make a small water problem much more important simply because nobody is there to notice it.
A dripping connection, leaking toilet, faulty appliance hose or overflowing water tank may start small. If it continues unnoticed, it can waste water and potentially damage floors, cabinets, walls or neighboring properties.
The good news is that a few sensible checks before you leave — combined with monitoring and, where appropriate, physical visits while you are away — can reduce the chance of a problem going unnoticed.
Before you travel: check the obvious places first
A useful pre-travel water check does not need to be complicated.
Walk through the home and pay particular attention to areas where water is used or stored.
Bathrooms
Check:
- faucets and shower fittings for dripping
- toilet bowls and flush tanks for signs of continuous running
- the floor around toilets, basins and showers
- visible pipe connections beneath sinks
- any existing damp marks or unusual smells
A toilet can leak without creating an obvious puddle, so persistent running or refilling is worth investigating before you travel.
DEWA specifically recommends checking faucets, toilets — including toilets that are not used regularly — and other water-using equipment when investigating potential leaks. DEWA guidance.
Kitchen
Look:
- under the sink
- around visible pipe connections
- beneath or around the dishwasher
- near the refrigerator if it has a water supply
- for moisture, staining or swelling inside lower cabinets
Do not ignore a small damp area because it has “always been there.” If you are leaving the property unattended, it is better to understand the cause before you go.
Washing machine and other appliances
Check visible supply hoses and connections for:
- moisture
- cracks
- corrosion
- loose connections
- previous water marks
Villas: tanks, irrigation and pools
Villa owners have a few additional areas to consider.
DEWA identifies water tanks, irrigation systems and swimming pools among common areas worth checking for leakage or excessive consumption. DEWA guidance.
Before traveling, check that:
- water tanks are not overflowing
- visible tank connections appear sound
- irrigation schedules are appropriate
- irrigation lines do not show obvious leakage
- pool equipment does not show unusual water loss or leakage
If something already looks wrong, arrange for an appropriate maintenance professional to inspect it before you leave.
Consider whether to shut off the water supply
DEWA advises households traveling away to close the main water supply and inspect internal water connections as part of their pre-travel precautions. DEWA guidance.
That can substantially limit the amount of water available if an internal connection fails.
However, do not shut off valves blindly.
Before doing so, consider whether your property has equipment or systems that require a continuing water supply — for example irrigation, certain building systems or other property-specific installations. In apartments, access to the appropriate isolation valve may also depend on the building.
If you are unsure which valve can safely be closed, ask your building management, landlord or a competent maintenance provider rather than experimenting immediately before traveling.
You can also consider closing dedicated supply valves to appliances that will not be used while you are away, where appropriate.
Use DEWA's monitoring tools while you are away
Physical precautions are useful, but Dubai residents also have digital tools available.
Activate Away Mode
DEWA's Away Mode allows residential customers with smart meters to monitor electricity and water consumption while they are away. It can send consumption information by email on a daily or weekly basis. DEWA guidance.
Before leaving:
- Log in to your DEWA account or app.
- Activate Away Mode for your absence.
- Choose daily or weekly reporting.
- Make sure the email address and contact details on your account are current.
An empty home should normally have a relatively predictable consumption pattern. Unexpected usage therefore deserves attention.
Pay attention to High Water Usage Alerts
DEWA's High Water Usage Alert can notify customers when unusual continuous water consumption may indicate an internal leak. DEWA notes that these alerts can point to issues such as leaking toilets or broken internal pipes. DEWA guidance.
If you receive an alert while abroad, don't simply wait until you return.
DEWA itself advises customers who are outside the country to arrange for their landlord or management company to check the premises for a suspected leak. DEWA guidance.
This is where having a trusted person with authorized access to the home becomes particularly useful.
Digital monitoring and physical checks do different jobs
A consumption alert can tell you that water may be flowing when you didn't expect it to.
It cannot necessarily tell you:
- where the water is going
- whether water damage is visible
- whether a cabinet or floor is becoming wet
- whether a toilet is running
- whether a problem has stopped
- whether a maintenance provider needs access
Likewise, a visual home visit cannot guarantee detection of a concealed pipe leak.
The two approaches complement each other.
For a home that will be unattended for an extended period, consider combining digital consumption monitoring with periodic physical checks.
Leave a clear plan for someone who can access the home
Before traveling, make sure you know what should happen if something unusual occurs.
Ideally, have:
- a trusted person or service with authorized access
- your building-management or security contact details
- your preferred maintenance provider if you have one
- an emergency contact
- clear instructions about what can be done without first reaching you
- any spending limit you are comfortable authorizing for urgent situations
If a leak occurs, minutes or hours can matter more than having a complicated response process.
The important thing is that whoever checks the property knows how to access it, who to contact and what they are authorized to do.
A useful pre-travel water checklist
Before leaving your Dubai home:
- Check all visible faucets for drips
- Check toilets for continuous running
- Look under kitchen and bathroom sinks
- Check around washing-machine and dishwasher connections
- Check the water heater and visible connections
- Look for existing water stains, damp areas or unusual smells
- For villas, check water tanks, irrigation and pool areas
- Arrange repair of any known issue before leaving
- Consider closing the main water supply where appropriate for your property
- Close appliance water valves where appropriate
- Activate DEWA Away Mode
- Make sure DEWA contact details are up to date
- Make sure someone can access the home if an alert or issue occurs
- Leave building-management and maintenance contact details accessible
How Jaari can help
Jaari Home Care is designed for situations where your home needs a real-world check while you are away.
During an agreed Home Care visit, Jaari can:
- look for visible leaks and water damage in accessible areas
- briefly run agreed faucets
- flush accessible toilets
- observe drainage during normal use
- check visible areas beneath sinks
- record unusual findings with photos and context
- tell you when something needs attention
- help coordinate an appropriate maintenance provider when authorized
Combined with tools such as DEWA Away Mode and High Water Usage Alerts, regular physical checks can help make sure an unusual change in your home does not simply remain unnoticed.
Explore Property Care water checks, Maintenance Coordination, and our water and leak FAQs.