[companynWhen searching for a HVAC contractor, you may have come 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 appears to be 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, requires fuel, and accumulates wear and tear on the company vehicle. Don’t forget that service call fees don’t typically come with parts and labor if you decide on 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 utilize a standard or flat rate for any service call, while others increase the rate if the home is somewhere outside the normal service radius. The particular cost differs by market and company, but you could expect an average trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you arrange a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For instance, you may prefer to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are welcome to collect multiple job estimates from various HVAC companies—just be aware that you might 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 HVAC company a fee for coming to your home and performing diagnostics.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to reduce trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships provide a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free.
Other 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 happy 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 valuable offers on our website. If you’re hoping to enjoy savings and peace of mind while enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 330-269-7235 today!