Modern air conditioning units, or climate control, provide cooling air inside homes during the summer months, and many Spanish homeowners rely on their aircon to heat their homes throughout the winter months too.

According to a local survey, air conditioning is amongst the top ten most sought-after features home buyers in Spain are looking for, and it's a fundamental requirement for holidaymakers visiting our part of Spain, who may not be quite so acclimatised to the environmental extremes.

Regular maintenance is essential to preserve the life of your air conditioning units, and fortunately, there are many local businesses that specialise in maintaining and servicing aircon systems in the area.

We've compiled past recommendations from La Zenia Community Facebook Group members to bring you this list of local air conditioning companies – recommendations from people who have personally used their services.

Each company offers air conditioning installation, aircon repair and servicing, and climate control trouble-shooting in Orihuela Costa, including La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Dehesa de Campoamor, Playa Flamenca, Villamartin, and Punta Prima.

These air conditioning engineers also provide services to popular areas in the South Costa Blanca including Torrevieja, Guardamar del Segura, and Ciudad Quesada.

Innovative Solutions, Torrevieja

Professional air conditioning installations and qualified electrician. Servicing, repairs and troubleshooting of all aircon systems with 24/7 emergency services.

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AMPS Electrical, San Miguel

San Miguel-based HVAC engineers for troubleshooting, aircon servicing, repairs and troubleshooting of aircon and climate control systems.

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P&G Services

Gary Hanlon is your go-to guy for air conditioning repairs, servicing and installation. UK and Spanish certified installers, experience of local brands.

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ACJ Installation

F-GAS certified refrigeration and air con engineers for servicing, installation, repair, regassing, and problems with aircon units in Orihuela Costa.

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MACS Services – Costa Blanca, Torrevieja

Aircon refrigerant charging, repairs, servicing and maintenance. Showroom in Torrevieja for aircon units, solar heating, and new installations.

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Jomar Refrigeracion Aire Acondicionado

Professional aircon repair, cleaning, problem-solving, and maintenance of all types of refrigeration and HVAC throughout the South Costa Blanca.

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Essential Air Conditioning Services

Re-gas of aircon units, servicing with prices from €30, and professional installation. 14 years of experience installing and servicing home units.

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Eurocool Air Conditioning Spain, Guardamar

Based in Guardamar del Segura, offering new air conditioning installation, repair and troubleshooting of aircon units, cleaning and servicing.

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Swedtec Costa Blanca, Cabo Roig

Scandinavian HVAC specialists in Cabo Roig. Official Panasonic Pro partners for all aspects of air conditioning in Swedish and English.

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The Refrigeration Man, Guardamar

Specialising in the repair of existing air-con units and based in Guardamar del Segura. Qualified and FGAS registered for commercial refrigeration.

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ABCool

Ventilation and aircon engineers for Torrevieja and South Costa Blanca. Aircon services in La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Villamartin and Orihuela Costa.

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ClimaZone

Aircon installation and servicing of Hisense, Mitsubishi, Daikin, LG, Fujitsu, Panasonic, and Toshiba units across the South Costa Blanca.

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Juanjo Plumbing Services and Maintenance, San Miguel

Locally based in San Miguel de Salinas providing complete services for aircon installation, repairs and servicing. 15 years experience.

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Conair Systems

Heating, ventilation and aircon service engineers specialising in Giatsu, Samsung, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic aircon units.

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Air Conditioning and Electrical Solutions

Qualified engineer providing installation and aircon maintenance services in Guardamar del Segura, Ciudad Quesada, Torrevieja, and Orihuela Costa.

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A.C.E. Vic Bates

Air conditioning, plumbing, and heating engineer. Specialising in gas and oil central heating, gas water heaters, and the issuance of gas certificates.

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Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

And who better to answer that question than the people that live here in the South Costa Blanca. Michelle posed the question in the Facebook Community Group earlier this week, asking “Pool heaters, are they worth it?”

Holiday home owners with private pools responded, and whilst the true cost of heating a pool in Spain through the winter will vary on a number of factors, including the electricity supplier and the chosen tariff, the results were surprisingly similar.

How much does it cost to buy a pool heater?

Local home improvements store Leroy Merlin in Zenia Boulevard supplies swimming pool heaters with prices starting from 925 € and exceeding 10.000 € for more powerful models with enough heating capacity to heat the largest of private pools.

