When searching for a heating and cooling contractor, you may have stumbled across the term “service call fee.” Also known as a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your furnace or AC unit appears to be acting up.
Why Do HVAC Companies Charge a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee covers the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, consumes fuel, and accumulates wear and tear on the company vehicle. Keep in mind that service call fees don’t typically come with parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Much is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company decides how much to charge for a service call. Some contractors use a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others adjust the cost if the appointment is someplace outside the established service radius. The specific cost varies by market and company, but you may expect an average trip charge to be between $79 to $129.
Who is Responsible for the Service Call Fee?
If you request a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For starters, you could decide to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are encouraged to compare several job estimates from various HVAC companies—just keep in mind that you may end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. Even if you take no action after the first service call, you will still owe the contractor a fee for coming to your home and completing diagnostics.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to reduce 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, meaning we’ll come to your home and check your HVAC system for free.
Other money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership consist of:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs with the Maintenance+ Plan
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products with the Maintenance+ Plan
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is malfunctioning, or you’re interested in 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 off to a good start. We are also happy to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with valuable 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 403-279-5760 today!