Plumber in Fuengirola and Los Boliches for apartments and second homes
Plumbing specialists in Fuengirola. New installations, pipe replacements and renovation plumbing for apartments and second homes. We coordinate with other trades and manage the work for non-resident owners.
Plumbing in Fuengirola: what apartments in Los Boliches and the seafront typically need
Fuengirola's stock of older apartments — particularly in Los Boliches and along the seafront — has plumbing installations that often haven't been updated since the building was constructed. Pipework replacement, water heater upgrades and connection adaptations for new kitchens or bathrooms are the most frequent requests. We carry out an assessment before any intervention. For non-resident owners, we can arrange this to coincide with one of your visits, or carry it out and send you a report and quotation remotely.
What the service covers
New plumbing installations, pipework replacement, water heater and boiler installation, sanitaryware and tap fitting, drainage adaptations and any plumbing forming part of a bathroom or kitchen renovation. We also check system pressure and locate leaks in existing installations. No generic hourly pricing — every job is assessed first so you know exactly what's involved.
Coordination within renovations and for non-resident owners
When plumbing is part of a bathroom or kitchen renovation, we coordinate with all other trades — tiling, electrical, carpentry — so the installation is integrated correctly before the finishes go in. No return visits to break into completed walls or floors. Fuengirola has a large British and Scandinavian owner community, many of whom manage their properties remotely. We coordinate access and carry out the work autonomously, keeping you updated in English throughout.
Old pipework in Fuengirola: what's typically found in 1970s and 1980s buildings
Buildings constructed in the 1960s to 1980s in Fuengirola frequently have galvanised iron pipes that have lost internal cross-section through oxidation, or lead pipes in the oldest properties. Over time these pipes reduce water flow, accumulate deposits and can cause dampness through micro-leaks. When renovating a bathroom or kitchen, it's the right moment to check the condition of concealed pipework and, where necessary, replace it. Doing this before closing walls and floors avoids having to reopen finished surfaces later.
Holiday rental apartments in Fuengirola: plumbing for intensive use
Fuengirola has a high concentration of holiday rental apartments, particularly along the seafront and in Los Boliches. These properties have more intensive use than primary residences and plumbing problems — drips, pressure issues, worn fittings — directly affect guest ratings. When we renovate plumbing in a holiday rental apartment, we select materials for durability: ceramic cartridge taps rated for high use, larger-capacity water heaters, and accessible connections that simplify future maintenance.
Plumbing on the Costa del Sol comes with a challenge you won't find in most regions: exceptionally hard water. With hardness above 30 French degrees (over 300 mg/L of calcium carbonate), limescale steadily narrows pipes, wrecks water heaters and shortens the life of taps and appliances. At Costa del Sol Reformas we treat plumbing as a full technical discipline: repiping in multilayer or PEX, non-invasive leak detection, water softeners, heaters and pressure sets, and drainage that meets Spain's CTE building code. We use our own in-house team —we never subcontract the plumber— and back every installation with a 5-year guarantee. Over 500 completed projects across Málaga and Marbella stand behind clean, measured, surprise-free work.
Repiping: from old copper to multilayer
Replacing the water system in an older home follows a disciplined sequence. We first map the existing network and measure pressure and flow; then we set the layout, pipe diameters and outlets to comply with the CTE DB-HS4 code. The material we install most is multilayer pipe (PEX-AL-PEX) from brands such as Uponor, Rehau or Standard Hidráulica: it combines the flexibility of plastic with the stability of aluminium, resists the scaling that plagues old copper, and joins with press fittings that eliminate threaded-joint leaks. For exposed runs or high temperatures we consider copper or PPR. We finish with a hydraulic pressure test before any chase is sealed —without that test, we don't sign off the job.
Finding leaks without tearing up the house
A damp patch or a spiking water bill doesn't mean tearing up half the house. We locate leaks with non-destructive methods: an acoustic ground microphone to hear the escape beneath the floor, tracer gas (a nitrogen-hydrogen mix) that surfaces at the exact break, a thermal camera to read temperature differences in underfloor heating and hot-water lines, and moisture meters to bound the wet area. This diagnosis avoids blind demolition and narrows the repair to a single opening. In limescale-heavy Costa del Sol zones many leaks start at elbows and valves clogged by scale, so when we repair we assess whether to replace the section or treat the water at source.
