When you are looking for heating, cooling or plumbing services from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, you will handle the trip charge and a diagnostic fee separately. Many companies you’ve called in the past may have combined the trip charge and diagnostic fee, but we feel we can provide you with even more value by separating them.
What Exactly Is a Trip Charge?
A trip charge includes the cost for a qualified plumber or HVAC technician to stop by your home. Often called a service call fee, this charge is the base rate for sending our technicians, equipment and expertise to your front door. If you'd like to avoid trip charges in the future, you can explore joining one of our membership programs.
What Is a Diagnostic Fee?
The diagnostic fee pays for the services needed to find the root cause of a problem. In plumbing, this may consist of scoping. For HVAC repairs, it could involve taking a look at the inside of the cabinet. If you decide to use Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for the repairs, the diagnostic fee will be rolled into the repair costs. But bear in mind, you are charged for the diagnostic services alone if you choose not to.
What Are the Differences Between a Trip Fee and a Diagnostic Fee
In most cases, a trip fee gets the plumber or HVAC technician to your residence, while the diagnostic fee encompasses all the work related to assessing the problem and figuring out a plan for repairs. If you are paying for repairs, you won’t even notice the diagnostic fee because it's included with the cost of the repairs.
Why Are Diagnostic Fees and Trip Charges Billed Separately?
Some other plumbers and HVAC companies are going to charge one fee for both the trip and the diagnostics. Rather than charging you for two services at the same time, we prefer two individual fees. This helps us to price our services in the fairest achievable manner.