Planned preventative maintenance, usually shortened to PPM, is heating servicing done on a fixed schedule rather than when something breaks. Instead of waiting for a boiler to fail on a cold morning in January, a contractor inspects, cleans and tests the system at agreed intervals so faults are caught early. Here is what it actually involves, what it should cost, and when it is worth paying for.
PPM is a written programme of inspections and tasks carried out at set intervals, typically annually for a domestic boiler and quarterly or monthly for commercial plant. The alternative is reactive maintenance, where you call someone out once the heating has stopped. PPM is not the same as an insurance-style breakdown cover plan, although the two are often sold together.
The key word is planned. Each visit follows a checklist tied to the manufacturer's servicing instructions, so a technician is not just glancing at the boiler and signing a sheet. For gas appliances in Ireland the work must be done by a Registered Gas Installer (RGI), and for oil boilers you should look for OFTEC registration. A PPM visit should always end with a record of what was checked, what readings were taken and what was recommended.
For a domestic gas combi or system boiler, a proper service takes 45 to 90 minutes. The technician checks the flue for leaks and correct termination, tests combustion with a flue gas analyser, inspects the burner, heat exchanger and seals, checks gas pressure and expansion vessel charge, and cleans the condensate trap. They should also check the system pressure, bleed radiators if needed and test the room thermostat and controls.
Oil boilers get a similar routine plus a nozzle change, a new fuel filter, checks on the pump pressure and a smoke test. Heat pumps involve cleaning the outdoor unit coil, checking refrigerant pressures and defrost operation, and confirming flow temperatures match the design.
On commercial systems the list grows. Water treatment and inhibitor levels are tested, pumps and valves are exercised, pressurisation units and safety valves are checked, and BMS setpoints are reviewed. Plant rooms in Dublin office and retail buildings often have a mix of gas boilers, air handling units and calorifiers, so a good PPM contract covers all of it under one schedule.
In Dublin a standard domestic gas boiler service generally falls between 90 and 150 euro including VAT, with oil boilers slightly higher because of parts. Heat pump services tend to run 150 to 250 euro. Commercial PPM is priced per site after a survey, usually as an annual contract with a fixed number of visits, and depends heavily on how much plant is on site and how old it is.
The saving comes from two places. First, a boiler running with fouled burners or poor combustion can use 5 to 10 percent more fuel than one that is clean and correctly set up. Second, small faults such as a weeping pump seal or a failing diverter valve are cheap to fix in September and expensive to fix as an emergency in December, when call-out demand across Leinster is at its peak. Most manufacturers also require annual servicing to keep a warranty valid, and an unserviced boiler can void cover that would otherwise pay for a new heat exchanger.
PPM reduces breakdowns but does not remove the need to notice problems. If you see any of the following, do not wait for the scheduled date. Call for an interim check, and if you smell gas, leave the property and ring Gas Networks Ireland on 1800 20 50 50 straight away.
Ask the contractor for a written scope listing every task per visit, not a vague promise of a full service. Check their RGI or OFTEC number on the public register. Agree how you will get the report, and keep the service records together, because a full history helps with warranty claims and adds credibility when you sell or let the property.
For businesses, tie the schedule to your insurer's requirements and to periods when the building is quiet. A school or hospitality site, for example, should have boiler work done during closures. Finally, review the programme each year. As plant ages, the frequency and scope may need to increase, and a contractor who is honest about that is worth keeping.
A boiler service is one visit; PPM is the ongoing schedule those visits belong to. For most homes the two look identical in practice, but PPM also means the contractor tracks the history and flags parts that are approaching the end of their life.
You can, but it is a false economy. Most manufacturer warranties require proof of annual servicing, and combustion problems rarely show obvious symptoms until they are serious, which is why the flue gas test matters.
Usually not. A standard PPM contract covers inspection, cleaning and testing, with any repairs quoted separately. Some contractors offer inclusive plans that bundle parts and labour, so check the wording before you sign.