What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Impact Me?
When looking for a reliable contractor, you may have stumbled across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heating or cooling begins malfunctioning.
Why Do HVAC Companies Have a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee recoups the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and adds wear and tear on the company vehicle. Keep in mind that service call fees don’t often include parts and labour if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some companies use a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others increase the cost if the home is somewhere outside the established service radius. The specific cost differs by market and company, but you should expect an average trip charge to be between $79 to $129.
Who is Responsible for the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to produce 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 choice is more cost effective.
You are encouraged to request several job estimates from local HVAC companies—just remember that you can end up paying a trip charge for every one. Even if you take no action after the first service call, you will still owe the technician a fee for coming to your home and completing diagnostics.
How Can I Skip Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to minimize trip charges is to participate in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and evaluate your HVAC system for free.
Additional money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership consist of:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
- 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 & Plumbing is willing to help. We charge some of the most inexpensive service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also happy to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with special offers on our website. If you’re looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 866-397-3787 today!