When looking for a reliable contractor, you may have stumbled across the term “service call fee.” Also known as a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heating or cooling seems to be working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Have a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee includes the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and produces wear and tear on the company vehicle. Don’t forget that service call fees don’t often include parts and labor if you opt for 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 every service call, while others increase the cost if the home is somewhere outside the normal service radius. The particular cost differs by market and company, but you should expect an average 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 after. For instance, you may decide to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.
You are welcome to collect several job estimates from trusted HVAC companies—just remember that you may end up paying a trip charge for each 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 Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A good way to decrease trip charges is to enroll in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships provide a waived service call fee, which means we’ll come to your home and assess 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 acting up, or you’re interested in an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Climate Control Service Experts 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 willing to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with worthwhile offers on our website. If you’re ready to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 251-202-7503 today!