How many PPM visits does a maintenance contract include?

Bear Building Services Basic contracts include 2 PPM visits per year. Standard contracts include 4 visits. Premium contracts include 6 or more visits depending on equipment volume.

What Is Included in a Refrigeration Maintenance Contract?

What a refrigeration maintenance contract includes

A commercial refrigeration maintenance contract covers scheduled preventive maintenance visits (PPM), priority emergency callout and discounted reactive labour — all under one fixed agreement. The exact scope depends on your tier, but every contract should include these core elements:

Scheduled PPM visits — planned visits at set intervals throughout the year
Condenser clean — the most important preventive task; a fouled condenser is the single most common cause of avoidable breakdowns
Door seal inspection — worn seals cause ice build-up, temperature drift and compressor strain
Temperature checks and logging — verifying the unit is holding the correct temperature range
F-Gas leak check — required at least annually for systems above certain refrigerant charge thresholds
Priority emergency callout — faster response than a reactive customer with discounted labour rates
Maintenance sheet and report — written record after every visit covering all work completed

After every planned visit, Bear Building Services provides a maintenance sheet and report. After any breakdown callout, you receive an invoice with report — so your equipment records are always current.

The three contract tiers

Bear Building Services offers three contract tiers. All contracts are priced after a free site assessment — the monthly cost depends on your equipment volume, age and location across London.

Basic

Single unit

2 PPM visits per year
Condenser clean each visit
Temperature monitoring
Maintenance sheet and report
Priority callout — 8-hour response
Discounted reactive labour

Up to 3 units

4 PPM visits per year
Covers refrigeration and AC
Maintenance sheet and report
Priority callout — 4-hour response
25% discount on reactive labour
Annual F-Gas leak check

Premium

Full estate

6+ PPM visits per year
All equipment covered
Same-day emergency priority
50% discount on reactive parts
Multi-site agreements available
Full maintenance documentation

What happens during a PPM visit

A planned preventive maintenance visit follows a consistent sequence. Our engineers do not arrive, take a look and leave — every visit is a structured inspection that produces a written record.

1

Condenser clean
The condenser coil is cleaned using compressed air or a coil cleaner. A fouled condenser forces the compressor to work harder, raises running costs and is the leading cause of avoidable breakdowns in commercial kitchens.
2

Door seal inspection and replacement if required
Worn or split door seals allow warm air into the unit, causing ice build-up around the evaporator and temperature inconsistency. Seals are checked and replaced where necessary.
3

Temperature and performance check
Cabinet temperature is verified against the setpoint. Refrigerant pressures are checked where accessible. Any anomalies are logged and investigated before they develop into a fault.
4

F-Gas leak check (Standard and Premium)
An electronic leak detector is used to check for refrigerant leaks. Required annually by F-Gas regulations for systems above certain charge thresholds. The check and result are recorded in the maintenance report.
5

Maintenance sheet and report issued
A written record of all work completed is provided after every visit. This covers the equipment serviced, tasks completed, any faults identified and the next scheduled visit date.

Contract vs reactive — the cost comparison

The question most operators ask before signing a contract is whether it is actually cheaper than paying per callout. For most London restaurants and hotels, the answer is clearly yes — and not just because of the direct cost difference.

Factor	Reactive only	On contract
Emergency callout cost	Full rate	Discounted rate
Response time	Standard queue	Priority — 4hr or same-day
Condenser clean	Only when you remember	Included every visit
F-Gas leak check	Only if you request it	Included annually
Maintenance records	None unless requested	Issued after every visit
Fault prevention	None — reactive only	Most common faults caught early
Monthly cost predictability	Unpredictable	Fixed monthly cost

A single out-of-hours emergency callout — a cold room failure on a Friday night — typically costs more than a month on a Standard contract. That single figure usually settles the question for most operators.

Multi-site and franchise operators

Our Premium contracts cover multiple sites under one agreement. For restaurant groups, hotel operators and franchise networks managing refrigeration and AC across several London locations, a single contract simplifies everything: one renewal date, one point of contact, one set of maintenance records across all sites.

Our engineers have maintained refrigeration and AC across franchise networks and hotel groups in London. If you manage four or more sites, contact us for a tailored multi-site proposal — pricing is always based on a free site assessment of your actual equipment.

How to get a contract proposal

All contracts are priced after a free site assessment. Our engineers assess your equipment, note the age and condition of each unit, and produce a fixed-price proposal. There is no obligation and no charge for the assessment.

Call 020 3002 6826 — speak directly to our engineers
Or use the contact form — select "Maintenance contract enquiry" and note the number of sites
We arrange a free site assessment at a time that works for you
Fixed-price proposal provided in writing — all terms clear before you commit