Why spring, not June
The island's calendar is unforgiving. From May to October, air conditioning technicians, plumbers and electricians are saturated with villa turnovers, hotel contracts and breakdowns in the heat. A service booked in March gets done at a sensible pace, with time to order parts from the mainland if something is found. The same request in June competes with every other owner on the island.
Air conditioning: the system guests notice first
A holiday rental in Platja d'en Bossa or Cala Vedella without working cooling in August is a refund waiting to happen. Book an air conditioning service in Ibiza early in spring and expect the technician to:
- Clean or replace filters on every indoor unit and check the coils.
- Verify refrigerant pressure and look for leaks; a unit that cools weakly in spring will fail in the heat.
- Clear condensate drains and pumps. Blocked drains cause the ceiling stains and dripping units that appear in the first hot week.
- Inspect outdoor units for salt corrosion: near the coast, fins, casings and electrical boards deteriorate quickly. A rinse and a protective treatment extend their life.
- Test thermostats, remotes and any Wi-Fi control you rely on when you are not on the island.
- Check the electrical supply to each unit and the condition of the isolator.
Water: pressure, cistern and softener
Many homes outside the towns, from Sant Carles to Sant Rafel, are not on mains water. Others are, but still have tanks and pumps. Either way, water is the second system to check.
- Pressure pump: listen for cycling with no tap open, check the pressure switch and the expansion vessel. A pump that runs constantly is either failing or feeding a leak. Our guide on water leaks in Ibiza explains the warning signs.
- Cistern cleaning: tanks accumulate sediment and, in rain-fed systems, organic matter. Clean and disinfect before the season, and check the lid and overflow are sealed against insects.
- Softener: hard water is a fact of life here. Top up salt, check the resin cycle and the bypass valve. A softener protects the water heater, taps and appliances all season.
- Water heater: descale if possible, check the safety valve and the anode where fitted. Pool showers and outdoor taps need their own check.
- Septic tank: for fincas without sewer connection, have the tank inspected and emptied if it is due, before the house is full.
Electricity: load, backup and outdoor points
Summer means air conditioning, pool pumps, extra guests and every appliance running together. Power fluctuations are common in rural areas.
- Ask an electrician to review the total load and whether the contracted power is sufficient for the summer profile.
- Test all circuit breakers and the residual current devices.
- Check outdoor sockets, garden lighting and pool lighting for corrosion and water ingress. Salt air attacks these first.
- If the property has a generator, run it under load, check fuel and oil, and confirm the changeover works.
- If it has solar and batteries, have the inverter logs read, panels cleaned and battery health confirmed before the peak consumption months.
Pool and garden: hand over to specialists
Pool and garden are visible every day of a stay and are almost always managed by contracted specialists rather than the owner. Spring is when contracts are renewed and equipment restarted.
- Pool: filter media, pump seals, chlorinator or salt cell, pH and chlorine regulation, lights and the plant room itself. Ask your pool maintenance company to inspect pipe unions for the slow leaks that develop over winter, and agree the summer visit frequency in writing.
- Garden: irrigation system tested line by line, timer reprogrammed, drip emitters unblocked, pruning finished before growth accelerates. A gardener can also advise on drought-tolerant planting to reduce water use.
Pests and humidity
A house closed over a humid winter attracts problems. Walk through with a critical eye.
- Look for mould in bathrooms, wardrobes and behind furniture on north-facing walls. Ventilate, treat and identify the cause; often a missing extractor or a slow leak.
- Check for rodent droppings in storerooms and plant rooms, and seal entry points.
- Fit or repair mosquito screens; guests notice their absence.
Keys, locks and access for rentals
For a holiday rental, access failures generate more complaints than almost anything else.
- Test every lock, including gates, garages and pool fences. Salt air seizes cylinders and hinges.
- Count keys and decide who holds which set: cleaner, manager, emergency contact.
Tourist rental licence and documented maintenance
If you rent to holidaymakers, the property will hold a tourist rental authorisation, commonly referred to by its ETV number in the Balearic Islands. Beyond displaying that number, the licence carries expectations about the condition and safety of the accommodation. Keeping written records of maintenance protects you in two ways:
- It shows guests and platforms that the property is looked after when a dispute arises.
- It supports insurance claims, which often ask when equipment was last serviced.
Ask each professional for a short written report and keep them in a single folder with invoices. Verified professionals used to working with rentals will provide this without being asked.
Booking before May
The practical rule is simple: everything that requires a technician should be requested in March and completed by mid-May. After that, availability drops and urgent callouts take priority over planned maintenance. Owners abroad should brief their keyholder now, agree who lets professionals in, and decide how decisions are approved remotely.
The spring checklist
- Air conditioning serviced, filters cleaned, drains cleared, outdoor units rinsed.
- Pressure pump, expansion vessel and pressure switch checked.
- Cistern cleaned and disinfected; truck supplier confirmed.
- Softener salt topped up and cycle tested; water heater descaled.
- Electrical load reviewed, breakers tested, outdoor sockets inspected.
- Generator run under load, solar and batteries checked.
- Pool restarted, plant room leaks checked, visit schedule agreed.
- Irrigation tested, timer reprogrammed, pruning done.
- Mould treated, pests inspected, screens fitted.
- Locks, key safes and alarm tested; spare keys accounted for.
- Maintenance reports and invoices filed with the ETV documentation.
Month-by-month timeline
March
Walk the property or have your manager do it. List defects with photos. Post requests for air conditioning, plumbing and electrical checks. Renew pool and garden contracts. Order any equipment that must come from the mainland.
April
Services carried out. Follow up on parts and repairs. Treat mould and humidity while the weather is still cool. Test irrigation and reprogramme timers. Clean cistern. Fit mosquito screens.
May
Final walk-through before the first guests. Pool fully operational, air conditioning tested on a warm day, locks and key safes checked, welcome information updated, records filed. Anything still open after mid-May should be treated as urgent.
When to call a professional
Owners can change filters, top up softener salt, test locks and photograph meters. Call a professional for:
- Refrigerant checks, gas leaks and outdoor unit corrosion.
- Pump, pressure switch, expansion vessel and cistern disinfection.
- Anything electrical beyond resetting a breaker, and all generator or solar work.
- Pool chemistry and plant room equipment.
- Septic tank emptying and inspection.
- Locks that have seized or cylinders that need replacing.
Post your requests on Octo
Describe each job in the two-minute guided form and receive an instant indicative estimate. Then invite the verified local professionals covering your postal code that you want to hear from; you decide who receives your contact details, it is free for you and you pay the professional you choose directly. Post the air conditioning service today, then the water and electrical checks, and your house will be ready before the island fills up.