Page Category: Tips

Balcony etiquette

Follow these steps in balcony usage to ensure a safer and aesthetically pleasing community experience.

  • Do not barbecue in your balcony, it is a fire hazard and against community rules.
  • Cigarette butts pose a serious risk of fire, as well as, being toxic to the environment. Do not throw cigarette butts from your balcony.
  • Littering in anyway from balconies/ windows is not allowed.
  • Installing satellite dishes in the balcony is against municipality regulations. Such violations could face hefty fines.
  • Do not use the balcony for storage purposes as it ruins the community aesthetics.
  • Coverings of any kind is not allowed. Safety screens, awnings, pergolas, curtains or shades must not be installed on balconies.
  • Leaving pets unattended on the balcony can cause them severe distress. Please ensure your pets are well cared for and not allowed to become a nuisance.
  • Laundry must not be hung on the balcony or railings as it diminishes the aesthetics of the community.

Home fixes

If you run into plumbing or electrical hitches in and around your home, here are a few points to keep in mind.

  • Use the shutoff valves under or behind the sink to turn off water to a faulty fixture.
  • If you notice a leak in the bath or shower, stop using it, turn off the water at the fixture and arrange for a repair service.
  • If there is a leak in the water heater, use the shutoff valve on top of the heater to turn off the water before draining the unit.
  • If you notice water spots, try to trace the leaks to one location (toilet, sink or tub) and turn off the water to that fixture. Arrange for service through a third party provider.
  • If a power outage occurs, inspect all circuit breakers. If a breaker is damaged, arrange for service. If they’re not damaged, turn them all off and back on again, one at a time.
  • If there is no power to an outlet, check if it is connected to a wall switch that has not been turned on before you inspect the circuit breakers. Reset any that may have turned off.
  • If a hanging light fixture does not work, a connection along the circuit may be broken. Check if wall switches, circuit breakers and the bulb has been installed properly.
  • If you have a stuck window, use a putty or plastic knife to gently score the edges and prise the window open. Once open, apply a thin layer of paraffin wax around the edges.
  • If you’re getting an odour around your home after a vacation, the drain pipes may have dried up. Try pouring water down the drains.
  • Indoor plants may release an odour if left unattended for long periods. Inspect your plants and prune any rotting parts if necessary.
  • A buildup of dust and moisture can cause exhaust fan to spin slowly. Clean the fans periodically to ensure optimal performance.
  • Clean the railings of any sliding doors occasionally with a toothbrush and then vacuum to remove accumulated grime.
  • Clean mildew spots with a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide for a quick fix.
  • If you need to increase the flow pressure of your taps, fit them with aerators – they save water too. Simply unscrew the spout, and screw the aerator onto the tap.

Holiday tips

Here are a few things you can do to secure your home before leaving for vacation.

  • Turn off your water supply till you are back. This will prevent any leaks that could damage your property.
  • Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your home while you’re away.
  • Secure your home effectively; close and lock all windows and doors.
  • Discontinue newspaper subscriptions and deliveries to your home.
  • Give a key to a trusted friend or neighbour so they can check your apartment periodically.
  • Do not leave unsecured items on your balcony that can be easily removed.
  • If you have a burglar or intrusion alarm, activate it.
  • Lock all valuables and cash in an approved and securely fastened safe.
  • Unplug all unnecessary appliances such as televisions, stereos and personal computers (take care not to turn off the power to any alarm systems).
  • Unplug or turn off the ringer on all telephones and answering machines.
  • Refer to the home safety tips fact sheet for more information.

Fire safety

It’s crucial that you take precautions to ensure your home is always protected against fire hazards.

  • Conduct regular maintenance of the smoke/heat detectors within your or apartment.
  • Refrain from smoking in non-designated areas.
  • Refrain from storing flammable liquids/materials in your garage or balconies.
  • Avoid overloading electrical circuits with too many high voltage appliances, such as televisions and computers.
  • Don’t throw cigarette butts – lit or otherwise – from your property.
  • Refer to the fire safety fact sheet and a quick guide during an emergency for more information.

Air conditioning

Here are a few steps to ensure your air conditioner is working flawlessly all year round.

  • Ensure that you service your air-conditioning unit at least once a year.
  • Enlist only qualified air-conditioning service personnel.
  • Ensure that clogged/dirty filters are routinely cleaned or replaced.
  • Clean and flush the unit’s drain line regularly to prevent excess moisture.
  • Keep external doors and windows closed.
  • Keep windows, which are exposed to the sun, shaded by using internal blinds or curtains.
  • Refer to the energy-saving fact sheet for more information.

