When searching for a HVAC contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company requests for sending a technician to your home when your furnace or air conditioner appears to be working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Charge a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee includes the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and causes wear and tear on the company vehicle. Don’t forget that service call fees don’t typically cover parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.
How Costly is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some contractors utilize a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others adjust the rate if the customer is further outside the normal service radius. The particular cost changes with market and company, but you may expect your usual trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who Covers the Service Call Fee?
If you arrange a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For starters, you can decide to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are welcome to request multiple job estimates from local HVAC companies—just be aware that you could end up paying a trip charge for each one. Even if you take no action after the original service call, you will still owe the HVAC company a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to decrease trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships offer a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and assess 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 behaving strangely, or you’re open to 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 off to a good start. We are also excited 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!