Understand the different levels of isolation
Not every valve has the same function. There may be valves for the building, the individual home, a particular area or an appliance. The first step is to ask for an explanation of your particular arrangement, without assuming it matches another house.
HS 4 provides for an accessible valve within the individual property, independent isolation for wet rooms and individual appliance valves. The particular scope needs reviewing for the installation and the planned work.
A clear label is more useful than remembering the colour of a lever. If a zone is identified as the main bathroom, that name should match the drawing and the explanation given to the people using the home.
Check access when the home is finished
Review the situation after furniture, doors and appliances have been fitted. A valve visible during building work can end up behind a full drawer or a panel nobody knows how to remove. Accessibility needs assessing in real use, not just in a photograph of the unfinished installation.
If a renovation changes the furniture, include this in the coordination. Hiding a valve for appearance's sake can complicate later work. Ask the installer and fitter to agree a solution that allows it to be identified and attended to without improvisation.
Define what should keep working during a repair
Dividing the supply into zones is valuable when it addresses specific needs. In a home with several bathrooms, keeping part of the service available during certain work may matter. Explain that priority when the installation is assessed; it should not be assumed that every repair can happen without affecting other areas.
Ask which zones have been planned and which share a supply. If an older section remains, record what is known about it. An extension or layout change may also require labels to be updated, rather than retaining names that no longer match the actual routes.
Prepare for time away without following universal recipes
For seasonally occupied homes on the Málaga coast, discuss periods without occupants and returning the system to use with the professional. Explain whether irrigation, automatic equipment or other services need to keep operating. The advice should consider the whole installation and each item's instructions.
Geberit emphasises that management of a water installation needs to suit the type and frequency of use. This is different from promising that closing one valve resolves every problem during an absence. Ask for specific guidance for your home and avoid operating components whose effect you do not understand.
Keep a short guide with the documentation
A simple diagram can record the location, zone name and access notes. Add photographs and the date of the latest changes. If several people look after the home, they should share the same information and know whom to contact about a problem.
Do not force a valve that has seized or dismantle its mechanism to check it. Report it so an inspection can be considered. Aqualaga can assess the arrangement of valves in a new or renovated installation and explain any appropriate improvements.
More common questions
Can I identify valves by trying them one at a time?
It is preferable to have them professionally identified, particularly where automatic equipment or shared installations are involved. Do not operate unfamiliar valves or force any that do not work normally.
Should all the water always be turned off when going on holiday?
The approach needs to suit the home's equipment and uses. Ask how to prepare for an absence and return to service; do not apply generic instructions without knowing what each zone supplies.
Sources and technical reading
Some source documents are available in Spanish.