Guides
Practical plumbing guides for Portugal
For anyone new to Portuguese homes.
How much does a plumber cost in Portugal?
Call-out fees, hourly rates, typical jobs, IVA and why you should always ask for a fatura with your NIF. Guide ranges, so a quote does not take you by surprise.
Esquentador, caldeira or termoacumulador: hot water in Portuguese homes
What each one is, how to tell which you have, the usual problems, gas safety and when you need a certified gas technician rather than a plumber.
Water leak: what to do first, and who pays
Stop the water, protect the electrics, record everything, then work out who is responsible: you, your landlord, the condomínio, a neighbour or the insurer.
Finding the stopcock and the water meter, and reading your water bill
Where the torneira de segurança and the contador usually are, a two-hour leak test, and what the lines on a Portuguese water bill mean.
Limescale and hard water: what plumbers can and cannot fix
Why taps, shower heads and water heaters fur up in Lisbon and the Algarve, what a plumber can do about it, and what to ask before buying a softener.