Locally, the Pool People in Torrevieja offer a 22 kWh 75.000 Btu pool heat pump with a fitted price of 4.850 €. Their website hasn't been updated since 2015 so that price might be a little outdated, but members reported that they paid an average of 4.500 € for their pool heater.

The company notes that the swimming pool season on the Costa Blanca lasts only four months of the year, so it's no surprise that local residents are keen to maximise the use of their pool throughout the year.

The regular ongoing cost of electricity is the main expense associated with maintaining a heated pool in Spain through the cooler months, and increasing electricity prices have made a noticeable difference.

What is the cost of heating a swimming pool in Spain?

“Everything about the pool burns through the electricity, much more than we thought,” wrote Lindsey. Group member Arlene responded, “We have had the pool heat on whilst we have been here and the electric cost is rocketing”.

Members noted that it costs between 200 € and 350 € in electricity per month (dependent on the size) to maintain their heated pools at a comfortable temperature at this time of year, with an average cost of 265 € per month to heat their pool (around 9€ per day).

Group member Barry also reported that it took two days for the pool to reach the required temperature, and noted that a thermal or solar pool cover was an essential accessory to maintain the temperature without wasting electricity.

Want to know more? You can read the complete conversation in the La Zenia Community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the Orihuela Costa. Join in today.

Photo credit: Inmo Investments Real Estate S.L.

The answer is that it is legal, and the bank has the right to do so. This is because money laundering and terrorist financing regulations require banks to request documentation they deem necessary to identify and monitor the account holder and their activities.

According to the Bank of Spain, there are several reasons a bank may block a customer's account.

Freezing a bank account due to a lack of identification documents

If your Passport, Residence Card, Foreigners Identity Card, or Personal Identification Card has expired, be careful, because you could end up with your bank account blocked. Banks are required by law to identify all their customers and ensure that their documentation is up to date.

If the bank detects that your personal identification document is not up to date, it may block your account, as this is considered a lawful basis.

Freezing a bank account for the prevention of money laundering

The bank is legally obliged to request information about your economic activity, a process known as “Know Your Customer”. This is an anti-fraud measure that all banks must follow to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.

If the bank requests information about your professional activity and you do not provide it, the bank may freeze your account until you provide the required documentation.

Blocking an account due to discrepancies between account holders

If you share an account with one or more account holders and they issue contradictory orders, the bank may place a block on the account to avoid taking sides in a dispute (e.g., during a divorce or the breakdown of a business).

A frozen bank account when the account holder dies

This is very common for non-residents living in Spain who die leaving assets and open bank accounts. In this case, their partner or relatives find that the bank has frozen the deceased's account and cancelled all direct debits and payment cards.

It is important to note that the bank must notify the account holder(s) before blocking the account and, if this is not possible, the announcement must be made immediately afterwards.

The problem is that many bank account holders receive a letter at their registered home address in Spain, and relatives living overseas often only learn that the account has been frozen upon arrival.

Others, on the other hand, receive an email outlining the documentation and how to submit it digitally, which, for many, is more technologically complex than simply taking the documentation to the bank in person.

For these reasons, many of our clients who do not live permanently in Spain ask us for assistance from their home countries to unfreeze their bank accounts.

The solution to this problem is to grant your lawyer in Spain a Power of Attorney in advance. With this power of attorney, your lawyer can easily unfreeze your account on your behalf and remove temporary stops or blocks that might be in place.

In this way, you will not have to wait until you return to Spain to do it yourself, bearing in mind the serious consequences of closing the account, such as non-payment of local taxes or utility bills, or generating unnecessary surcharges or penalties for the account holder, which could have been avoided entirely.

Find out more about Inmo Investments Real Estate, La Zenia's leading estate agent. Visit their website now to view their selection of beautiful homes in Orihuela Costa and the Costa Blanca areas of Spain.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

It's an important point. In our ever-more connected world, being without an internet connection is simply not an option for many people who rely on internet access for news, communications, social content, or even for working. The internet forms an essential part of our everyday lives.

The same can be said for holiday home owners here in Spain. They'll need access to TV services and a high-speed broadband internet connection while they're visiting, but understandably, some property owners won't want to pay for something all year round that they plan to use relatively infrequently.

