When searching for a trustworthy contractor, you may have come across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the expense an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your heating or air conditioner seems to be working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Charge a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee recoups the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and causes wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t typically cover parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Much 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 any service call, while others increase the rate if the appointment is someplace outside the usual service radius. The exact cost varies by market and company, but you can expect a typical trip charge to be between $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you request a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For instance, you may opt to move forward with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are free to request several job estimates from different HVAC companies—just keep in mind that you can end up paying a trip charge for every one. Even if you take no action after the original service call, you will still owe the technician a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Skip Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to avoid trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, which means we’ll come to your home and evaluate your HVAC system for free.
More money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership are:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is working poorly, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is ready 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 excited to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with worthwhile offers on our website. If you’re looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 925-364-5427 today!