Pool safety

Remember to always exercise caution when at the pool to ensure everyone has a great time:

  • Never leave babies or children alone or in the care of another child, while in or near pools, spas, or wading pools – or near bath tubs or other open bodies of water.
  • An infant can drown in just one inch of water – make sure the supervising adult is always within arm’s length of the child with their full attention focused on them at all times.
  • The supervising adult should not be engaged in distracting activities, such as talking on a telephone, socialising or tending to household chores.
  • Parents and caregivers should learn CPR or BLS (Basic Life Support).
  • Supervising adults should make sure they do not leave any pool toys in the water as a child could fall in while trying to retrieve them.
  • Toddlers and children with seizure disorders are particularly vulnerable to drowning, but all youngsters are in danger if unsupervised in or near water.
  • Even a child who knows how to swim may drown a few feet from safety.
  • Consuming alcohol at a public swimming pool is against the law.
  • If you have any illness or infection (such as a cold, sore throat, athlete’s foot or diarrhoea), please don’t spread it around; once you are better, you can use the pool again.
  • Visit the bathroom before you use the pool!
  • Take children on bathroom breaks or check diapers every 30 to 60 minutes.
  • Change diapers in the bathroom or diaper-changing area and not at the poolside, where germs can get into the water.
  • Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
  • Shower with soap before you start swimming (then rinse yourself under the shower at the pool before you swim).
  • Don’t swallow the water you swim in.

Pets

Emaar Beachfront is a pet-friendly community – but it’s important to ensure that your animal friends never disturb other residents:

  • Dogs must always be kept on a leash when outside the boundaries of your home.
  • Any dog waste deposited in the community must be promptly removed and properly discarded in a sanitary manner by the dog handler.
  • All pets must wear appropriate identification tags at all times when outdoors.
  • Dog owners must ensure their animals do not make an unreasonable amount of noise or disturb neighbouring residents.
  • Abandoning pets is strictly forbidden and offenders will be reported to the authorities. If you cannot commit to caring for a pet, do not get one.
  • Refer to the pet etiquette fact sheet to learn more about pet care guidelines in your community.

Pest control

Keep your home pest-free by following a few simple steps

  • Carry out pest control treatment periodically within your home.
  • Do not leave food crumbs and unsealed edible items around your home.
  • Do not leave empty cardboard boxes under beds or around your home.
  • Enlist only Dubai Municipality approved service providers to carry out pest control.

Landscaping

Here are some tips from our landscaping team to help you keep your landscaping lush and healthy.

  • Maintain a mowing height of 2.5 to 3 inches but during summer, increase this to 3 or 3.5 inches to reduce water loss from your soil.
  • Check your irrigation system for leaks periodically.
  • Water your landscaping as per its requirements and not just every day.
  • Apply water directly to the roots of plants to minimise evaporation and water runoff.
  • Avoid mid-day watering – instead, water in the early hours before sunrise to lessen water loss through evaporation and daytime winds.
  • Choose plants that are native to the arid climate of the Middle East and require less water such as desert rose, flame trees, bougainvillea, neem, palms and hibiscus.
  • Make adjustments to watering durations as needed; for example, shaded or protected areas may need less water than patches that are always under the sun.
  • For better efficiency, install a drip irrigation system to minimise evaporation.
  • Water brown spots by hand and check your irrigation system; lawns usually develop brown spots because of faults in the sprinkler system.
  • Planting seeds in the common areas (outside the boundary of your villa) is prohibited.
  • Refer to the landscaping fact sheet for more information.

Pool safety

Remember to always exercise caution when at the pool to ensure everyone has a great time:

  • Never leave babies or children alone or in the care of another child, while in or near pools, spas, or wading pools – or near bath tubs or other open bodies of water.
  • An infant can drown in just one inch of water – make sure the supervising adult is always within arm’s length of the child with their full attention focused on them at all times.
  • The supervising adult should not be engaged in distracting activities, such as talking on a telephone, socialising or tending to household chores.
  • Parents and caregivers should learn CPR or BLS (Basic Life Support).
  • Supervising adults should make sure they do not leave any pool toys in the water as a child could fall in while trying to retrieve them.
  • Toddlers and children with seizure disorders are particularly vulnerable to drowning, but all youngsters are in danger if unsupervised in or near water.
  • Even a child who knows how to swim may drown a few feet from safety.
  • Consuming alcohol at a public swimming pool is against the law.
  • If you have any illness or infection (such as a cold, sore throat, athlete’s foot or diarrhoea), please don’t spread it around; once you are better, you can use the pool again.
  • Visit the bathroom before you use the pool!
  • Take children on bathroom breaks or check diapers every 30 to 60 minutes.
  • Change diapers in the bathroom or diaper-changing area and not at the poolside, where germs can get into the water.
  • Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
  • Shower with soap before you start swimming (then rinse yourself under the shower at the pool before you swim).
  • Don’t swallow the water you swim in.
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