Instead, holiday home owners will be looking for a pay-as-you-go style internet service that can be activated and deactivated, turned on or off on demand to suit their schedule for future visits, providing an overall low cost during the year.

So who can you go to for digital services here in Spain, what services are on offer, what speeds are available in Spain, and how much does it all cost? Here are our top TV and internet service providers in Orihuela Costa.

Avatel Telecom, La Zenia

Avatel offers unmetered on-demand internet services for homeowners in Spain with symmetrical broadband data speeds of 600Mb (on both upload and download).

For homeowners looking for an on/off internet connection, the company provides high-speed internet access with free installation and a contracted rate of €24.99 per calendar month.

The service can be activated for just one month at a time, ideal for holiday home owners, and a disconnection fee of €4.99 is charged each time a customer requests temporary termination of the service.

Avatel offers packages and deals for permanent residents on the Orihuela Costa, with fibre optic internet connections from €24.99 per month including a free Spanish landline, a 12-month contract, and upgrade options including ClicTV (no English-language channels) and Amazon Prime.

WiMAX digital internet services are available for remote locations or properties that lack cabled internet coverage, with speeds of 6Mb or 12Mb and prices from €18.00 per month.

The internet service provider boasts its own state-of-the-art fibre optic network and complete online account management in Spanish and English languages – ideal for holiday home owners who might not be here for the majority of the year.

Avatel Telecom has local offices in Pinar de Campoverde, Pilar de la Horadada, and Zenia Boulevard shopping centre in La Zenia.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

VegaFibra, San Miguel de Salinas

Self-branded as “The King of the Fibre”, VegaFibra provide internet services to customers across the South Costa Blanca area. Originally two separate companies, VegaFibra formed from the merger of goFibra and the SomosFibra group.

Undoubtedly one of the largest local TV and internet service providers, for Orihuela Costa, the company offers fibre optic internet connections with speeds of 600Mb and free installation.

Using the VegaFibra X-Days service, holiday home owners can request and pay for the exact number of days they require an internet connection. In essence, renting or hiring only the internet access they need.

A week costs €14.00, two weeks cost €22.00, and complete 30-day access for a whole month costs €38.00.

Payment needs to be made in advance no later than 48-hours before the service is scheduled to start, and termination of the service occurs automatically at the end of the hire period.

Payment can be made in person at any VegaFibra office, or customers can choose to set up a direct debit from a Spanish bank account to fund the on-demand internet service only when it's needed.

The scheme benefits from clear and low ongoing costs, the ability to pay only for the exact number of days required, and minimal outlay once the initial installation has been completed.

For residents, VegaFibra offers super high-speed internet access with broadband speeds of 600Mb for a fixed cost of €24.99 per month, free installation, and a variety of discounted promotions and incentives to attract new customers.

The company has more than 20 local offices including locations in San Miguel de Salinas and Torrevieja, and online account management in Spanish, Russian, English, French, and German languages.

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NoLimitNet, Los Dolses

From one of the largest suppliers of local internet services to one of the smallest. NoLimitNet has a single office located within the Los Dolses commercial centre, offering a range of packages for holiday home owners and permanent residents in Spain.

A basic internet-only package costs €25 per month for a 600Mb fibre optic data connection, and installation is free of charge for customers that sign a 12-month contract.

Broadband speeds are available up to 1,000 Mb for an additional €10 per month, and the company offers a fast WiMax service with speeds up to 50Mb for properties unable to access a cabled connection. Their WiMax Air Fibre service costs €25 per month.

NoLimitNet also offers popular TV channels from the UK and Germany for an additional €5 per month, or a comprehensive UK TV package that includes prominent sports channels for €25 per month.

The company offer a suite of money-saving packages and additional services such as fixed landlines, Spanish mobile SIM card packages, and personalised holiday contract options for seasonal residents and homeowners.

NoLimitNet offer a dedicated website in English, online account management, and technical support 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Established in 2014, the local internet supplier has its own network with plans in place to provide 100% coverage of all residential areas in the Orihuela Costa.

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Olé Comunicaciön, La Zenia

Olé pioneered the first installation of a fibre optic data network throughout the Orihuela Costa. Based in La Zenia, the company offers a suite of packages to suit holiday home owners and permanent residents and they are one of the local area's favoured TV and internet service providers.

Pay-as-you-go holiday packages cost €38.00 for a 300Mb connection, and an ultra-fast 600Mb fibre optic internet connection costs €43.00 per month.

