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So
although the ambient temperature in your Portuguese home
may not actually be cold, it could appear to be without
the insulating and warming effects of carpet under foot.
Additionally curtains are more of a decorative item here
in
Portugal and are rarely used for their insulating
properties.
You may be used to simply
turning on the gas central heating when you feel chilly,
most homes in Portugal are not equipped with this form
of heating system. Central heating (aquecimento
central) in Portugal is a relatively new system to
the country only becoming more common place in the last
ten years, perhaps due to Portugal's lack of natural
gas.
The
central heating systems in
Portugal generally run off diesel (gasoléo)
and can be vastly more expensive to install than the
systems you are used to in your native country.
Traditionally the method of
heating a home in Portugal
was with a large,
open fire, situated within the kitchen. The
fireplace would not only heat the home but allow family
members to smoke whole pigs,
Chouriço sausage
and ham (presunto)
within the large chimney.
Today
the most popular way of
heating a home in Portugal is a
wood burning stove
(Salamandra). Most
newer homes have the more modern glass fronted, cassette like
fires installed into the recesses of chimneys.
Free standing log burners (fogão de sala)
are not as popular with the Portuguese, but are just as
efficient at providing much needed warmth during the
winter months and are readily available to purchase.
These are available throughout
Portugal and
are ideal if you don't have a chimney in your Portuguese
home as they can be installed virtually anywhere that a
pipe flue can be fitted.
However what ever
system of heating you install in your Portuguese home
you will need to double check there is sufficient
insulation in place. Without insulation in your home the
heat generated from your heating system will simply
disappear outside. |
