[companynWhen looking for a trustworthy contractor, you may have seen 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 begins acting up.
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 produces wear and tear on the company vehicle. Be aware that service call fees don’t typically cover 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 companies use a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others adjust the rate if the customer is someplace outside the usual service radius. The specific cost differs by market and company, but you can expect your usual trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For starters, you could prefer to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are welcome to collect varied job estimates from trusted HVAC companies—just don’t forget that you may end up paying a trip charge for each one. Even if you take no action after the first 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 avoid trip charges is to enroll in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free.
More money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership include:
- 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 open to an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is ready to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also happy to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with special offers on our website. If you’re hoping to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 352-414-4006 today!