When searching for a trustworthy contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also known as a “trip charge,” this fee is the expense an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heating or AC unit appears to be malfunctioning.
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 produces wear and tear on the company vehicle. Keep in mind that service call fees don’t generally come with parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company chooses how much to charge for a service call. Some contractors offer a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others adjust the rate if the customer is located outside the usual service radius. The exact cost differs by market and company, but you could expect an average trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For instance, you might decide to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are welcome to compile several job estimates from various HVAC companies—just be aware that you may end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. Even if you take no action after the first service call, you will still owe the HVAC company a fee for coming to your home and performing diagnostics.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to decrease trip charges is to participate in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships come with a waived service call fee, and so we’ll come to your home and check your HVAC system for free.
Additional money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership include:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is acting up, or you’re looking into an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is willing to help. We charge some of the lowest 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 worthwhile offers on our website. If you’re ready to enjoy savings and peace of mind while enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 866-397-3787 today!