Residents in Benalmadena be warned. There will be cuts to the supply on Tuesday, July 8, as essential works have been left to the busiest and hottest time of year.

Between the times of 8am and 3pm, expect a likely drying up of the taps as council contractors attempt to plug the holes in the water pipes in the following areas:

• Camino de Amocafre
• Camino a la Estación
• Camino de la Viñuela

It seems that around 80 metres of pipework has more holes than a teabag and is long overdue some repairs. The recommendation is to get some bottled water in while you still can and still enough for afterwards, as there may be some sediment left in the pipes in the afternoon.

The troublesome area? Do you remember that massive pipe burst next to the Los Patos hotel that pumped a geyser of clean drinking water into the air? That’s the area that has the problem.

The council apologises for the inconvenience that this measure may cause and thanks the citizens of Benalmadena, and its hotels for understanding while the works, aimed at improving the quality of the water supply, are carried out.

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In Spain, you don’t have to wait for the AC to break; you will notice it’s weaker, slower, and struggling to keep up with the heat. So you go to a petrol station, grab one of those do-it-yourself recharge kits and give it a boost to drop down. Except it isn’t that quick fix? The reason is that so many drivers end up weeks later with a burnt-out compressor and a bill that wipes out their summer budget.

DIY AC refills are widely sold across Spain, from petrol stations to online retailers. Most of these kits do not accurately measure gas levels, and many contain foods that are incompatible with older systems. Talleres across the country report a surge in compressor failures due to incorrect or even excessive input. This article breaks down what’s causing the damage, how much the repairs can cost in Spain, and the smart habits you can adopt to prevent your AC from failing at the most critical times. 

Why topping your AC at home can backfire

When the air starts blowing warm, most drivers assume that the gas is low. In Spain, where DIY refill cans are sold at petrol stations as well as online shops, it is easy to think that a quick recharge would be the answer.

However, this doesn’t measure what’s already in the system; it doesn’t remove moisture from the air or even diagnose leaks. They’ll add more pressure even if the system does not need it. For older vehicles specifically, that pressure would ultimately be directed to the compressor, which would break.

Mechanics across Spain have a pattern where cars are brought in with no cold air, weak flow or even rattling sounds, only to find the damaged compressor from a well-intentioned refill. The bill would be between €800 and €1,000, depending on the parts and the region. 

What mechanics do differently 

When a workshop services your AC, they don’t just add gas: They usually reset the system from the inside of the fan. 

• First, they would evacuate the existing refrigerant, which would include any air, moisture, or leaks from previous refills.
• Second, they would measure exactly how much gas the system needs. And if there’s a leak, they would test for it.

The DIY kits don’t do any of that, so while it might feel like you’re saving time and money, it’s often just postponing a bigger repair that could have been avoided with a €60–€100 service every couple of years.

In Spain, especially with long drives, older vehicles, and intense summers, which are common. Routine maintenance is not only a check-up; it’s what keeps the whole system from burning out in July. 

Habits that make a difference 

You don’t need to become a mechanic to keep your receipt working well; just be more consistent. These three habits can take little effort, but they can prevent the most common summer failures in Spain.

• Begin by ventilating first, then cool the area. When the car is parked in the sun, open the windows for a minute before switching on the AC. This will allow trapped heat to escape and reduce the strain on a system when you finally turn it on.
• Use the AC occasionally in winter. Even if it’s cold outside, do this for around 5 minutes every few weeks, as it will help keep internal seals lubricated and ensure the refrigerant keeps the circulators circulating.
• Pay attention to the airflow because of the air feels weak, the vents are noisy, or even there’s a damn smell, those are early warnings do not wait until the system feels entirely. 

Skip the refill, save the system.

In Spain, a working AC, especially in summer, is getting through the season. But the fixes that seem the fastest often end up being the most expensive. DIY recharge might seem like a solution, but without knowing the pressure or gas type or even the condition of the system. It becomes a matter of guesswork, and that guesswork itself does not fix the compressor; it breaks down.

So, implementing small habits with occasional winter use and knowing when to skip the petrol station Shelf and book a proper service instead. It’s a boring answer, but amid a Spanish summer, voting is what keeps your car cool and your wallet intact.

Two guests were injured and 530 tourists, mostly British, were forced to evacuate the hotel complex Vistasol Apartments in Magaluf, Mallorca, after an intense fire broke out, according to a news report in The Sun on Monday.

“The wounded guests needed medical treatment for cuts and bruises sustained during this morning’s dramatic mass evacuation,” the British news outlet added.

The fire broke out in the hotel complex’s laundry room, causing extensive damage, according to local reports. A photo from the scene shows burnt debris littering the floor. The fire began just after midnight on Sunday, emergency services sources told reporters at the scene.

After being alerted, the hotel staff on duty immediately sounded the alarm to alert local emergency services, prompting authorities to quickly deploy firefighters to the holiday apartments where the fire was blazing.

Calvia station firefighters responded to the emergency and were the first on scene, followed by Guardia Civil officers.

Emergency rescue teams immediately began evacuating the entire building, floor by floor, to ensure no one was left behind.

Dramatic evacuation and probe underway

The 530 tourists occupying 173 rooms all had to rush outside the building and wait while the fire was extinguished. Local news reporters said the hotel guests were left outside the rooms practically all night and into the early hours of the morning.

A fire services spokesman confirmed that two of the evacuees fell over in the chaos and panic rush, and suffered injuries. Both were transferred to a clinic in Palma.

After about three hours of fighting the fire, rescue teams allowed the guests to return to their rooms, officials told The Sun.

Police investigators have launched a probe into the fire to determine its cause.