What a plumber does
A plumber (fontanero) fixes leaks, blocked drains, water heaters and boilers. Most also fit bathrooms and kitchens, from a new tap to a full renovation.
On the coast many plumbers also look after pool plumbing and water pressure pumps. Pumps are common in villas on a hillside, where the mains pressure is too low to reach the top floor.
Not every plumber does everything. Some firms only take small jobs and emergencies, others mainly fit bathrooms, and a few specialise in finding hidden leaks. The list shows which services each firm offers, so you can call the right one first.
When to call one
Call a plumber at once if water is running where it should not, if the water heater leaks, or if you smell gas. For gas, close the valve and leave the room first.
Damp patches, a water bill that suddenly rises or a pump that starts by itself at night are signs of a hidden leak. These are not emergencies, but they get more expensive the longer they wait.
A water heater that takes longer to heat up, makes noise or gives rusty water is near the end of its life. Replacing it before it leaks is usually cheaper than drying out a ceiling afterwards.
For a planned job, such as a new bathroom or a new water heater, ask two or three firms for a quote. Most plumbers on the coast are busiest in spring and early summer, so plan larger work for the autumn if you can.
What it usually costs
Most plumbers charge a call-out fee plus an hourly rate. On the coast a call-out is often 40 to 60 euros and the hourly rate 35 to 50 euros. Parts and 21% VAT come on top.
Night, weekend and holiday call-outs cost more. Ask for the price before the plumber sets off, not when they arrive.
A new water heater or a bathroom is usually quoted as a fixed price. Ask for a written quote (presupuesto) with parts and labour listed separately, so you can compare two quotes line by line.
Check whether the quote includes taking away the old heater or the old tiles, and who repairs the wall after a pipe has been replaced. These are the items that most often turn up as extras on the final invoice.
How a good plumber finds a leak
A leak inside a wall or under a floor does not always show where the water comes out. A good plumber finds the source first, often with a moisture meter or a thermal camera.
Only then do they break tiles, and only where they have to. A plumber who starts by opening a whole wall will often cost you more in repairs than in plumbing.
If the leak has damaged a neighbour's flat, ask the plumber for a short written report of what they found and fixed. Your home insurance will usually ask for it, and it helps if the neighbour's insurer gets in touch.
Rules to know
Gas work must be done by an authorised gas installer (instalador autorizado). A new gas installation needs a certificate, which you should keep with the papers for the house.
Ask for an invoice (factura) with the company tax number (NIF or CIF). Without an invoice, a guarantee is hard to claim, and an insurance company will usually ask for one after water damage.
In a building with a community of owners, the shared pipes belong to the community. If the leak is in a shared pipe, the community's insurance and the administrator handle the repair, not you.
What is special on the Costa del Sol
The water on the coast is hard and chalky. It wears out water heaters, taps and shower heads faster than many owners expect, so a heater often needs a service or a new element sooner.
Many holiday homes stand empty for months. A small leak can run for weeks before anyone sees it. Some plumbers offer checks while the owner is away, and a shut-off valve you can close when you leave is worth asking about.
Summer is the busiest time for many firms, because pools and pumps run hard and holiday homes fill up at once. If something breaks in August, expect to wait longer than in winter, and ask for an emergency rate before you agree to a visit.
What to watch out for
A price given over the phone without seeing the job is a guess. It tends to grow once the work starts.
No invoice, or an invoice without a tax number, leaves you without a guarantee.
Be wary of a plumber who wants to break tiles before the leak has been found.
Questions to ask before you choose
What is the call-out fee, and what does the first hour include? Do you give a written quote before you start? What guarantee do you give on parts and labour?
For anything with gas, ask: are you authorised for gas work? The list on this page shows which languages each firm works in and how fast they reply.
Finally, ask how they handle an emergency. Some firms answer the phone day and night, others only in working hours. If you own a holiday home, it is worth knowing before the day a pipe bursts.