Emergency & immediate help
Burst pipe or water leak in Mallorca: what to do now
Water is the most common cause of building damage of all. In Mallorca there is a further twist: in second homes that stand empty for months, a leak often runs unnoticed for weeks - and the damage is then many times what it would have been on the first day.
What you can do right now
- Close the main stopcock. In Spanish houses it is called the llave de paso general and usually sits in the bathroom, in the kitchen under the sink, in the plant room or outside by the water meter (contador). If you do not know where yours is, find it today - not in an emergency.
- If there is water near sockets, junction boxes or electrical appliances, switch the power off at the consumer unit as well.
- Photograph the damage before you mop up. Without pictures, settling the claim with your insurer becomes considerably harder.
- Ring your insurer before you instruct a tradesperson. Many buildings and contents policies have their own emergency contractors under contract and will then pay the bill directly.
- Mop up the water and ventilate the rooms well. Standing damp leads to mould in Mediterranean masonry within a few days.
What a call-out should cost
When you ring, ask whether there is a call-out charge and how high the hourly rate is outside normal business hours. A reputable firm will quote both on the phone and issue a written quotation on site.
The single best protection against overcharging: insist on a written quote before any work starts - in Spanish a presupuesto previo. Refusing to give one is the common thread running through almost every documented complaint. A reputable firm will state the call-out fee, the hourly rate and any night or weekend surcharge without being asked.
What to say on the phone, in Spanish
If only the technician on duty picks up, these sentences get you through the call. Read the Spanish out loud; the line underneath tells you what it means.
- Buenos días, se ha roto una tubería y está saliendo agua.
- Good morning, a pipe has burst and water is pouring out.
- Ya he cerrado la llave de paso general.
- I have already turned off the main stopcock.
- Es una urgencia, ¿pueden venir ahora?
- This is an emergency. Can you come now?
- Estoy en [localidad], la dirección es [calle y número]. ¿Le mando la ubicación por WhatsApp?
- I am in [town], at [street and number]. Shall I send you the location by WhatsApp?
- ¿Cuánto cobran por el desplazamiento a esta hora y me pueden dar un presupuesto previo?
- What do you charge for the call-out at this hour, and can you give me a quotation in advance?
- No le entiendo bien, ¿puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
- I am afraid I cannot quite follow you. Could you speak more slowly, please?
Companies that state out-of-hours availability
These companies state that they can be reached outside normal business hours. We show openly what that claim is based on, and we are working through them by phone to confirm it. If in doubt, call two.
- Servicios Mallorca Rapid advertises out-of-hours service
7009 Palma
States it can be reached 365 days a year and offers same-day emergency call-outs.
Other specialists for this trade
73 further companies in the directory, 28 of them German-speaking. These do not advertise out-of-hours cover - for an appointment on the next working day they are often the cheaper choice than a call-out.
Alou Barceló S.L.
Santanyí
A long-established building services firm in Santanyí with its own showroom, offering plumbing, electrics, air conditioning and solar in four languages.
Alturac Soluciones Verticales
Santa Ponsa
Alturac Soluciones Verticales is a rope access company in Santa Ponsa in Mallorca, specialising in work at height and facade refurbishment.
Andreas Fiedrich
Port d'Andratx
Plumber right on the harbour promenade of Port d'Andratx, with a German-speaking owner.
Bauko & Partner S.L.U
Santa Ponsa
Trade business in Santa Ponsa for building refurbishment, renovation and full restoration with all-round services.
Belz & Partner S.L.U.
Santa Ponsa
Belz & Partner S.L.U. (Creabau Balear) is a German-speaking firm in Santa Ponsa that acts as main contractor, guiding building projects from planning through to completion.
Digital Electric
Santa Ponsa
Electrical and air conditioning business in Santa Ponsa (Gran Via de Formentera 30) with, by its own account, more than 30 years of experience.
DTR Servicios
Port d'Andratx
Multi-trade business in Port d'Andratx covering electrics, plumbing, air conditioning and the ongoing upkeep of residential complexes.
Electricidad y Fontanería JS
Son Servera
A trades firm from Son Servera covering electrics, plumbing, pool technology and air conditioning across the Llevant.
Electricista i Fontaneria Miquel Jaume Jaume
Sant Joan
Miquel Jaume Jaume is Sant Joan's local electrician and plumber, listed as an electricista in the official municipal directory.
Fernández y Balaguer S.L.
Andratx
Building services firm in Andratx carrying out plumbing, heating and air conditioning from a single source.
Fontana Instalaciones S.L.
Santa Ponsa
Authorised gas installer, founded in 1993, with around 15 employees.
Fontanería Bonaigo
Campos
Fontaneria y Electricidad Bonaigo from Campos is a specialist provider of plumbing, electrical and renewable energy installations in Mallorca.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the main stopcock (llave de paso) in a house in Mallorca?
In flats it usually sits in the bathroom behind an access panel, under the sink or in the utility room. In fincas and detached houses it is often outside by the water meter (contador), in the plant room next to the pump or where the supply comes in from the water tank (aljibe). Find it while nothing has happened, and show it to everyone who uses the house - holiday guests included.
Should I ring the insurer or the tradesperson first?
As a rule, the insurer first. Many Spanish buildings and contents policies have their own 24-hour emergency contractors under contract; if you call someone out yourself, you may be left with the bill. The exception: if water is actively escaping, close the main stopcock first and make the calls afterwards - limiting the damage always comes first.
Why is water damage in a holiday property particularly expensive?
Because it goes undetected. A leak that would be noticed within hours in an occupied house often runs for weeks in an empty second home. What began as a failed pipe becomes a job for the screed, the walls and the furniture. If you are only there seasonally, close the main stopcock when you leave and consider a leak detector or regular checks by a property management service.
What does hard water mean for the pipework in Mallorca?
Across large parts of the island the mains water is very hard. Limescale builds up in cylinders, taps and pipes, narrows the bore and puts strain on the seals - burst pipes in older installations are correspondingly more common than in soft water areas. A water softener (descalcificador) in Mallorca is therefore not a luxury but a way of protecting the value of the property.
How do I spot a rogue emergency plumber?
The warning signs are: no fixed address on the website, refusal to name a price in advance, pressure to sign immediately, cash payment without an invoice, and prices that are only quoted once the work is done. Insist on the presupuesto previo - according to consumer protection bodies, refusing to issue one is the common feature of almost every case of complaint.