Start by defining why you need the visit
Before arranging an inspection, state the aim in one sentence. It might be to check a working installation, investigate reduced comfort or resolve a shutdown with a warning. If there are several needs, list them. This helps establish what information is missing and which work should be quoted for.
A maintenance visit does not mean that every repair is included. Ask for the proposal to distinguish agreed checks from additional work that might need authorisation. It is also useful to know what information you will receive at the end.
Identify the system without dismantling it
Look for the make and model in the documents supplied with the home or on a visible label. The outdoor unit, indoor module and controller may have different references. If you are unsure, provide readable photographs of accessible labels and a general view. Do not open a casing to find a number.
Note whether the installation provides heating, cooling, hot water or several functions. Identify the components in your home where you know them: underfloor heating, radiators, fan coils and a cylinder. This information helps prepare work suited to the whole installation.
Put together a short timeline of the problem
Write down when it started, whether it happens daily or occasionally and what the system was doing. Give specific examples: the warning appears when hot water is requested, the sound occurs at start-up or one room remains cold in the afternoon. Avoid replacing these observations with an internet diagnosis.
Record any changes you have made to schedules, setpoints or modes since then. Do not deliberately clear the controller's history or make further changes to make the equipment appear to work better when the technician arrives. An intermittent problem also needs a precise description.
Gather the documents you already have
Prepare manuals, commissioning documents and reports from previous inspections. If there was a recent repair, keep the description of the work and its date. You do not need to find every document before asking for help: explain what you have and what is missing.
Grouping files in a folder with clear names makes them easier to consult. For example, separate identification, the previous inspection and photographs of the warning. Share only what is relevant to the work; other people's personal data or documents unrelated to the installation do not help diagnosis.
Provide safe access and confirm the arrangements
Remove your belongings if they obstruct the route to the equipment, without moving the unit, pipes or supports. Explain if the unit is on a roof, in a communal courtyard or in an area requiring keys to be arranged. Do not improvise ladders or access arrangements to get ahead with the work.
Ask whether the inspection may temporarily interrupt heating, cooling or hot water, and organise the household accordingly. Also mention any time restrictions or relevant household needs. Confirming these details helps prevent access or use of the system from obstructing the planned checks.
Make use of the discussion at the end
At the end, ask for a clear explanation of the condition observed, tasks completed and outstanding matters. If settings have changed, ask for them to be identified. Distinguish a suggested improvement from a necessary repair, and ask how further work will be approved.
Keep the report with the system's history. If you need to observe the equipment over the following days, agree what information to record and when to report it. With Red Málaga, you can start by sending your town or area, the identification details available and the reason for your enquiry; the service and its scope can then be agreed.
More common questions
Should I switch the heat pump off before the visit?
Confirm this when arranging it. Some checks require observing the equipment in operation. Do not disconnect the power or alter technical settings on your own initiative; follow the specific instructions you receive for your equipment.
Sources and technical reading
Some source documents are available in Spanish.