Plumber in Espoo

From Tapiola to the new blocks along the metro

Espoo's buildings span many decades. The Tapiola garden city was mostly built in the 1950s and 1960s, building in Olari and Kivenlahti began in the 1970s, and whole new blocks have recently gone up along the metro line, for example in Niittykumpu, Matinkylä and Espoonlahti.

A building's age says a lot about what to expect. In older ones we check the valves and find out whether a pipe renovation (putkiremontti) has been done. In new apartment buildings each flat usually has its own shut-off valves and water meter, so the water can be turned off in your flat alone.

In Tapiola's oldest buildings, pipe renovations were done at different times and in different ways, so solutions can differ even between neighbouring housing companies (taloyhtiö). It helps to tell us when you book whether and when the building's pipes have been renovated.

A terraced house often has its own main valve

Terraced houses (rivitalo) in Espoo are usually owned by a housing company too, so the same basic rules apply: you own shares entitling you to your home, the company is responsible for the shared water and waste pipes and the heating system, and changes to wet rooms need a renovation notice (muutostyöilmoitus). In a small company, things are often handled directly with the board.

The practical advantage: many terraced homes have their own main shut-off valve, for example in a technical space or utility room. Jobs such as replacing a toilet for €235.31 or replacing a tap (faucet) for €125.50 can then be done without cutting off the neighbours' water.

A terraced home's bathroom and sauna are for your own use, but their pipes connect to shared main lines, so moving the shower or adding a fixture needs a renovation notice. Renewing the waterproofing is separate specialist work, ordered from a wet-room contractor.

In a detached house, you decide

A detached house has no housing company, and the owner is responsible for all of the property's pipework. HSY (Helsinki Region Environmental Services) is responsible for the water and sewer network up to the connection points, which are usually close to the plot boundary. From there on, the pipes on the plot and inside the house belong to the owner.

Areas such as Laaksolahti, Haukilahti and Kalajärvi have houses of many ages, and many older ones have water-based central heating. If a radiator leaks or the heat is unevenly spread, you can replace individual radiators or renew the whole radiator pipework. Afterwards the system is balanced, so every room heats evenly and no radiator takes heat from the others. If a radiator just gurgles or is cold at the top, try bleeding it first.

If you are planning a larger renovation, work out the order of the plumbing jobs in advance. Water pipe replacement and radiator replacement come before the surface finishes, so the pipes can be run neatly and finished surfaces don't have to be opened again.

Don't forget the outdoor tap. Unless it is frost-proof, shut off its supply from inside and drain it in autumn. A frost crack often only shows in spring when the tap is first used, and water can then run inside the wall. Swapping an old outdoor tap for a frost-proof one is one of our small plumbing jobs.

Installations and prices for new homes

In newly built homes, the most common jobs are appliance connections. Dishwasher installation to existing connections costs €125.50 and washing machine installation €78.44. Disconnecting an old dishwasher costs €47.06. If the kitchen has no appliance valve, one can often be fitted in place of the angle valve, with the parts charged separately.

In a newly completed building, ask the property manager (isännöitsijä) before moving pipes or adding connections, as changes may affect the builder's liability; connecting an appliance to existing connections is usually fine. If a leak appears in a new home, report it to the property manager first; they will find out whether the builder is responsible for the repair.

New bathrooms often have an open shower area. Shower screen installation keeps the splashes on the shower side, and the fixing holes are sealed so the waterproofing under the tiles is not damaged.

Prices include 25.5% VAT (ALV). Extra fittings and hoses are charged separately, and prices for other jobs are in our price list. Connecting an appliance as a separate job does not qualify for the household tax credit (kotitalousvähennys), but the labour for replacing a tap or toilet can, if it is not the housing company's responsibility – see our deduction guide and the current terms on vero.fi.