Hard water and softeners: protecting the whole system
Costa del Sol water is among the hardest in Spain. Above 20 French degrees softening is advisable; here it routinely exceeds 30. The most effective system is an ion-exchange water softener: resin beads capture calcium and magnesium and regenerate with brine, delivering soft water throughout the home. For simpler setups or single points we fit polyphosphate dosers, which don't remove scale but stop it adhering. We size the unit to the household's consumption and number of bathrooms, and place it after the meter with its own bypass. The payoff: heaters that don't clog, taps that last and far fewer breakdowns —a decisive upgrade in hard-water towns along the coast.
Heaters, hot water and water pressure
Domestic hot water (DHW) and pressure are the other major chapter. We choose between an electric tank, a sealed gas boiler or an aerothermal unit depending on the home; for new builds and major refurbishments the CTE code requires a renewable contribution (solar thermal or aerothermal). On pressure, the code sets a minimum of 100 kPa at taps (150 kPa at heaters) and a maximum of 500 kPa. When the supply arrives weak —common on upper floors or some urbanisations— we fit a pressure-boosting set; when it arrives too high, a pressure reducer that protects pipes and appliances. We adjust and verify with a gauge. Everything is carried out by our in-house team and covered by a 5-year guarantee.
Renovating in Fuengirola: local context
Renovating in Fuengirola is nothing like renovating in an inland white village or a hillside villa estate. Fuengirola is a compact, vertical beach town: much of its housing stock is high-rise apartments built during the tourism boom of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, now carrying dated plumbing, kitchens, bathrooms and aluminium window frames that are ready for an overhaul. Layered on top is a strongly international owner base, Fuengirola is home to Spain's largest Nordic and Finnish community, concentrated in Los Boliches, living alongside lifelong local residents. At Costa del Sol Reformas we work with our own in-house team and a 5-year guarantee, and we run every project in Spanish, English and German, essential in a town where owner and contractor rarely share a first language.
Where we work: Los Boliches, Centro y Paseo Marítimo, Torreblanca, Carvajal, Reserva del Higuerón (El Higuerón), Pueblo López.
How we work in Fuengirola
Why Costa del Sol Reformas
Costa del Sol Reformas is a renovation company in Fuengirola operating since 2010. Own team, fixed price and 5-year written guarantee on all projects.
Frequently asked questions
Do you carry out plumbing work in Fuengirola and Los Boliches?
Yes. We work across all of Fuengirola including Los Boliches and the seafront. We carry out new installations, pipe replacements and renovation plumbing.
Can you coordinate plumbing as part of a bathroom renovation in Fuengirola?
Yes. When plumbing is part of a wider renovation, we coordinate with the tiling, electrical and carpentry teams so the installation is integrated before the finishes go in.
Do you replace old water heaters in Fuengirola apartments?
Yes. We assess the existing installation and propose the right replacement based on the property type, available space and expected consumption.
Can you manage the work if I'm not in Spain?
Yes. We coordinate access and carry out the work autonomously. We keep you updated and confirm completion before you return.
Do you handle both kitchen and bathroom plumbing in the same renovation?
Yes. If the renovation covers both the kitchen and bathrooms, we plan the plumbing across the whole project — more efficient and less disruptive than separate visits.
What signs suggest a Fuengirola apartment needs new plumbing?
The most common signs are: noticeable pressure drop between taps, discoloured or metallic-tasting water, unexplained damp patches on walls or ceilings, taps that drip constantly even after new washers, and water heaters that take longer than normal to produce hot water. In properties over 25–30 years old, we recommend checking the installation before committing to a renovation.
Can you convert a bathtub to a flush-to-floor shower in a Los Boliches apartment?
Yes. This is one of the most common requests in Fuengirola, particularly in holiday rental apartments. It covers bath demolition, drain modification, waterproofing and shower tray installation. We coordinate it with tiling if it forms part of a wider bathroom renovation.
Do you install electric water heaters or gas boilers in Fuengirola?
Yes. We install electric water heaters and gas boilers. In properties without mains gas we assess the best alternative based on consumption and intended use — which may be an electric heat pump water heater or an instant electric heater depending on the property.
Have a project in Fuengirola?
Tell us about your project and we'll prepare a tailored assessment.