What Are Trip Charges and Diagnostic Fees?

When you need heating, air conditioning or plumbing services from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, you will pay a trip charge and a diagnostic fee separately. Some companies you’ve worked with in the past may have combined the trip charge and diagnostic fee, but we believe we can provide you with better value by separating the two. 

What Is a Trip Charge? 

A trip charge covers the cost for a licensed plumber or HVAC technician to come to your home. Sometimes called a service call fee, this charge is the base rate for bringing our technicians, equipment and expertise to your doorstep. If you want to avoid trip charges in the future, you can look into joining one of our membership programs

What Is a Diagnostic Fee? 

The diagnostic fee pays for the services necessary to find the source of a problem. In plumbing, this could include scoping. In HVAC repairs, it could involve inspecting the inside of your unit. If you decide to use Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for your repairs, the diagnostic fee will be rolled into the repair costs. However, you will be charged for the diagnostic services alone if you do not. 

What Is the Difference Between a Trip Fee and a Diagnostic Fee 

In general, a trip fee gets the plumber or HVAC technician to your home, while the diagnostic fee covers all the work involved in assessing the issue and working up a plan for repairs. If you are paying for repairs, you won’t even notice the diagnostic fee because it will be absorbed into the cost of the repairs. 

Why Are Diagnostic Fees and Trip Charges Billed Separately? 

Some other plumbers and HVAC companies will charge one single fee for both the trip and the diagnostics. Instead of charging you for two services at once, we have two separate fees. This allows us to price our services in the fairest possible manner. 

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