When looking for a trustworthy contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the expense an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your heating or AC unit starts acting up.
Why Do HVAC Companies Use a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee includes the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, consumes fuel, and results in wear and tear on the company vehicle. Keep in mind that service call fees don’t often include parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Costly is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company decides how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians select a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others increase the price if the home is someplace outside the established service radius. The particular cost varies by market and company, but you could expect a typical trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who Covers the Service Call Fee?
If you request a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For example, you may decide to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.
You are welcome to find varied job estimates from different HVAC companies—just don’t forget that you may end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. Even if you take no action after the initial service call, you will still owe the technician a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A smart way to avoid trip charges is to participate in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, and so we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free.
Additional money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership are:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs with the Maintenance+ Plan
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products with the Maintenance+ Plan
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is malfunctioning, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is happy to help. We charge some of the most inexpensive service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement going the right way. We are also eager to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with valuable offers on our website. If you’re ready to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 321-428-7635 today!