When looking for a reliable contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your heating or air conditioner begins working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Use a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee covers the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and increases wear and tear on the company vehicle. Be aware that service call fees don’t usually cover parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some contractors select a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others adjust the price if the appointment is someplace outside the standard service radius. The exact cost differs by market and company, but you may expect your usual trip charge to be between $79 to $129.
Who Covers the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take next. For example, you could choose to proceed with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are free to find multiple job estimates from various HVAC companies—just be aware that you can end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. Even if you take no action after the original service call, you will still owe the contractor a fee for coming to your home and performing diagnostics.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?
A good way to avoid trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships come with 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 malfunctioning, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is willing to help. We charge some of the most inexpensive 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 special offers on our website. If you’re looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while maximizing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 407-329-7661 today!