Is a boiler service compulsory?

Yes. By law, a gas boiler in a home must be serviced at least every two years, and there are other intervals for gas water heaters, heat pumps and air conditioning. Here's what the law says, who can do the service and what's best for you.

How often it's due, by type of unit

These are the minimum intervals for a home set by RITE, Spain's regulations for heating and cooling installations:

Wall-mounted gas boiler (up to 70 kW): every 2 years.
Gas water heater (up to 24.4 kW): every 5 years.
Heat pump for hot water (up to 12 kW): every 4 years.
Air conditioning (up to 12 kW): every 4 years.
All other heating, such as oil-fired boilers: every year.

These are minimums: RITE also requires you to follow the manufacturer's instructions, and if the manufacturer calls for more frequent servicing, that takes precedence. Ariston, for example, recommends a service every year. And for a business, a hotel or a community of owners, the intervals are shorter.

If your unit is an Ariston and less than two years old: the third year of the commercial warranty depends on the service being carried out within those first two years. If it isn't, you lose it.

Who can do it

An authorised maintenance company for heating and cooling installations. When the service is done, they leave you the maintenance certificate: keep it, because it's the document your community of owners, your home insurer or the authorities will ask for if there's ever a problem.

A service isn't just checking that it works. On a gas boiler it includes, among other things, checking for leaks, a combustion analysis and testing all the unit's safety devices.

It's not the same as the gas inspection

Separately from the boiler service, the gas installation has to be inspected every 5 years: pipes, valves, ventilation and the connections to the appliances.

If you have mains gas, the gas distributor does it: they let you know in advance and charge it on your bill.
If you use a propane bottle or tank, like many homes in Mallorca, you have to arrange it yourself with an authorised gas installation company.

Be wary of anyone who turns up at your home unannounced saying they're ‘from the gas company’ to inspect your installation. If in doubt, don't open the door and call your gas company.

Why it's worth doing more than the law requires

We recommend a service every year, and not to sell more visits:

It uses less fuel. A dirty or poorly adjusted burner uses more to give the same heat.
It's safer. Combustion and the safety devices are checked with instruments, not by eye.
Mallorca's water. Limescale builds up without you noticing, and it causes more of the breakdowns we see than anything else.
It saves you a nasty surprise. Whatever shows up at the service is fixed before it leaves you without hot water.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask us most

Who has to arrange the service?

The person responsible for the installation, which in a home is usually whoever lives there. No one is going to come and remind you: that's why, with a maintenance plan, we let you know.

What if the boiler is under warranty?

It still needs servicing, and with Ariston it's what gets you the third year of commercial warranty: it has to be done within the unit's first two years. Also, the warranty covers manufacturing defects, not wear from lack of maintenance, and no warranty covers limescale.

Does the service include fixing whatever you find?

If we spot something, we tell you what it is and how much it costs before touching anything, and you decide. With a maintenance plan, labour and call-out are already included.

Do you service units that aren't Ariston or Wolf?

Yes. We're the official service centre for Ariston, Wolf, Chaffoteaux and Fleck, but we also service units from other brands.

Source for the intervals: RITE, technical instruction IT 3.3, table 3.1 (minimum intervals for preventive maintenance).

Shall we book your service?

We carry it out with genuine spare parts and leave you the RITE certificate.

Book +34 871 559 176