In most homes in Portugal, hot water comes from a gas water heater, a boiler or an electric water heater. A few checks find the cause, and some fix it.
If you smell gas
Stop. Don’t touch the water heater or any switch. Follow the steps on our Safety page and call 112.
A gas water heater
Check the gas: does the hob light? If not, a gas bottle may be empty or the supply may be off.
Check the batteries: many gas water heaters light with batteries in a small compartment underneath. Replace them.
Open a hot tap fully: a weak flow may not be enough to start the heater.
If it lights and goes out, or bangs when it lights, stop using it and call a technician.
An electric water heater
Check its switch, and its breaker in the fuse box.
After a lot of use, a full tank can take a few hours to heat again.
If it trips the power or leaks, switch it off at the fuse box and call someone.
Call someone if
The flame won’t stay lit.
There’s water under the heater.
It trips the power.
It’s old and keeps failing: a repair may cost more than a new one.
Good to know
Work on gas appliances is for a qualified gas technician.
Need someone today? Dashfixe matches you with a vetted local artisan who is free now, and you approve the price before they travel.