When looking for a trustworthy contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company bills 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, consumes fuel, and produces wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t usually come with parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company decides how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians utilize a standard or flat rate for any service call, while others increase the cost if the home is someplace outside the established service radius. The specific cost varies by market and company, but you could expect a typical trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who Covers the Service Call Fee?
If you request a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For starters, you can opt to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are welcome to collect varied job estimates from different HVAC companies—just be aware that you could end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. Even if you take no action after the initial service call, you will still owe the technician a fee for coming to your home and performing diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to reduce trip charges is to enroll in 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.
Other 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 behaving strangely, or you’re interested in an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Teays Valley Service Experts is ready to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement off to a good start. 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 looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while maximizing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 304-760-5088 today!