For an additional €10.00 per month customers can add a TV package with more than 200 popular radio and TV channels, including English language TV channels such as BBC and ITV, plus international channels in Spanish, French, German and Russian.

Initial express installation costs €49.00 and the internet service can be turned on or off by phone or email almost instantly. Previous clients have stated that they have called from Alicante airport to activate the service prior to arrival at their holiday home.

The service can be activated for a minimum of 30-days at a time and there's a 3-month minimum usage condition per year. The company offers technical support and service calls in your home with customer service in English and Spanish languages.

For permanent residents living on the Orihuela Costa, Olë offers complete fibre optic internet installations using the latest whole-home Mesh WiFi, landline telephones, international terrestrial TV services, and mobile packages with up to 120Mb of monthly data.

Installations for permanent homeowners start from €27.00 per month for a 300Mb internet connection. A Spanish landline can be connected for an additional €11.00 per month offering unlimited free calls to all popular international destinations.

Olé Comunicaciön provides fibre optic internet services to the areas of La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Aguamarina, Las Ramblas, El Barranco, Los Dolses, La Florida, Villamartín, Punta Prima, Cabo Roig, Entrenaranjos, and many more.

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DVBLab Communication, Torrevieja

Another small tech company punching above its weight, DVBLab in Torrevieja has a great local reputation for outstanding customer service.

The company offers a basic 300Mb internet service for €19.90 per month, a 600Mb high-speed internet connection for €24.90, or a 1,000Mb Gigabit internet fibre optic connection for €29.90 per month.

Higher speed services enjoy the benefit of free UK Freesat TV channels with a paid option to upgrade the TV service to include premium content delivered by UK pay-TV broadcasters.

DVBLab Communication also offers a start/stop internet package with 400Mb data speeds for €29 per month, with the ability to connect or disconnect the service so customers pay only for what they need while in Spain.

The start/stop on-demand internet connection can be turned on or off online, and the service can be complemented with UK Freesat TV channels as an optional extra. Different TV channel selections are also available for Spanish, Russian, and Scandinavian customers.

For maximum flexibility, customers can request internet and television services to start on a specific date and buy a minimum of one month's access at any time.

Orders can be made and paid for in advance with a debit or credit card, and any unused time remains valid for use within one calendar year from the date of purchase. Additional subscriptions for one month or more can be purchased as needed.

In most cases, initial installation costs €149 with concessions for residents and homeowners prepared to sign a 12-month contract.

Technical support is available in most common languages including English and German, and the DVBLab website can be accessed in English, Spanish, and Russian languages.

DVBLab Communication has an office in the centre of Torrevieja along the Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas with plenty of free parking, making access simple and hassle-free.

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Flexa Networks, La Zenia

Looking like a subtle rebrand of the VegaFiba website, Flexa Networks may be sharing online resources with the self-proclaimed “King of the Fibre”, but Flexa is a separate business.

Just like VegaFibra, Flexa Networks offer the same X-Days service that allows holiday home owners to request and pay for the exact number of days that an internet connection is required for.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the cost is the same whichever provider you choose. A week of high-speed internet access costs €14.00, two weeks cost €22.00, and complete 30-day access for a whole month costs €38.00.

The service can be requested online anytime at least 48-hours before the service is scheduled to start, and termination of the service occurs automatically at the end of the hire period.

There's a minimum switched-on period of 3-days, and the temporary X-Days service can be activated for a maximum of 90-days at a time – ideal for most seasonal residents and homeowners.

Payment can be made in person at any Flexa Networks office, but unlike VegaFibra, Flexa Networks have an office right here in La Zenia, plus local offices in Pilar de la Horadada and Torre de la Horadada.

A 600 Mb symmetrical broadband internet connection costs €24.99 per month with special discounts and free installation available for new customers with a 12-month contract.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

TV and internet service providers on the Orihuela Costa

This article was compiled using feedback and personal recommendations from members of the La Zenia Community Facebook Group, based on the customer experiences of people that live here and use the services. Other TV and internet service providers may be available in the local Orihuela Costa area.

Details and prices were checked for accuracy upon publication but may be subject to change over time. Please ensure you check the latest availability and pricing information directly with each internet service provider (via the links provided above) before undertaking a contractual obligation.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.